Sacrifice helping to set Elks up for a run at state this year
Sheer number of players coming out building hopes
Although the Pojoaque Valley High School football team took a big step up in winning four games in coach Jorgé Oropeza’s first season, on the heels of a winless campaign, he expects even more this season.
“The expectations were for themselves last year, just to get back in the win column,” Oropeza said. “And how this team, we came back from that, going 4-6 last year, we want more.
“District title, get in the playoffs and try to make a run at state. That’s the expectations they have for each other.”
While those are lofty goals, the Elks are also reasonable in their beliefs, he said. “It’s not going to happen overnight, but it is all working.”
One of the areas that is building the hopes is simply in the number of players coming out, Oropeza said.
There are generally twice as many Elks in the weight room and on the field this summer.
“I think compared to the numbers coming out this year, I do believe the kids have really bought into what we’re trying to do,” he said. “Football is not like other sports where you can jump right in and be effective. It is a very physical and mental game.”
And that means preparing for a new season as soon as the previous one ends. Lacking a football class, to get work in during the spring semester, players had to stay after school and work out.
It takes dedication and perseverance, while also limiting the players’ ability to engage in other sports, Oropeza said.
“We started in January and started with about 15-20 kids,” he said. “I’m pretty proud of them. They have to stay after school. Sometimes, people don’t realize the value of a sports class, but you see they have to sacrifice a lot. We stay from 3 until 4:40, 4:45 every day. We do weight room, skill work. It’s hard, but I’m really proud of the kids.”
That athletic class “is a beautiful thing to have,” Oropeza said. “You get the kids all year round. It doesn’t take away from basketball, baseball, wrestling because they’re in your program and still doing their part to get bigger, stronger faster.”
Still, seeing how far the players have already come is rewarding because the players are doing it to better themselves.
“I’m really big on character and putting in their time, but still having fun while they’re doing it,” Oropeza said. “That they’re getting something out of it because they know what playing football is like. There are many lessons there.”
For the Elks this season, the big question will be replacing graduated quarterback Daniel Rael, who threw for almost 1,500 yards and ran for 663.
Sophomore Isaiah Rodriguez (5 foot, 7 inches, 155 pounds) is being groomed for the position.
“He’s a small guy, but extremely tough and he can fling the ball 65 yards,” Oropeza said. “He’s come a long way, understanding his reads, where he was to go with the ball. Just because you can throw the ball 65 yards doesn’t mean you have to do it on every play. You can be successful on slants and crosses. I think he’s going to be pretty good. He’s emerged as a pretty good leader.”
On the other side of the ball, senior Ben Lujan is the unquestioned leader as the team’s leading returning tackler. The 5-7, 180-pounder plays outside linebacker, inside linebacker and even free safety, depending on what the Elks need.
“He was that kid I could put anywhere and he would be effective,” Oropeza said. “Toward the end of the season, he started playing some running back and he did really well with it.”
Another strength will be Pojoaque’s senior tight ends Colton Law (6-5, 250) and Sterlin Martinez (6-4, 200), who will present matchup problems whether blocking or out in routes.
Law is “a good blocker and his hands are real dependable,” Oropeza said, adding Martinez is “more athletic and fast.”
This year, “we’re excited because we have so many more weapons, so many options,” the coach said. “Our goal is saying, ‘You’re going to have to win a lot of one-on-one matches in order to stop our offense.’”