Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Senior Caden Zarikta applies the stiff-arm to linebacker Ian Yruegas before Yruegas wraps him up on a goal-line play at Saturday's Clovis practice.
Cal Fullerton, entering his second year as Clovis head coach, addresses the team following Saturday's practice to close out the opening week. The Wildcats face Las Cruces in a Wednesday neutral-site scrimmage at Ruidoso before opening the season at Hobbs Aug. 24.
CLOVIS — In a cool evening breeze — early-season football weather already — Clovis High's football team wrapped up two-a-day practices Friday at Leon Williams Stadium.
Though just four days removed from Monday's first practice, the Wildcats felt they had come a great distance since the beginning. The routes were sharper, the coaching was sinking in, the plays were making so much more sense.
As of Friday, two weeks still remained before they kick it off against Hobbs, but the work-in-progress that is the 'Cats — like any team this soon into practice — seemed to be coming along nicely.
"They're really just picking things up a lot better," Clovis' second-year head coach Cal Fullerton said after the first of two practices Friday night. "We always think the third day (Wednesday) is our sore day and that's probably been the best day we've had so far. It was a really good day."
By Friday, according to Fullerton, the players looked even sharper.
"They did, they really did," he said. "They're picking up the offense a lot better. Defensively, we slowed it down the second day and then we started to pick up the pace a little bit more."
As for what needs the most work before heading to Hobbs on Aug. 24, Fullerton said it was pretty simple.
"Reps," he said. "Really just reps."
Among the players who will benefit greatly from those reps is the one likely to be under center two Fridays from now. Sophomore quarterback Chance Harris is one of a host of Wildcats expected to be integral varsity players with Clovis returning just five starters. Gone are the 2017 days when Fullerton had his choice of two seniors — Brandt Davis and Darian Goins — to run the offense on the field. But Harris hopes to be as seasoned, as battle-tested as possible by the 24th. There are plenty more practices, lots more valuable scrimmage time left, and he's soaking up whatever he can while he can.
"Being around the (varsity) team has been really good for me," Harris said after the first Friday practice. "They're really good teammates and I feel really comfortable around them."
Harris is honing everything, learning everything. He thinks he still needs some work on his mechanics.
"Just my feet," he said, "and being able to move in the pocket."
Practices wear on into this coming week, but school beginning Monday morning will limit how long the Wildcats can be out there. Wednesday, they'll dial it up a notch with a scrimmage, offering a glimpse at how they put it all together on the field. And talk about a baptism by fire — Wednesday's opponent will be Las Cruces High in Ruidoso.
For Harris, it's another great opportunity. "Just the competition I'll have," he said.
Wednesday will also afford Harris the chance to get more in sync with his teammates. "Figuring out my receivers," he said, "who I need to work with."
Overall, Las Cruces offers a measuring stick for a largely young Clovis team.
"They have a great tradition," Fullerton said. "The program is one of the best in the state. Their kids buy into what they're doing. And it's going to make us better. When we get done, we will be better."
