101.7 the TEAM is back in action this Friday, bringing you coverage of Week 4 of the high school football season. This week’s broadcast brings us to Wilson Stadium in a clash between two cross-town teams, as the Volcano Vista Hawks face off against the Manzano Monarchs.
The Hawks enter this contest holding a 2-1 record and a two-game winning streak. Volcano Vista was able to secure wins over Del Norte and Onate to bounce back from their opening week loss to La Cueva. “Just like any cliche, we want to trust the process of getting better each week,” Hawks head coach Chad Wallin said. “We’ve got seven new guys on offense and eight new guys on defense and getting them to play well and click at the same time has been a challenge. If we stick to the process and get better week in and week out, there’s no reason we can’t do what (La Cueva and Manzano) did last year.”
Volcano Vista has been working with Jake Deatherage at quarterback. In their last game against Onate, Deatherage went 7-10 for 134 yards and two touchdowns. “After that week 1 loss, I think usually teams fold, but us, we just wanted to improve and show people that’s not who we are,” Deatherage said. “We just can’t get our heads hung high because of these past two wins, because Manzano is a better team.” Also being worked into the Hawks QB depth chart who has made appearances is Nathan Sanchez, who has thrown 105 total combined yards over the course of the last three games.
The offense will also be led by the combination of Jacob Werner and Joah Flores at the wide receivers spots, as the Hawks are a team that likes to throw the ball. “I think we believe that our team really does have the talent to beat anyone out there as long as we eliminate the small mistakes,” said Flores. Flores has so far caught for 246 yards and three touchdowns, while Werner has caught for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
Manzano’s kryptonite so far has been teams from down south, as their two losses on the season so far have been to the Las Cruces Bulldawgs and Centennial, and their win has come against Rio Grande. Phillip Martinez, Manzano’s head coach, is also a believer in trusting the process just like Coach Wallin. “We are trusting and believing in the process, and believe we’re gonna get better each week, and we’re learning and we’re growing,” Martinez said. “Volcano’s a great team, they have a lot of great team speed, they are big and athletic, and they’re well coached, it’s gonna be a tough task for us.”
Monarchs’ QB Dakota Powell has taken the leading role after the graduation of Jordan Byrd, throwing for 436 combined yards in the past three games. “Volcano is a good team. We’re just going into practice this week with the mindset of making this week great,” Powell said. “(Manzano is) creating a competitive environment in practice, so every player can improve at their position.”
Xavier Ivey-Saud, who was one of the catalysts for Manzano in their state championship run last season, has contributed greatly, rushing for a combined 299 yards already on the season. “I feel like my key for this season has been heart,” said Ivey-Saud. “Heart is something that you possess internally and if you have the mindset of, only you can stop you, then this season is just a slow beginning to the Manzano Monarchs.”
Scott Galetti and Coach David Williams have your call Friday night. Before you tune into the pregame show at 6:30 pm, be sure to tune into Bob Brown’s final episode of “The Locker Room” at 4:00 pm. Brown announced his retirement from the show and his career on Monday after hosting The Locker Room for nine years. He has also been around New Mexico sports media, working for KOAT-TV and 101.7 The TEAM for 27 years.