MANZANO AT A GLANCE

Coach: Chad Adcox (5th year; 22-22) Last season: 7-5; lost 50-7 to Cleveland in 6A quarterfinals Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense

Key players: Jordan Byrd, jr. (5-9, 162, RB/WR/KR); Ryan Moore, sr. (5-10, 157, CB/SS); Alejandro Vallejos, jr. (5-8, 165, RB/DB); Jace Torrez, sr. (5-9, 155, S); Andrew Erickson, jr. (6-1, 180, WR); Deveyion Jackson, jr. (5-9, 230, DE); Cameron Herrera, jr. (5-9, 199, MLB); Xavier Ivey, soph. (6-0, 175, RB); Greg Romero, jr. (5-9, 235, OT); Caleb Dimas, sr. (5-11, 245, OL); Chendo Contreras, sr. (5-9, 245, NG); Lou Bush, jr. (5-9, 230, G).

Outlook: Manzano has twothirds of its starters back from a final-eight team last season — three of its five losses were to the two 6A finalists last year, Cleveland and Eldorado — and the Monarchs also have one of the state’s most dangerous players in Byrd, so they’re in good spirits as the 2016 season approaches. But Adcox would like this offense to be more assertive and physical. Moore and Devon McGhee give the Monarchs two strong cornerbacks on an experienced defense — it started five sophomores last year — that expects to be stout. It includes Herrera in the middle and senior sack specialist Zak Geiger.

2016 schedule

(x-District 2-6A games; C: Community Stadium; W: Wilson) Aug. 25, at Atrisco Heritage (C), 7 p.m. Sept. 3, at Centennial, 1 p.m. Sept. 9, Cibola (W), 7 p.m. Sept. 16, OPEN Sept. 23, at Rio Rancho, 7 p.m. Oct. 1, Piedra Vista (W), 1 p.m. x-Oct. 7, at La Cueva (W), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 15, Clovis (W), 2 p.m. x-Oct. 21, Eldorado (W), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 28, at Santa Fe, 7 p.m. x-Nov. 4, at Sandia (W), 7 p.m.

Circle the date: Gotta go with Week 2, when Adcox meets up with Manzano’s previous head coach, Aaron Ocampo of Centennial. Adcox served on Ocampo’s coaching staff before Ocampo left for Las Cruces.