Taking over a team that won its first playoff game since 1957 during last year’s 8-3 season, new Montezuma-Cortez head coach Dave Wagner plans to keep moving forward.
Three of the Panthers’ 2014 all-conference selections Randy Haley (RB), Jonathan Walck (QB) and Dante Dennison (OL) are gone to graduation. But after being named to the 2014 all-conference first-team, senior Victor Perez returns to anchor the offensive and defensive lines.
While the line play was a point of attention after the team’s scrimmage at Durango, the Panthers have been addressing the problem, and Wagner said both the offensive and defensive lines are improving.
Joining Perez in the trenches will be junior Elijah Singer and senior Tyler Dykes. And with over 20 freshmen to work in, Wagner believes newcomer Sol Carver will see time at defensive end.
Although the team is freshman-heavy, it also have a strong senior core. Quarterback Cordell Ridings and receivers Colton Reynolds, Ryan Gurney and Austin Bayles join Perez as some of the team’s senior leaders.
“We have some strong seniors, and we have a handful of athletes,” said Wagner. “I’m very excited about this year.”
The Panthers will be under a new system, but one that will be fun to watch.
“We’re going to run a no-huddle offense,” Wagner said. “Just bam, bam, bam, go. It’s going to be exciting, fast football.”
The fast-paced offensive style will be balanced by a feisty defense directed by Wagner and defensive coordinator Keith Mikhail.
“Our defense is going to be aggressive,” Wager said. “We’re going to bring people all the time.”
The Panthers’ season kicks off on Friday, Aug. 28 at Aspen High School.
Wagner has lofty goals for the 2015 season, but he’s also thinking big picture.
“We want to build tradition,” he said.