Last year, July practices for the Española Valley High School football team averaged about 12-15 players. Already, those numbers are tripled.
Roughly 40-45 high schoolers are now opting to spend their summer in the sweltering 100-degree afternoon heat on the football field, looking to turn the team around. And they already come to practice in matching team shirts, sowing the bonds of team unity.
Heavy metal music blares across the field, seemingly straight out of a Madden video game playlist, while coaches talk about “building champions”.
“I’m seeing a 1,000 percent improvement,” said first-year coach Tylon Wilder. “They’re way farther than where they’re supposed to be at this time, where I thought they would be. I’m super impressed with these guys.”
Wilder said the music, having fun at practice, and the passion of the players leads to so many high schoolers wanting to give up their summers to sweat through the day.
Española finished the 2021 season officially 1-9, with the one win coming in a forfeited game that they had originally lost 42-8. Not counting that game, Española’s opponents outscored the Sundevils 474-90. They allowed 50 or more points in eight of 10 games (11 of 13 dating back to 2020), scored eight or fewer in seven games, and only scored more than 14 points in their season opener.
The last time the Sundevils won a contest on the field was November 1, 2019.
Quarterback Nate Chacon returns for his third year as the team’s starter while entering his senior season.
“It’s bittersweet,” Chacon said. “I’m excited for the season to start, but at the same time I don’t want it to start because then it has to end.”
Chacon said in the past, “it felt like we’ve just gone through the motions,” but this year everyone is working extra hard for football.
“He’s ready to have a breakout year,” Wilder said. “He understands what we’re trying to do on offense. He’s really athletic too. He’s putting on weight, he’s getting faster.”
The highlight of the team entering the season could be the offensive line. The big men on the football team spent the winter on the school’s new powerlifting team. In short, they’ve been in the weight room basically nonstop since the end of last season.
Expected right tackle Leandro “Chungus” Salazar holds the state record for bench press, at 320 pounds, across all weight classes. Left tackle Bryan Almeida finished third in the state.
“We’re working harder, moving at a faster tempo,” Salazar said. “It’s building us into better players.”
Wilder also pointed out David Sandoval as a lineman who has especially refined technique and he expects a big season.
“I’m not saying he’s perfect right now, by any means, but he’s close to it,” Wilder said.
Chacon said their work in the weight room will be a major factor for the team. Given their strength, Chacon could have plenty of time to throw the ball.
Running back Alejandro Chavez could be the team’s breakout star. The sophomore has a visible extra gear of speed. Chavez was not used on offense last year, and spent most of the year on junior varsity. But he has a visible extra gear of speed and will be a dangerous weapon.
“He is fast,” Wilder said. “He makes great reads, he picks the right holes. And man, he’s fast. He makes people miss like crazy. And he can catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s going to have a huge year.”
Chavez said he is hoping to earn college offers as soon as this season.
While the Sundevils want to win, Wilder also is remaining realistic while building a lasting program in the community.
“Right now, our goal, we want to have a winning record,” he said. “We’ve had long conversations about this. This is our first year in the system. If we can go into the playoffs and we can make a deep run, that’s even better. That’s icing on top of the cake.”
The Sundevils know their reputation and the outside expectations. Wilder said he went through the school’s record going back through the school’s history. He found that Española Valley High School has a 21 percent win percentage all-time. A 2-8 season has become the norm.
But this year’s team will work as hard as they can, fueled by the chip on their shoulder, to develop a winning football team.
“This year, we have a lot more kids out here,” Chacon said. “And I think they just want to be out because they want to be part of something special. And we’re really working on changing the script about Española Valley football. And I really think we can do it this year.”
Española starts its season at Los Alamos on Aug. 19.