MCCURDY //

back in the revamped Class 2A, but Gallegos is fairly optimistic the Bobcats will be a strong group come game time.

“I think we’re going to be competitive,” he said. “We’re going to play everybody hard and we’re not going to take anybody lightly after getting beat up in 3A, but we were still competing. We held our own in 3A even with a smaller group. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

The heart of the team is four returning Class 2-3A first-team all-district players, including co-player of the year Raul Arroyo (5 feet, 9 inches, 170 pounds, Sr., RB/WR/DB).

“The kid does it all,” Gallegos said. “He’s a running back, receiver, back-up quarterback. On defense, he was the second-leading tackler in the state. He’s our special teams kickoff specialist and he had the most touchbacks in the state last year. He kicked two field goals. On defense, if he hits you, you know you’re going to have headache.”

He’s joined by Jacob Martinez (6-2, 190, Sr., TE/ OLB), Nikko Valdez (5-8, 210, Sr., C/DL) and Clyde Ortiz (5-10, 200, Sr., OL/DL).

With his size, speed and athleticism, Martinez is a guaranteed match-up nightmare when he’s running routes and he has the strength to be an asset in the running game, as well. Ortiz and Valdez are tough on the line and will be opening plenty of holes for Arroyo, and fellow back and speedster Ernesto Martinez (5-7, 140, Sr., RB/WR).

Martinez won the silver medal in the 100-yard dash in the spring and will be counted on to spread defenses, Gallegos said.

One of the big question marks will come down behind center as Santiago Samora (5-7, 130, So., QB) is a relatively unproven signal caller. Samora doesn’t have a particularly strong arm, Gallegos said, but can be deadly accurate.

On the other side of the ball, the Bobcats look even tougher as virtually the entire starting cast returns, led by glueman Brandon Lovato (5-8, 180, Sr., LB/FB), who has been named a captain.

“He’s focused this year,” the coach said. “He really wants it bad. I think he has the charisma to lead some of the younger kids into it.”

Now it’s just matter of getting everybody onto the practice field and taking reps alongside each other.

“Our thing is doing things right the first time, like every other year,” Gallegos said. “We want to win our first game, win our first district game, win homecoming, win district and go on to state. It’s going to be a good season. If we go .500, I’ll be happy. But we have the players and everything else to go farther than that. A lot of farther.”