Defending state champs have a new look
EDITOR’S NOTE: Starting today in Rio West, and over the course of the ensuing five Saturdays through Aug. 19, the section will be previewing the eight football-playing high school programs in the area. Coming next week: Cibola and West Mesa.
Ideally, this is not how you’d want to start a football season as a defending state champion: with a first-time head coach and a sophomore quarterback replacing one of the most dynamic, productive playmakers in school history.
But such is the assignment for Dave Montoya, a St. Pius alum who’s been handed the keys to the Sartans program.
“Every group is different. Every group is gonna have their own personality,” said Montoya, 40, who was an assistant under San Juan Mendoza since 1998 before being promoted last January. “This group has a distinct personality from last year’s group, so it’s been pretty easy to shake off any hangover.”
It has been almost eight months since St. Pius won the Class 5A state title, defeating Artesia at Nusenda Community Stadium.
Longtime coach Mendoza retired following that triumph, which was also the swan song for record-breaking quarterback Drew Ortiz, who now is at UTEP as a walkon, hoping to make it as a Division I QB.
The transition to Montoya, and identifying Ortiz’s replacement, are the two biggest question marks for St. Pius as it opens its state title defense Aug. 25 against Highland at Milne Stadium.
“The challenge,” said senior wide receiver Ryan McGaha, “is just working hard and coming to practice every day to work and compete.”
McGaha is one of eight starters returning for St. Pius, which was 12-1 last season. He set school records last year in receptions and touchdowns. But that was with Ortiz at the wheel. One of two sophomores, Diego Pavia or Derek Rivera, will be at QB when this season begins. And while both gained some varsity experience last fall, every Sartan player and coach understands that neither of them will be able to replicate what Ortiz, who accounted for 60 combined rushing and passing touchdowns last season, brought to the table.
“We know both of these guys can play at the varsity level,” Montoya said. This battle could linger all the way through St. Pius’ Aug. 17 scrimmage. The Sartans will continue to ask their quarterback to run and throw; Ortiz was a master at both.
“It’s really close,” Montoya said, “but who is better able to throw the ball will win the competition.”
McGaha, easily one of the top five receivers in 5A, and junior Jacob McCoy should give the eventual starter some stability and explosiveness in the passing game, while the ground game will be largely by committee, the coach said. The offense, Montoya added, will be slightly less complex this year given the relative inexperience of the new quarterback.
Defense is “a little more scary for us,” Montoya said. There is good, young talent up front, and there is depth in the backfield, but linebacker is a concern.
“If I have one worry about us going into the season,” Montoya said, “that’s it.”
Senior Justin Rivera, a defensive tackle last season, is at linebacker this year which is more of a natural position for him and he looks to lead that group.
Montoya, who was formerly St. Pius’ special teams coach, said Belen likely opens the season as the favorite in District 5-5A, and he also likes the chances of Roswell, Artesia and Farmington.
“I think we still have a little bit of work to do,” said McGaha. “But I know our team will work out the kinks, and we’ll be ready to go when the season starts.”
As an aside, technically the Artesia game was not Mendoza’s last; he will be the South head coach for the upcoming North-South All-Star contest, and will oppose North coach Ron McMath of West Mesa.