The Española Valley High School Sundevils have practiced a shoot’-em-up, fill-the-air-with-flying-footballs style of offense for the past three years under departed coach Manny Medina. Running a spread, the Sundevils could put points on the board — they finished last season with a school record 72 points against Taos.
It was the third year of improvement for Española. The Sundevils were 0-10 in 2005 and 4-6 in 2006. The 5-5 record in 2007 was Española’s second-best season in school history.
Medina resigned in February and 16 seniors graduated in the spring, including starting quarterback Daniel Martinez, big-play receiver Horacio Garcia and leading rusher Rodney Martinez. But new coach Bill Moon knows something about building programs. He launched Capital High School’s football team when the school was established in 1988, and he built the Jaguars into district champions. In 1997, Moon became the first coach at the newly opened Rio Rancho High School and in 2000 he took over a struggling program at Santa Fe High School. He was turning that team around when he was fired in 2003.
Moon said he plans to continue the progress at Española.
“These kids and this school deserve a program as good as they are,” Moon said.
Wherever he’s gone, Moon’s teams have featured a run-oriented offense built around the tailback.
“It’s an offense Bob Devaney ran at (the University of) Nebraska,” Moon said. “It’s a tailback-oriented offense with misdirection and some option.”
According to Moon, half of the offense comes from the tailback, 20 percent from the pass, 15 percent from the veer and the remaining 15 percent from the slotback.
This year’s tailback will be senior Derek Vigil. Vigil was a receiver in Medina’s scheme, but he said he feels comfortable carrying the ball.
“Running the ball, that’s my heart,” Vigil said. “I used to be a running back and last year I’d have rather played running back, but we had Rodney.”
Leading the way for Vigil will be senior Chris Shamy at fullback.
“I don’t mind blocking for him,” Shamy said. “We grew up together.”
Both players said as seniors, it’s their job to lead and encourage younger players.
“We know how we felt when we were younger,” Vigil said. “Sometimes it gets discouraging. We remember how we dealt with it and we can help them deal with it.”
Emerging as another team leader is senior Sean Salazar, who asked to be moved from fullback to tackle.
“(Sean) comes up to me and says, ‘They need help in the line, move me to the line,’” Moon said. “That team-first mentality is really special.”
Returning at quarterback is junior Rob Cutter, who started Española’s opening game against Shiprock last season in place of the injured Martinez; Cutter led the Sundevils to a 59-28 victory. Senior Steven VandenBusch will also likely take some snaps from center. He suffered a knee injury as a sophomore and spent last year running cross country in an attempt to strengthen the joint.
Moon said he likes both of them.
“(Cutter) is quick and explosive and can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,” Moon said. “(VandenBusch) is a big, raw-boned kid.”
Sophomore Ryan Fresquez is at slotback, while junior Ryan Martinez and sophomore Ricky Gonzalez are the ends.
In addition to Salazar, seniors Angelo Medina at tackle, Nate Medina at guard and Mike Vigil at center will be on the line, as well as junior Joseph Colombe at guard.
“Coach wants us to fire off the line as one person,” Mike Vigil said. “He wants to hear one pop.”
Defensively, the Sundevils have two excellent inside linebackers in Salazar and Shamy, Moon said.
“Defense always goes back to three things — alignment, assignment, aggression,” Moon said.
Española opens its season by hosting Shiprock Friday. Moon said the game itself is more important than any particular opponent.
“I don’t care who we play, you’re playing against the game of football,” Moon said. “It’s the most complex game. You train from the neck down but you play from the neck up.”