West Mesa has holes to fill but could emerge as District 4-6A contenders
EDITOR’S NOTE: Today Rio West continues to preview the 2017 high school football season for the eight high school programs in the area. Coming next week: Valley and Bernalillo.
In the wide-open nature preserve that is District 4-6A football, the annual “King of the Mountain” contest will soon begin.
The West Mesa Mustangs, like everyone else in 4-6A, face the same metaphorical climb: a six-team scrum, all of them chasing what is likely to be the only playoff berth this league receives in November.
“That’s what makes it fun,” said Mustangs head coach Ron McMath. “All the games are important.”
While the 2016 season had its moments for West Mesa, the Mustangs finished tied for third in the district, 4-6 overall and watched helplesslly as another 4-6 entry, Atrisco Heritage, qualified for the playoffs.
West Mesa faces a bit of a rebuild this year, with only seven starters returning overall, and only two of those seven on defense.
“This year, we’re going through some growing pains,” said McMath, starting his sixth season at West Mesa. “And we’re trying to get these guys up to speed.”
The Mustangs open Aug. 24 at Nusenda Community Stadium against Del Norte.
Later, as District 4-6A action begins, the Mustangs, along with Atrisco, Valley and Albuquerque High in particular, will try and find their way into the postseason.
Uncovering playmakers on the defensive side, which is McMath’s forte, will be one of the urgent needs for West Mesa, both leading up to Aug. 24 and throughout the first half of the regular season.
Junior linebackers Damien Altimirano and Aaron Martinez will be key in this rebuild, and also defending on the perimeter where McMath has concerns about the cornerback position.
“We’re trying to keep the scheme simple, where they don’t have to think as much, and just play fast,” McMath said of the defense.
The offense also will have a new wrinkle, as former slot receiver Gabriel Ramirez has moved to quarterback. He’s a solid thrower, McMath said, and with his quickness, that makes him a serious run threat in the option.
The move should be fairly smooth for Ramirez, since the senior played QB two years ago on the JV, and was the scout team quarterback last season.
The receiving corps includes Carlos Ruiz, Jon Sisneros (who will be a heavily featured target) and 6-foot-3 senior Brandon Bouldin, who caught a teambest eight TDs last year.
“I definitely have to feed him a lot,” Ramirez said with a smile. “Because he deserves that.”
Mark Garcia and J.J. Ruiz will be among those who will carry the ball, but success will be tied to an offensive line that is almost entirely new.
“Offensive line is our biggest concern,” McMath said. “We’re gonna go as far as they take us.”
Said senior guard Sevastian Martinez, “We have to be fast paced on the ball, and no errors at all. It’s a work in progress, with some rough edges, but we’ll get it down for opening day.”
Add it up, and McMath can’t project with certainty how this season might go.
“We might win eight games,” he said. “We might win two games. All depends on how hard we work and how we progress in two-a-days (which start July 31). But I think we have as good a chance as anybody (in our district). There’s a lot of parity.”