Most schools preparing for football; Albuquerque out (for now)
Except for Albuquerque and the towns of Los Lunas and Belen to its south, most major school districts in the state of New Mexico have approved the hybrid education model required by the state Public Education Department before football can…
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Continue ReadingExcept for Albuquerque and the towns of Los Lunas and Belen to its south, most major school districts in the state of New Mexico have approved the hybrid education model required by the state Public Education Department before football can be played.
In short, spring high school football is a go for launch in many cities and towns, big and small, across New Mexico, ranging in size from Las Cruces to Rio Rancho to Santa Fe to Farmington to Clovis to Bernalillo to most of the football-obsessed ‘Friday Night Lights’ towns of the far-stretched southeast region such as Artesia, Lovington and Hobbs.
They’re all playing football.
Some school districts already have students back in the classroom, while others will begin Monday (Feb. 22) or the week after. Schools satisfying the Public Education Department requirements for hybrid learning can begin workouts Monday in five-man pods.
Cleveland coach Heath Ridenour told Prep Redzone New Mexico that the defending Class 6A champions will begin five-man pod workouts on Monday after the Rio Rancho School Board approved the district’s hybrid learning model on Thursday.
Capital High School in Santa Fe has been practicing in five-man pods for a while (helmets and shoulder pads this week) and begins hybrid learning on Monday. Clovis head coach Cal Fullerton said Thursday that the Wildcats are practicing in five-man pods now, as well.
Alamogordo coach AJ Cisco said his school started hybrid learning on Feb. 16, so the Tigers should be ready for full team practice by early March. Centennial coach Aaron Ocampo told Prep Redzone the Hawks are “moving forward” with two more weeks of pod workouts.
Full team practices can’t begin until 14 days after actual implementation of the hybrid model. For most teams, that date is March 8. The NMAA will allow teams to reduce the minimum number of preseason practices from 10 to eight, restricting full-pads contact to the second week of drills.
For most teams, the five-game regular season should begin March 18-19. Some games could be played March 11-12 for schools that began hybrid learning this week.
The NMAA is expected to start releasing schedules next week. Travel restrictions apply, so most schedules will be regionalized and some games might be played at neutral sites.
“They say we will stay in regions but I don’t know what region we are in,” Fullerton said. “There are enough teams on this side of the state to make a five-game schedule. We are going to put our heads down and work and try to figure out the best way for our kids to get a chance to get on the field.”
Santa Fe head coach Andrew Martinez told Prep Redzone New Mexico he expects the Demons to face Cleveland and Rio Rancho because of the NMAA’s preference for regional scheduling due to the easing pandemic.
The Albuquerque schools will be sorely missed, of course, as they make up nine of the 20 teams in Class 6A and three of the 18 in 5A.
But, as they say, most other school districts in the state are moving on.
As of Wednesday morning’s NMAA board of directors meeting, executive director Sally Marquez said nearly two-thirds of its 155 member schools had opted in for fall sports, many of them fielding football teams.
If you’re searching for a glimmer of hope regarding the Albuquerque schools, APS superintendent Scott Elder may have provided it Thursday night when reached by James Yodice of the Albuquerque Journal.
“APS is not giving up on fall sports yet,” Elder said. “We’re going to pursue every avenue to get our kids to play.”
According to Yodice, APS has a board meeting Monday night, and there is an agenda item to discuss fall athletics.
This isn’t over yet.
The FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) Factor is beginning to hit the folks at APS. https://t.co/aEJjFTZsPC
— Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) February 19, 2021
I want to thank Dr. Garcia and @SFPSdistrict for fighting to get our kids back in school. We all know it’s not an easy task, but you took it head on. 🙏🏽 @SFHSDemon @Capitalhighjags
— Andrew L. Martinez (@IrishDemon1) February 18, 2021
Dr. Cleveland
Scott Affentranger
Larry Chavez
Renee Saucedo
Matt Martinez
RRPS School BoardTHANK YOU ALL!! We will fight like heck and represent our school, our district, and our community to the best of our abilities. Thank you for finding a way for our kids to play!!!
🙏🏻
— Cleveland Storm 🏈 (@CHSStormFB) February 18, 2021
Thankful for our district leaders and the fight for our kids. Today felt good. pic.twitter.com/rMZX0WDA9F
— Cal Fullerton (@cfully17) February 18, 2021