Cats hope to reverse results from last season

CLOVIS – Clovis High’s football team is playing the same schedule as last season, with sites reversed. And while the Wildcats know it’s tough sledding, especially prior to District 5-6A play, they hope they’re good enough to reverse the results.

CHS (3-7, 3-1 district in 2022) hosts rival Hobbs at 7 p.m. Friday in its opener at Leon Williams Stadium, trying to end a two-year drought against a team it previously dominated over the past couple of decades. The Eagles thumped Clovis 46-7 last season.

Last season, the Cats went 0-6 prior to district play, then started 3-0 in the district before absorbing a 54-0 setback at Los Lunas in the finale. Clovis hosts the Tigers in this year’s season-ender on Oct. 27.

“Our schedule is definitely loaded with some solid teams,” second-year coach Andrew McCraw said. “We have to go out and have some success early. If we can, I think we have a chance to be really good.”

McCraw was generally pleased with his team’s performance in a three-way scrimmage against Las Cruces High and Artesia last week at Ruidoso.

“We worked on some things we hadn’t worked on before (on offense),” he said. “The defense flew around and made some good plays.”

McCraw said the strength of the offense, led by senior quarterback Jett Stone, may be in the line.

“We’ve got a shot to be really good,” he said. “Jett’s making good decisions. I think the offensive line may be the strength of our team.”

Senior tackles Aiden Brown and Cade Spearman are returning starters, while senior guard Colter Williams has moved from this season. Rounding out the line are senior guard Jeremiah Johnson and junior center Dakota Scott.

“I feel pretty good about our offense,” Spearman said. “We’ve had time to grow as a group. Last year, there was a lot to learn in a short amount of time.

“With the coaching changes, it takes time (to learn a new system). Having seen how coach McCraw wants the offense to run, it’ll be a lot better this year.”

Other skill position starters for the Cats are expected to include seniors Kash Roberts and Cayden Lott at slotback, senior Josh Mondragon at running back, senior Kohen Matus at tight end and junior Preston Green at wide receiver.

The key, McCraw said, is to be consistent.

“If we’re consistent and do the little things right, we’ll be fine,” he said.

On defense, Scott and sophomore John Royal are slated to man the end positions, with Johnson, who did not play in 2022, and Brown at the tackles. Linebackers are Mondragon, Matus and Roberts, all returning starters, and Stone, who didn’t play defense last season.

Junior Seven Chapman, all-district last season, returns at free safety, with Lott and junior Kyrese Phillips returning at the corners.

Former Kermit (Texas) coach Nate Gensler is the Cats’ new defensive coordinator, and McCraw said he’s already had a big impact.

“They’ve played really well,” McCraw said of the platoon. “It’s the same principles as last year, with a little more emphasis on (being physical). They’ve played pretty hard.”

Roberts, who did all the team’s place-kicking duties last season, with handle kickoffs this time around. Junior Jashiah Chavarria is slated for extra points and field goals, with Phillips doing the punting.