New district, new outlook

CARLSBAD — Carlsbad coach Gary Bradley described the new district as the “SEC of New Mexico” for football – and for good reason.

Aside from Hobbs, Gadsden and Oñate, the Cavemen will face football heavyweights Las Cruces, Mayfield and Centennial.

Las Cruces, Mayfield, Oñate and Centennial won a combined 34 games in 2015.

“That is a loaded schedule,” senior cornerback Jesus Ornelas said. “We just see it as an opportunity to play against some high-level teams. We’re taking each day like it’s one day from a state championship.”

Mayfield last won the state title in 2010 and later returned to the state finals in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Las Cruces won back-to-back state titles in 2012 and 2013, beating Mayfield in 2013. Centennial was the 5A state runner up in 2015 before moving up to 6A.

“Those (Las) Cruces schools have a great reputation and great traditions, and they’re all state championship caliber teams. They’ve all been there and done that. It should be some great battles,” Bradley said. “All four of those schools I think are pretty equal. Cruces and Mayfield have more of a tradition of winning and being deep in the playoffs, but those other two are still very qualified to do it all.”

The tough competition posed by the four Las Cruces teams may appear to be intimidating, but Bradley said his goal is to start competing with those schools in 2016.

Bradley said he expects at least four of the schools in the seven-team district will reach the playoffs, with one extra advantage handy preparing for the rest of the state.

“Whoever does make the playoffs out of the district is going to be so battle-tested,” Bradley said. “We’re going to be a tougher team, and we’re going to be a better team because we’re in a better district. I think everybody feels that way.”

Bradley said another benefit of playing in such a loaded district is that New Mexico will recognize that Carlsbad is paired with top-tier football programs like Las Cruces and Mayfield.

“The seeding board sees that. Albuquerque sees that. When somebody beats Mayfield or somebody beats (Las) Cruces, people see that. So I think it’ll help all the teams come playoff time. If you have some key victories, you’re going to have a good seed,” Bradley said. “Everything we do needs to be right. That mindset, it takes an identity of its own.”

Bradley also said Carlsbad’s 2016 schedule is built to get the Cavemen ready for the later portion of the season. He said the non-district games, starting with the season opener at 7 p.m. Friday at Artesia, will prepare Carlsbad for district and that the district games will help prepare them for the playoffs.

“I can’t stress enough [that] each victory would be huge. It’s a stepping stone schedule,” Bradley said.

Ornelas believes the new district reinforces the need to start strong. Ornelas said those district foes’ “will to compete” is what will make them tough to handle.

“We just have to find that extra edge to finish. Mayfield’s a great team, and they’re consistent with their playoff runs. Hobbs, we just have to step it up and hopefully not have a shootout like we did last year,” Ornelas said.

Regardless of the final outcome, Ornelas also said Carlsbad will garner much-needed motivation and confidence for the long haul if the score differential against the Las Cruces teams is within a few points.