近距离内射合集

The newly configured District 1 has produced every Class 6A state football champion since 2018.

The two schools that have run rampant over this division, Cleveland and La Cueva, are now, intriguingly, district partners.

The Storm, chasing their third straight state title, and the Bears headline this new eight-team league, which also includes Rio Rancho, Sandia, Farmington, Albuquerque High, West Mesa and Atrisco Heritage.

鈥淭hey understand what it takes to be on top,鈥� Cleveland coach Robert Garza said of his 2026 group.

But this will be a significantly different looking bunch from the last couple of seasons. Cleveland graduated 10 defensive starters, and they鈥檒l be new at some key positions on offense, including quarterback where 6-foot-3 junior Michael Denison takes over after two sensational seasons from Jordan Hatch.

鈥淐eiling is pretty high for him,鈥� Garza said. 鈥淪uper athletic kid.鈥�

Seniors Damian Rodriguez and D鈥橝ngelo Mitchell 鈥� the latter a transfer from 近距离内射合集 Vista 鈥� give Cleveland a potent 1-2 punch in the backfield. Both ran the ball very nicely in a scrimmage Thursday against Eldorado.

Evan Nanez, a 6-1 junior, is arguably the single most important offensive piece to any 6A team this year. Nanez caught nearly 1,000 yards worth of balls last year, with 16 touchdowns, and Cleveland can deploy him any number of ways, including as a kick returner.

鈥淗e鈥檚 our big-play guy,鈥� Garza said. 鈥淭he things he鈥檚 capable of are incredible. He鈥檚 a special kid. We just have to find ways to get him the ball and let him do his thing.鈥�

Ajay Vigil and Kaeleb Escudero (Escudero is one of only two players who鈥檒l be on both sides of the ball for Cleveland) will provide Denison two other dangerous targets.

All-state tackle Wyatt Lohr is one of three starters returning on the O-Line for the Storm, who open at home Friday night against Centennial.

The revamped defense gained a key addition when senior edge Jacari Smith transferred over from rival Rio Rancho, giving the Storm one of the dynamic talents in the state. 

Others to watch are senior lineman Joaquin Manning and linebacker Lincoln Jones. Senior linebacker J.J. Garcia is Cleveland鈥檚 only returning defensive starter.

The Storm graduated 30 seniors from the team that defeated Las Cruces 35-28 in last November鈥檚 6A final.

As a side note, the Storm might be the only New Mexico prep football program with three men who鈥檝e won a state championship as a head coach, the other two being Heath Ridenour, the state鈥檚 premier quarterback whisperer, and former Los Lunas coach Greg Henington.

La Cueva won two playoff games last November before running into a Las Cruces juggernaut that routed the Bears in the semifinals.

The stars are aligned for La Cueva to make another deep run.

鈥淚鈥檝e been really pleased with our progression through the offseason,鈥� Bears coach Brandon Back said. 鈥淲e continue to do things right.鈥�

There is one question looming over the Bears鈥� season opener: the status of veteran senior quarterback Monty Melendez. He has an elbow injury and as of the end of this last week, he is a question mark to start Friday against rival Eldorado.

His progress last year, coming in after the graduation of the magnificent Cam Dyer, was integral to the Bears鈥� playoff run.

Big Vaughn Saunders was expected to be vital at running back for La Cueva, but suffered a season-ending knee injury in June. J Hathaway, Back said, will be a featured back running behind a line that returns three starters.

Junior receiver Chris Lopez enjoyed a robust sophomore season, and his field-stretching speed makes him nearly impossible to defend 1-on-1.

鈥淗e鈥檚 the guy to blow the top off for us,鈥� Back said.

Junior Devyn Williams, with his length and speed, brings another perimeter weapon to the table for La Cueva; Williams is the son of former Highland High great Martinez Williams.

Back said the Bears will lean on this offense as a defense with plenty of new faces catches up.

Players to watch on that defense include linebacker James Barreras, space-eating tackle Sammy Abiodun (6-1, 300) and Dockmiles Love at end.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a good mix of veterans and new players,鈥� Back said of the defense.

Rio Rancho had an up-and-down 2025 season, ending with a first-round loss to Carlsbad. Will the Rams be a serious challenger this fall? Much will be learned from a daunting opening three games against Las Cruces, Los Lunas and Roswell.

鈥淚 think we are an extremely competitive football team,鈥� Rams coach Nate Pino said.

Rio Rancho surely will have a boost from one of 6A鈥檚 elite dual-threat quarterbacks, senior Micah Takahashi. The third-year varsity veteran threw for 24 touchdowns and scored a team-best eight times on the ground. He was the team鈥檚 leading rusher.

鈥淢icah does a great job of putting us in a great spot with his feet and his arm,鈥� Pino said. 鈥淒ude just makes plays.鈥�

And this offense, Pino added, has a plethora of quality players, including junior running backs Eli Vigil and Kellen McCray, and receiver Gilly Terrazas whose role will be to establish himself as the No. 1 target in the passing game.

Pino described the Ram defense as a little undersized, but extremely athletic and diverse. Linebacker Wyatt Nyholm and end Noah Lovato are key playmakers on that side of the ball.

Sandia is sure to be one of the most fascinating teams in 6A, what with an influx of transfers paired up with a handful of gifted returners.

鈥淚 think we turned a corner,鈥� coach Tylon Wilder said after the Matadors scrimmaged 近距离内射合集 Vista and Los Lunas. It was a nod to Sandia鈥檚 physicality in the scrimmage.

Juniors George Smith and Gad Harris bring diversity, athleticism and experience to this Sandia offense, as does senior QB Jahleel Lewis.

鈥淕eorge and Gad were crushing it (in the scrimmage),鈥� said Wilder, starting his second season with the Matadors. Both Harris and Smith were plagued by injuries last season.

The newcomers include receiver Deon Session, a transfer from Atrisco Heritage, and a slot/cornerback named Jerome Woods, who moved into Albuquerque from the Houston metro area.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got a bunch of weapons,鈥� Wilder said. 鈥�(We want) to let them go to work.鈥�

How both lines progress, Wilder hinted, will speak volumes about how far Sandia can advance. Wilder teaches a physical brand of football and to compete with the likes of Cleveland and La Cueva, the Matadors must be equal to the task.

Senior linebacker Aiden Maldonado is the central piece to the Sandia defense, a group that will face any number of explosive offenses.

鈥淭he ceiling is as high as we want to put it,鈥� Wilder said.

Albuquerque High and coach Desmond Anaya saw a large group of seniors leave the program, and this 2026 roster has fewer than 10 seniors.

鈥淔air assessment,鈥� Anaya noted. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got some good pieces to work with.鈥�

Players to watch include senior defensive end Nijion Bokor and junior wide receiver Liam Smartt-Saunders, a player Anaya said 鈥渢urned a corner this offseason.鈥�

Offensive line is an area where the Bulldogs will have some experience, playing in front of new starting QB Adam Aguirre. Julian Madera is a key two-way athlete for the Bulldogs, and he can also play quarterback.

West Mesa would appear to be trending in the right direction, after fielding a team with 22 sophomores last season, many because of injuries to older players.

鈥淚t should reap us a few benefits this year,鈥� coach Landrick Brody said.

His son, Jericho, a junior, played quite a bit of quarterback last year and he鈥檚 running the offense again this year. Like his older brother Elijah, the 6-2, 175-pound Jericho is going to bring multiple options to the position and has been enjoying a solid summer.

Senior Larry Varoz, a middle linebacker, is the central piece on the defense who missed most of 2025 with an injury. That unit, coach Brody said, must become a better tackling team if West Mesa is to challenge for a playoff berth into October.

鈥淲e鈥檙e poised to be competitive,鈥� Brody said.

Farmington had an awful 2025 season, winning just a single game and missing the playoffs. Three of those nine losses were by six points or fewer, however. The good news is that the Scorpions do have a handful of their top skill-position athletes returning this year, led by dual-threat QB Rock Kalcich.

There is probably not any team in 6A that endured a more tumultuous offseason than Atrisco Heritage. The Jaguars had a handful of athletes transfer out following a 1-9 season, on top of the 22 players that graduated after last season.

Which means a large number of players will be making their varsity debut on Friday when Atrisco faces 近距离内射合集 Vista.

One area coach Dominic Casaus expresses confidence is along the offensive and defensive lines, where Atrisco Heritage has some size and that should be helpful in an effort to become a more productive running team.

Quarterback Izaiah Casaus played a bit last year and steps in fulltime at the position; among his weapons is receiver Jude Maldonado.

鈥淲e still have weapons all over the field,鈥� coach Casaus said.

James Yodice covers prep sports for the Journal. You can reach him at jyodice@abqjournal.com or via X at .