New Mexico
Duncan opens the 2024 season in New Mexico on Friday – The Gila Herald
Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Senior Isaac Harris (86) turns to hand off the ball to junior Ky Coats (68) during a scrimmage with Fort Thomas on Aug. 16. The Duncan duo was named all-region honorable mention in 2023. Duncan opens the 2024 season in “the Land of Enchantment” against Lordsburg on Friday, Aug. 23.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
DUNCAN – The Dan Coats-coached Duncan Wildkats open their 2024 football season in the “Land of Enchantment” on Friday, Aug. 23. It is against the Dale Hooper-coached Lordsburg Mavericks.
Lordsburg is 8-1 with an average score per game of 21-12 (192-107) or a 9-point margin over Duncan for those nine games. The scores favored the Mavericks 38-14 in 2022 and 64-36 in 2023 for an average of 51-25 (102-50) or a 26-point margin in the two 8-man games.
The schools met for the season opener during the final seven seasons (1996-2002) before Duncan switched to the 8-man format in 2003.
Lordsburg Mavericks
The 2022 season was the Mavericks’ initial one in the 8-man format. Lordsburg finished 10-1 overall and 3-0 in the district, averaging a score of 52-17 (570-183) per game or a 35-point margin. Fort Sumner/House handed the Mavericks a 34-44 state championship game loss, the only one of the season for a state runners-up finish.
Last season, the Mavericks went 3-5 overall and 2-1 in District 2, averaging a score of 35-43 (276-340) per game or an 8-point deficit.
Lordsburg visits Cloudcroft (Aug. 30), hosts Navajo Pine (Sept. 6), visits Roswell Gateway Christian (Sept. 13), hosts Tatum (Sept. 20), visits Mescalero Apache (Oct. 4) and Melrose (Oct. 18), and hosts Las Cruces Mesilla Valley Christian (Oct. 25).
Hooper (30-28 overall, 13-5 district, 2-5 state) is in his eighth season as the Mavericks’ head coach, the third in the 8-man format.
Duncan Wildkats
Duncan went 5-3 overall, 4-2 for 3rd of seven in the 1A South Region, and averaged a 37-28 (298-226) score per game or a 9-point margin in 2022.
Last season, the first under Coats, the Wildkats finished 1-7 overall, 1-5 for 6th of seven in the region, and averaged an 18-41 (142-331) score per game or a 23-point deficit.
The Wildkats visit Fort Thomas (Aug. 30), host San Manuel (Sept. 6) and Saint David (Sept. 13), visit Sells Baboquivari (Sept. 27), host Kearny Ray (Oct. 4) and Elfrida Valley Union (Oct. 11), and visit Chandler Lincoln Prep (Oct. 18).
A total of 20 Wildkats are privileged to be wearing the Scarlet and Gray colors as football players, with an equal number of returning lettermen as newcomers.
The returning lettermen include senior Isaac Harris; juniors Ky Coats, Josh Free, Evalynn Roberts, Pablo Ruiz, and Isaiah Sumner; and sophomores Conner Free, Billy Johnson, Joe Nandino, and Lloyd Weinreich.
Coats and Harris were listed as 1A South Region Honorable Mention in 2023. Harris also earned all-region honors in 2022, as a first-team kick returner and second-team running back.
Newcomers include juniors Joseph Contreras and Lucas Soohy; sophomores Jarren Butler, Parker Griffin, Dayton Penry, and Aaron Zamora; and freshmen Mark Bejarano, Karren Lacey, Lariet Pate, and Gus Pope.
Duncan is competing in the seven-team 1A South Region with Baboquivari, Fort Thomas, Ray, Saint David, San Manuel, and Valley Union.
Joey Bejarano and Joseph Garcia are joining Dan Coats as assistant coaches. Coats (1-7 overall) follows 5-year (2018-22) Eric Bejarano (22-17), 9-year (2009-17) Eldon Merrell (36-43), 2-year (2007-08) Joseph Sesate (8-8), and 4-year Feliciano ‘Chano’ Talavera (19-14).
The Wildkats are 86-89 overall, 14-13 section, 43-35 region, 1-10 in state playoffs, 45-42 on Packer Field, and 16-5 for homecoming during 21 seasons (2003-23) of playing in the 8-man format.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) – The New Mexico Department of Health says it will continue to recommend the full schedule of childhood vaccines.
State officials announced the move Tuesday, directly defying a new federal policy that scaled back routine immunization guidance.
The announcement comes after U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., reduced the number of vaccines it recommends for all children.
The New Mexico Department of Health stated the federal changes were “not based on new scientific evidence or safety data.”
“New Mexico will not follow the federal government in walking away from decades of proven public health practice,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “Our recommendations remain unchanged.”
State health officials sought to reassure parents, emphasizing that vaccines remain widely available and covered by insurance.
“We know this is confusing for parents, but the science is clear: vaccines are safe, effective, and save children’s lives,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer for NMDOH.
All childhood vaccinations will continue to be covered under programs like Medicaid and the federal Vaccines for Children Program.
The state encourages parents to consult their healthcare providers using the American Academy of Pediatrics’ immunization schedule.
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SANTA FE, N.M. — Former New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner Jim Ellison is running for governor as a Republican, he announced on social media Tuesday.
Ellison is running on affordability, opportunity and trust in government as the key points of his campaign. His experience includes serving on the NMPRC in 2023 and 2024.
“New Mexico deserves leadership that listens, acts, and delivers results. Our state has enormous potential, but too often that potential is held back by policies that don’t serve everyday New Mexicans,” he said on his website. “I’m running to bring practical solutions, honest accountability, and a renewed focus on the public interest.”
A Georgia native, Ellison has lived in New Mexico for 20 years and currently lives in the Albuquerque area with his wife and two children.
Ellison is aiming to get 5,000 signatures by Feb. 2, to appear on the primary ballot with at least three other Republicans who have announced their candidacy.
Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez announced his campaign in December and recently confirmed to KOB 4 that he received enough signatures to appear on the primary ballot. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and New Mexico State Sen. Steve Lanier are also running.
Three Democrats are running – Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
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