Española Valley High School’s Sam Garde was in between plays, Oct. 6, as his Sundevil football team played the Albuquerque Academy Chargers.
Out of the blue, Academy’s Pete McIntosh tried to tackle Garde, after the play ended.
Garde twisted around, put his hands in the air and looked toward the nearest referee. The referee caught the foul and launched a yellow flag in the air.
The personal foul moved the Sundevils 10 yards closer to the end zone, putting them at the opposite 12-yard-line.
At this point, quarterback Markus Griego had sparked an Española offense in much need of a revitalization. He was able to use the advanced field position to hit wide receiver Arlen Garcia out on the side for a touchdown, putting Española within 14 points of the Chargers in the fourth quarter.
For Garde, the important personal foul highlighted a trend that he and his fellow offensive linemen have seen the entire season — defenses tend to get irritated.
“He (McIntosh) was getting frustrated,” Garde said. “He couldn’t get a look all game.”
The offensive line has held a vital role this season for the Sundevils, in a scheme that relies heavily on pounding runs down the middle. In the majority of games, the offense takes considerably more downs than the defense, due to the possession-based style that Española plays.
For the entirety of this year’s season, the Sundevils have needed the offensive line to put forth good performances, or else the scheme does not work.
Former head coach Jesus Maes, dropped from his position a week ago, said the line has not been able to show its full potential so far, this season, due to the predictability of the offense and the ability of defensive coordinators to cut the line down before the linemen can make blocks.
The offense is averaging 15 points per game this season.
Nonetheless, it has gotten first downs, averaging more than 17 per game. The line has also provided fullback Nicolas Martinez, a former member of the offensive line, with the blocking that has helped him run for more than 700 yards over the course of the season. This was Martinez’s first season playing fullback.
“I’ve never been a part of a line this good,” Garde said.
Following the Sundevils’ game against Aztec High School, Sept. 29, offensive coordinator, and now-interim head coach, Ron DuPree praised the talents of two linemen in particular — his two guards, Noah Coriz and Garde.
Coriz plays on the left and Garde works on the right. DuPree said the senior duo has “been really consistent and hard-nosed all year long.”
Garde and Coriz anchor an offensive line that is stacked with seniors. Four of the five linemen are seniors — left tackle Brandon Lujan, left guard Coriz, center Nathaniel Martinez and right guard Garde.
Right tackle Bernie Jaramillo is the sole underclassman on the line.
Coriz said the core group of seniors on the line has been playing since the age of six, in Española’s Young America Football League. Because of that, he believes the four share a special bond and their friendship makes playing the game even more fun.
Even though they have been playing the game since they were young, for Garde and Coriz, the path toward a special senior season began this summer. The two held each other accountable for working out on a daily basis.
Nathaniel Martinez joined them when he did not have to work, and Garde said he “goes harder in the weight room than anyone,” when he did make it out.
“Every day, they showed up, worked out,” Maes said. “I don’t think Garde has missed a day. Noah (Coriz) has only missed a few because he was sick.”
Maes said last season, Garde could bench around 120 pounds, and because of the work he put in over the summer, he is maxing out at 200 pounds.
He said Coriz gained considerable strength in the off season, but also worked on a lot of little things with his technique.
“He’s turned out to be a great football player,” Maes said. “He attacks the line of scrimmage.”
No senior member of the line has a concrete plan to play football in college, except for Coriz, who is the only one contemplating a move to the next level. However, he has no offers, so far, and is worried about the concussion issues plaguing today’s football players.
The four have three more games left on the season. For them, this will be the last stop on a journey they have been on since the age of six.