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CLASS 5A
starters back led by Cuellar and Hamilton. Najera is the top
returning tackler and should be a force in the front seven
along with Haddix who was outstanding as a sophomore.
EL PASO PARKLAND MATADORS
ENROLLMENT: 1,332.5 ( 7)
2013 RECORD: 6-5 4A Div. II Bi-District Playoffs
THE COACH: Jerry Walker
THE PLAYERS: Wayne Harris (Sr., WR), Christian Johnson (Jr.,
DL), Marcel Gilley (Sr., WR), Andres Silva (Sr., QB), Omar Rosales (Sr., LB), Nathan Lyon (Sr., DL), Christian Montelongo
(Sr., LB), Isaiah White (Jr., TE), Albert Lavine (Jr., DB), Chance
Middleton (Jr., OL), David Gallegos (Jr., RB), Joshua Wells
(So., TE/DB), Jacob Mendez (So., ATH)
THE WORD: After three consecutive seasons of missing out
on the playoffs, the Matadors got back to the playoffs in
2013 and with six starters back on both sides of the ball, 18
year veteran HC Jerry Walker is hoping for a repeat trip. The
ringleader of the Matadors attack is QB Silva who had a big
junior season accounting for 21 touchdowns. Silva will have
a bevy of speedy receivers to throw the ball to led by Harris
who had 37 receptions for 509 yards and four touchdowns
as a junior. Gallegos will likely take over at running back
as Parkland still prides itself on a strong ground attack.
Defensively speedy junior Johnson will anchor the defensive
line, he’s a big time pass rusher as evidenced by his 15. 5
sacks as a sophomore. He’ll face constant double teams
and that’ll free up guys like Lyon and Montelongo to emerge
as playmakers. The secondary will be young with only Lavine
back as a starter, “We must grow up in the secondary, we
graduated guys who had a combined 17 interceptions,” said
Coach Walker.
EL PASO HANKS KNIGHTS
ENROLLMENT: 1,847 ( 3)
2013 RECORD: 4-6
THE COACH: Jeff Cleveland
THE PLAYERS: Albert Flores (Sr., OL/DL), Alex Perez (Sr.,
WR/K), Jordan Reyes (Sr., QB), Mark Femat (Sr., RB), Chaz
Thomas (Sr., WR), Melvin Webb (Sr., DB), Travis Fox (Sr., LB),
Gabriel Colunga (Sr., DL/LB), Matt Mendoza (Jr., OL/DL),
John Tarango (Sr., DL), Steven Lopez (Jr., LB), Randy Thomas
(Jr., WR/DB), Enrique Gonzalez (Sr., WR)
THE WORD: The Knights struggled to a 4-6 record in 2013,
their worst since moving down from the state’s largest classification. Coach Cleveland is confident his team can get
back into the playoff mix in 2014 as Hanks brings back plenty of experience on the defensive side of the ball and at the
skill positions. Reyes is a big signal caller with a strong arm
and returns after throwing 15 touchdown passes in 2013, if
he can cut back on the interceptions Hanks’ passing game
should flourish with talented receivers like Chaz and Randy
Thomas and Gonzalez. Flores returns to lead the offensive
line as he was an all-district pick in 2013. Femat played
some QB early in the season but seemed to find a home at
running back late in the year. Defensively, the Knights are
led by LB Fox and versatile Colunga who has the ability to
play rush end or a drop linebacker. Mendoza and Tarango
gives Coach Cleveland nice depth along the defensive front.
The secondary is led by returning all-district corner Webb.
EL PASO BEL AIR HIGHLANDERS
ENROLLMENT: 2,082.5 ( 1)
2013 RECORD: 2-8
THE COACH: Tony Cervantes
THE PLA YERS: Omar Ballesteros (Sr., ATH), Samuel Workman
(Jr., LB), Adan Hernandez (Jr., RB/DB), Alex Solis (Sr., RB),
Drae Vasquez (Sr., RB/DB), Jorge Rascon (Jr., WR), Sammy
Arredondo (Jr., WR/DB), Emmanuel Garcia (Sr., LB), Brian
Saenz (Jr., OL), Aaron Burrola (Sr., DL)
THE WORD: Bel Air alum Tony Cervantes has hopes to bring the
Highlanders back to the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
With a “drop” to the new Class 5A he feels like at least now
his team can compete on more even terms after being one of
the smallest 5A schools in the region for quite some time. The
Highlanders have plenty of questions on offense, but they do
have one of their top playmakers returning in Ballesteros who
is capable of playing several positions, he could get an early
look under center after seeing time as a backup in 2013. The
Highlanders could employ a backfield by committee approach
as there are several potential candidates. Defensively, linebacker will be Bel Air’s strength as Workman returns after an
impressive sophomore season and he’ll be joined by Garcia
who is among the top returning tacklers on the team. Bel Air
won’t be fighting an uphill battle with the numbers game and
that should spell improvement and possibly a break in the long
playoff drought if the pieces fall in place.
CLINT HORIZON SCORPIONS
ENROLLMENT: 1,553 ( 5)
2013 RECORD: 3-7
THE COACH: David Telas
THE PLAYERS: Gabriel Woodruff (Sr., OL), Eduardo Salcido (Sr.,
OL), Nathan Blue (Sr., OL), Jorge Ramirez (Jr., RB), Isaac Morales
(Sr., QB), Alexis Rivera (Sr., WR/DB), Isaac Ontiveros (Sr., LB),
Juan Avila (Sr., LB), Luis Botello (Sr., LB), Gustavo Ojeda (Sr.,
DL), Kylian Macias (Jr., WR/DB), Irving Longoria (Jr., DB)
THE WORD: The Scorpions stumbled to a 3-7 mark a year
ago and Coach Telas is hoping that was just an aberration
after Horizon rattled off four straight winning seasons from
2009-2012 highlighted by a 9-3 mark in 2012. Six offensive
starters return for Horizon led by a trio of all-district caliber
lineman in Woodruff, Blue and Salcido. In fact of the six
starters back for the offense, three are up front. Ramirez
topped 700 yards rushing in a backup role a year ago and will
move into the lead role this year for the Scorpions. Morales
spent time at receiver a year ago and backup QB and he’ll
move into the signal caller role full time. Defensively, the top
player returning is LB Botello who had 43 tackles a year ago.
Just four starters return overall as most of the experience on
that side is at linebacker. Ojeda will lead the defensive line
as he’s the lone returner in the trenches. The secondary will
be young as all four starters were lost to graduation.
EL PASO YSLETA INDIANS
ENROLLMENT: 1,428 ( 6)
2013 RECORD: 4-6
THE COACH: Ruben Torres
THE PLAYERS: Justin Maese (Sr., QB/P), Ricardo Davila (Sr.,
DL), Carlos Bernal (Sr., DL), Benjamin Cardenas (Jr., LB),
Darren Arenas (Sr., DB), Jasper Escobedo (Jr., WR), John
Gonzalez (Sr., OL), Bryan Martinez (So., LB), Victor Gonzalez
(Sr., RB), Ryan Flores (So., RB), Joshua Nieto (So., OL)
THE WORD: Ysleta made a three game improvement in Coach
Torres’ second year at the helm, the question now is can
Ysleta break through and earn the school’s first playoff
appearance since 2002? Six starters are back on offense
led by talented QB Maese, he’s entering his third year as a
starter and was a first team all-district pick in 2013. The
coaching staff likes the depth along the offensive line and
at running back where Gonzalez and Flores are expected to
split carries. Five starters are back on the defensive side of
the ball and where the Indians look to be strongest is on the
defensive line with Davila and Bernal anchoring things, they
were both all-district a year ago and they make the YHS defense tough to run against. Where there is concern is in the
secondary where 6’ 2 188lb safety Arenas is the only starter
that is back. Maese aside from being the QB is also a very
good punter, but the place kicking duties are a big question
mark as well for Ysleta heading into 2014.
EL PASO RIVERSIDE RANGERS
ENROLLMENT: 1,216.5 ( 8)
2013 RECORD: 2-7
THE COACH: Eric Frontz
THE PLAYERS: Sabian Solis (Sr., RB), Gilbert Garcia (Jr., OL),
Ricky Chacon (Jr., DB), Thomas Garcia (Sr., DB), Mark Ennis
(Sr., OL), A. J. Valdez (Sr., OL), Eric Velez (Sr., DL), Caleb Garcia
(Sr., WR), Damien Diaz (Sr., OL), Shannon Ortega (Jr., LB),
Aaron Samaniego (So., QB), Cezar Garcia (So., DB)
THE WORD: Riverside stumbled to a 2-7 mark a year ago and
in a balanced district the road back to the playoffs will be a
challenge. Coach Frontz welcomes back twenty letterman
from a year ago and seven offensive starters for 2014. The
leader of the group will be RB Solis who ran for over 800
yards a year ago. He’ll run behind and experienced offensive
line with Garcia, Ennis and Valdez all returning starters. A
big question mark is at QB where talented sophomore
Samaniego will be tasked with running the Rangers spread
pistol attack. Riverside returns just four starters on the defensive side of the ball and that lack of experience concerns
the coaching staff. The secondary does have some experience back with Chacon who had 79 tackles and Garcia who
had three interceptions last year. Velez is the lone returning
starter along the defensive line, while linebacker is an area
that has no starters back. Riverside will need some breaks
to get into the playoff mix, but the Rangers on paper look to
be a team that will improve their win total.
DISTRICT 3-5A
IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
CANYON EAGLES
ENROLLMENT: 1,186 ( 5)
2013 RECORD: 12-1 4A Div. II Regional Semi-Finalist
THE COACH: Blake Bryant
THE PLAYERS: Isaac Garland (Sr., TE/DL), Cade McCallie (Sr.,
QB/DB), Derrick Spencer (Sr., DB), Jesse Gomez (Sr., OL),
John Runberg (Jr., DL), Derius Jones (Jr., LB), Hunter Reece
(Sr., DB), Ryan Guevara (Sr., K), Tyler Silva (Sr., OL)
THE WORD: Coach Blake Bryant enters his 16th season at
the helm of the Eagles and should be as optimistic after
coming off of a 12-1 season that saw his go undefeated
through the regular season before falling to eventual champion Aledo. Bryant returns eight starters to a defense that
held opponents to 10 points or less on six different occasions last year, they did have a big loss losing top player LB
Dylan Douglass. Senior defensive end Isaac Garland is one
of six all-district starters returning for the Eagles defense
and is expected to be a leader on the team. Garland was
also an all-district pick at tight end. Fellow all-district pick
Cade McCallie earned the honor as a defensive back last
season but will focus his talents on the offensive side of
the ball this year as he becomes the starting quarterback.
McCallie is quick and a good decision maker and will add an
added dimension to the Eagles offense with his legs. Senior
offensive tackle Jesse Gomez was a mainstay on the Eagles’
line last year and will continue to pave the way for an offense
that returns only four starters this fall. Special teams will
be a strength for the Eagles with first-team all-district kicker
Ryan Guevara back for his senior season. Expect the Eagles
to be the class of the district yet again this year.
AMARILLO PALO DURO DONS
ENROLLMENT: 1,910.5 ( 1)
2013 RECORD: 5-6 4A Div. I Bi-District Playoffs
THE COACH: Steve Parr
THE PLAYERS: Anthony McLain (Sr., RB), Luis Flores (Sr., OL),
Zacchaeus Watson (Sr., DB), Kendrick Buckingham (Sr.,
QB), Tevin Donald (Sr., WR), De’John Burns (Sr., DB), G’ontay
Ammons (Sr., DL), Horation Smith (Sr., LB), Alfredo Morales
(Sr., OL), Khalil Gipson (Jr., LB)
THE WORD: The Dons won two of their final three district
games to vault themselves into postseason only to be dismissed in the first round. Palo Duro will try to top its early
playoff exit this season and has the returners to do so. First-team all-district running back Anthony McLain is back after
running for 1,019 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
McLain also has good hands out of the backfield, catching
eight passes for 124 yards and another score. McLain will
be joined in the backfield by senior quarterback Kendrick
Buckingham, who was anointed starter as a junior last year.
Buckingham completed 57 percent of his passes in throwing for 836 yards and six touchdowns. The combination of
Buckingham and McLain will keep the Dons’ offense running
smoothly into the new season. The offensive line will be anchored by senior Luis Flores, who was an all-district pick last
year. Senior safeties Zacchaeus Watson and De’John Burns
tied for second in tackles as both had 84 total take downs.
Watson was a first-team all-district pick. The Dons have key
pieces returning on both sides of the ball along with plenty
of team speed and the experience will make them tough to
beat in what should be a competitive district.
CANYON RANDALL RAIDERS
ENROLLMENT: 1,536 ( 3)
2013 RECORD: 9-3 4A Div. II Area Finalist
THE COACH: Bryan Wood
THE PLAYERS: Brett Taff (Sr., QB), Paul Terry (Jr., WR/DB),
Logan Nix (Sr., WR), Wyatt Garton (Sr., RB), Brant Brister (Sr.,
DL), Zach Hoffman (Sr., DL), Kade Satterwhite (Sr., TE/DL),
Nick Dominguez (Sr., K), Brady McClendon (Sr., DB)
THE WORD: After a loss to rival Canyon, the Raiders finished
the regular season in a flurry, winning their final four games
by an average of 23 points per game. Randall is hoping to
carry that momentum over to the upcoming season with a
slew of key players returning. The Raiders only have four
starters returning on both sides of the ball, but the players
that are returning should be enough to keep the program
moving forward. Quarterback Brett Taff threw for 1,465
yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior and provides leadership at an important position. Taff will be joined in the
backfield by running back Wyatt Garton, who ran for 1,470
yards and 17 touchdowns a season ago. Taff and Garton
may have a tough go of things early on as the Eagles have
to rebuild their entire offensive line. Junior Paul Terry was
a first-team all-district pick at defensive back last year but
is also a formidable wide receiver. His experience on both
sides of the ball could prove beneficial for a team that will
be unexperienced compared to other teams in the district.
Despite a big hit from graduation, the Raiders are still in
pretty good shape with experience at key spots and should
see the postseason yet again.
AMARILLO CAPROCK LONGHORNS
ENROLLMEN T: 1,875 ( 2)
2013 RECORD: 6-4
THE COACH: Open
THE PLAYERS: Victor Haro (Sr., QB), Shawn Stewart (Sr.,
RB), Blama Saryoung (Jr., RB), Austin Cruz-Riley (Jr., WR),
Jordan Atkinson (Jr., WR), Ezequil Tenorio (Jr., DB), Rudy
Garcia (Sr., DB), Marcus Smith (Jr., DL), Marqus Zapata
(Jr., OL), Gabriel Chacon (Sr., OL)
THE WORD: The Longhorns have to get better at winning
games when they count. After starting the season off 6-0,
Caprock dropped its final four games of the season, missing the playoffs in the process. CHS will now have to try to
change that trend under a new coach as Seth Parr departed
in May for Lubbock Coronado. The new leader will have an
experienced group returning to help him do so. Quarterback
Victor Haro returns after an all-district season a year ago.
As a junior, Haro passed for 1,630 yards, 20 touchdowns
and only seven interceptions. Haro is a good decision maker
and has an accurate arm, completing 60 percent of his
passes a year ago. Haro will benefit from having junior wide
receivers Austin Cruz-Riley and Jordan Atkinson back. The
junior pass catching duo combined for more than 600 yards
receiving and will stretch defenses this year. The Longhorns’
defense lost its top three leading tacklers to graduation but
safeties Ezequil Tenorio and Rudy Garcia have noses for the
football and will help ease the transition of new linebackers.
The Longhorns have all the pieces to reach the postseason
this fall but they can’t fall into the same lull that they did in
the second half of the year last year when they looked like
a totally different team. After their six-game win streak to
begin the year, all four of their final four losses came by 30
points or more.
HEREFORD WHITEFACES
ENROLLMENT: 1, 136 ( 6)
2013 RECORD: 2-9 4A Div. II Bi-District Playoffs
THE COACH: Don DeLozier
THE PLAYERS: Payton Gonzales (Sr., WR), Johnny Sanchez
(Sr., LB), Brandon Cloud (Sr., RB), Chris Zepeda (Sr., LB),
Jayden Ramirez (Sr., DL), Trey Ledezma (Jr., OL), Daniel
Castillo (Jr., WR), Kyle Fetsch (Sr., DL), Ethan Galan (Jr., LB),
Christian Lucio (Jr., WR)
THE WORD: Despite a losing record, the Whitefaces reached
the postseason was the fourth seed out of District 4-4A.
Now with playoff experience under their belts, the Whitefaces intend on returning to the postseason with a better
résumé. The Whitefaces will have to replace graduated
quarterback Dane Lowery, who put up some big games for
them down the stretch of district play. All-district senior
wide receiver Payton Gonzales has experience under-center
and could make the move to quarterback or the team could
