PREP FOOTBALL: WEST MESA AT A GLANCE
Coach: Anthony Ansotigue (2nd year; 2-8) Last season: 2-8 Returning starters: 4 offense, 4 defense
Key players: Brandon Kenton, sr. (5-8, 160, RB/WR/DB); Mark Gutierrez, jr. (5-9, 135, WR/DB); Paul Aragon, sr. (6-0, 220, OL/DL); Daniel Ayala, soph. (5-11, 180, QB); Ja’Calvin Newsom, jr. (5-10, 175, RB/ DB); Allen Ruiz, sr. (5-8, 230, OL/DL); Darian Baca, sr. (5-10, 280, C).
Outlook: The 2019 Mustangs have taken a step forward from last year, Ansotigue said, although West Mesa may still find some bumps and bruises this season with a schedule that frankly is above its pay grade. Two players to watch in this bunch are Ayala, a QB with plenty of upside (arm, football IQ, leadership skills) and Newsom, who had ACL surgery in February, Ansotigue said, and yet might be able to start the season in the backfield. That would qualify as one of the speediest recoveries from ACL surgery on record. He led the team with roughly 500 rushing yards last year. Kenton will be a featured piece in that offense as well, and three O-Line starters, led by center Baca, return. An undersized defense, sparked by Gutierrez in the backfield and Kenton at linebacker, is likely to be an issue, especially against this group of opponents. Team building was a crucial component to this offseason in an effort to make the Mustangs mentally tougher, Ansotigue said, adding that it was not the physical differences that he felt were the major problem against the elite teams — Cleveland, Volcano Vista — in their district last season.
2019 schedule (x-denotes District 1-6A game)
Aug. 22, at Eldorado (W), 7 p.m. Aug. 30, at Centennial (FOD), 7 p.m. Sept. 6, Mayfield (C), 7 p.m. Sept. 12, Rio Grande (C), 7 p.m. Sept. 19, at Manzano (W), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 4, at Volcano Vista (C), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 10, Rio Rancho (C), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 17, Cibola (C), 7 p.m. x-Oct. 25, at Cleveland, 7 p.m. x-Oct. 31, Atrisco Heritage (C), 7 p.m.
Circle the date: West Mesa and Manzano were locked in a close game at halftime last year before the Monarchs pulled away, and this might be a winnable game for the Mustangs by midseason.