By MIKE MCNIELHere we go again! A welcome back to Hilltopper Football and the 2016 Season!
We are poised for an exciting year! This season’s team will push hard toward that district title and birth to state that eluded us by one game last season. That push will be made through the experience of 10 returning seniors, six returning starters on offense and seven returning starters on defense.
Leading our offense this year will be Senior All-District Quarterback Nick Quartieri and a solid offensive line returning four of five starters. This will be the first time in three years we have had a senior returning quarterback! Add to that a backfield that includes senior Kevin Maresca, last season’s JV Never Be Satisfied award winner Ryan McNiel, and last season’s JV Mean Green award winner Dylan Irish, this should be a fun team to watch.
On the other side of the ball we will be pushed by 1st team All-District Senior Linebacker Joey Sorenson, Seniors Travis Gonzales and Jacob Mairson, and the fact that eight of the 11 defensive starters were heavy contributors last season. We all know defense sets the tone and this group is poised to do just that!
This Season opens at home against a familiar foe and regional rival the Pojoaque Elks. Many of you will remember escaping with a win last season in both teams home opener in Pojoaque. You can bet they will be here to settle the score. The Elks come into the game with 12 returning seniors and a 45 man roster.
The season opens at 7 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 26.
