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.