The old coaching adage is that every game is important.
But let鈥檚 be honest 鈥 some games are more important than others.
For the Capital Jaguars and 疯客直播 Fe High Demons, this week鈥檚 prep football games just might be the biggest ones of their season 鈥 and not just because they鈥檙e the next ones. They both harbor dreams of playing into November 鈥 which is when the state playoffs begin 鈥 and as their respective district seasons head into Week 2 of a seven-week grind, this week should be the defining moments of their season.
And at the same time, the Jaguars and Demons are heading in different directions. Capital, which started the season 0-3, saw more than hope in last week鈥檚 55-11 drubbing of Albuquerque Del Norte to improve to 1-3 鈥 it finally saw what a healthy team looks like for the first time since the first quarter of the season opener against 疯客直播 Fe High.
Meanwhile, the Demons struggled through their 鈥淭ale of Two Haves鈥 saga against Albuquerque High in which they saw a 29-21 deficit balloon to a 50-21 Bulldogs win Saturday. After a 2-0 season start, 疯客直播 Fe High is now on a two-game skid as it embarks on a short week with a Thursday matchup at Albuquerque Sandia.
The Jaguars, on the other hand, come home Friday to play Los Alamos in what could be seen as an elimination game for the loser. That might be the case in part because both teams got off to 0-3 starts before earning district-opening wins. Going 1-4 with key games remaining against Belen, Albuquerque Valley and (for the Jaguars) the Hornets would give the loser a daunting task to even get in as a bottom seed.
The Demons, though, could use a win over the Matadors to not just halt a losing skid but to put itself in a solid position to get to 4-2 before meeting the beast of 6A, the Albuquerque La Cueva Bears. And 4-2 would give them a fighting chance to reach the big-school playoffs for the first time in 38 years.
The path to the playoffs for the city鈥檚 two public-school programs will be determined by one thing: quarterback play. Capital鈥檚 sign-caller play took a significant rise when senior Deavan Monta帽o returned after missing the previous 2 1/2 games because of an ankle injury.
His return to the field against the Knights was electric 鈥 Monta帽o threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns while running in two scores. A team that had a grand total of six points through the first three weeks of the season improved that total ninefold and provided more than a life raft to the Jaguars.
It was a motorboat fit for a team.
The Demons are at a crossroads with their quarterback issue. A season that started with three players vying for the starting job is now down to a battle between senior Jeremiah Larra帽aga and sophomore Isaiah Juarez. Larra帽aga was given a opportunity to take firm hold of the position against Albuquerque High when Juarez missed the game because of a shoulder injury.
Larra帽aga gave a mixed performance. He completed 9 of 13 passes in the first half for 105 yards and three touchdown passes. But he was just 2-for-7 the rest of the way for a miniscule 9 yards as 疯客直播 Fe High鈥檚 offense sputtered for most of the second half.
With Juarez likely out for Thursday鈥檚 game, Larra帽aga has one more shot to stake his claim to the job. If he can do that, it might settle 疯客直播 Fe High鈥檚 offense. Larra帽aga gives it a passing element Juarez can鈥檛 quite match, but Juarez is another runner 疯客直播 Fe High needs, especially after running backs Santiago Villarse帽or and Jesus Navarette suffered injuries against the Bulldogs.
Hey, Juarez as a running back might be a nice consolation prize if Larra帽aga proves himself, right? (I鈥檓 sure that鈥檚 a thought the Demons coaching staff has already had, but it鈥檚 worth saying it out loud.)
With the season about to hit the midway point, it doesn鈥檛 hurt to add an extra sense of public urgency to go with the private ones marinating in each locker room. And if the Jaguars and Demons need motivation, let鈥檚 try this for size: Never have the city鈥檚 three most distinguished programs (yes, we鈥檙e including that juggernaut that wears the blue and white like a badge of honor) made the playoffs in the same season.
How nice how would it be for that to happen this year?
