Top 10 stories: Texico wins second-straight title

One of Texico’s biggest challenges to winning a second-straight Class A championship came from within.

Battling expectations and the complacency that comes with thoroughly beating opponents, the Wolverines won their second consecutive title and continued a winning steak that now stands at 24 games.

The Wolverines repeating as state champions was picked as the top local sports story by the CNJ staff.

Senior quarterback Braden Vaughan and coach Mike Prokop said this year’s championship was tougher because expectations were higher.

“Everyone expected you to win,” Prokop said. “That’s what you’re judged by.”

“Everybody from outside the team was saying, ‘You’re going to win this easy,’” Vaughan said. “So when everybody is telling you’re going to win it, you feel the pressure that you have to win it.”

Despite losing 12 seniors from the 2003 championship team, Texico still won by an average of 39 points a game and shut out its opponents six times. They played textbook Texico football, where the defense dominates and the offense runs the ball. The Wolverines allowed only 13 points in three playoff games. Its closest game was a 21-14 win at Class 2A runner-up Santa Rosa.

Seniors Bryan Vannatta, Logan Brown, Vaughan, Johnny Serrano, Tony Clements and Leo Muniz were all chosen for the Class A/AA all-star game in Silver City in June, with Chris Phillips named as a first alternate.

Serrano returned after missing 2003 for academic problems and paired for Phillips for an almost unstoppable running tandem. Both rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

“We could run the ball with Johnny and Chris, but we could also have a deep threat,” Prokop said.

The Wolverines threw the ball more than in 2004, as Vaughan matured as a passer and Clements returned from a knee injury to become his favorite target.

Prokop said he was harder on this past year’s team so it didn’t lose its edge.

“It’s the little things that help you get to the championship game,” Prokop said. “Winning can make you soft, and we never want to be soft,” Prokop said.

Vaughan said the coaches kept the players’ head straight, harping on the fact that opponent could always play a perfect game or the bounces may not go Texico’s way.

“We always thought we had a challenge, We never took anyone lightly,” Vaughan said.

Prokop said what the Wolverines accomplished will be hard to duplicate.

“It’s just two great years. Things have come along possibly once in a lifetime,” Prokop said. “It’s something not too many people can do.”