Published Oct 16, 2008
On Oct. 10, Bill Moon returned to Capital High School for the first time as football coach of the Española Valley High School Sundevils. Despite his team’s 49-0 defeat by the Jaguars, Moon found things to appreciate from both teams.
“It’s always good to come to Capital High School,” Moon said. “It was good to see Jaguar football as I remember it being played here again.”
Moon began his head coaching career at Capital in 1987, the same year the school opened its doors. He built the Jaguars into consistent winners before leaving in 1997 to build another program at the just-opened Rio Rancho High School.
The Jaguars, defending District 2AAAA champions, led 14-0 after the first quarter. They really blew the game open in the second quarter, scoring 21 points to take a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Capital played the second half with its second string on the field and added two more touchdowns.
Española’s sophomore defensive back Estevan Borrego provided some thrills for Sundevil fans in the second quarter when he returned a kickoff 47 yards to Capital’s 33-yard line. On the next play, tailback Derek Vigil took the snap from center and tossed a pass to freshman Mike Aragon on the Jaguars’ 15-yard line. But that was as far as the Sundevils got.
“We let the game get away from us in the second quarter,” Moon said. “We saw glimpses of what the future might look like.”
Aragon took most of the snaps at quarterback. Former starters Rob Cutter and Steven VandenBusch did not accompany the team to Capital after missing practice, Moon said.
“The kids rallied around (Aragon),” Moon said. “It was a great game for Mike.”
Española fell to 2-4 on the season and 0-1 in District 2AAAA. The Sundevils host Taos Friday.