Panthers and Scorpions face big challenges on the football field in 2024 – The Tri-City Record
Due to the reorganization of the classification, Farmington and Piedra Vista are again district rivals
The Farmington Scorpions football team poses with the milk can after defeating their cross-town rival Piedra Vista Panthers at Hutchison Stadium on August 18, 2023. (Curtis Ray Benally/Turkeyboy Photography)
Curtis Ray Benally
FARMINGTON – The rivalry between the Farmington and Piedra Vista football teams has been an out-of-district battle for the past few years, and now the two schools suddenly have a lot more at stake this season.
Both the Scorpions and Panthers are back in the same district following the New Mexico Activities Association’s biennial reclassification of several sports programs across the state.
Here’s a look at how both teams stack up as they begin their 2024 seasons.
Scorpions hope experienced squad will increase playoff chances
Loaded with experienced playmakers, Farmington looks to make a name for itself and stand out in a District 1-6A loaded with talent.
With the new district divisions established by the NMAA earlier this year, the Scorpions were thrown into a tough group of competitive teams like Cleveland, Rio Rancho and Volcano Vista. All three teams made the Class 6A playoffs, with Cleveland securing the top seed and reaching the finals last season.
Farmington receiver Michael Beck catches a pass near the sideline during Thursday’s practice game against Bloomfield at Bobcat Stadium. (Curtis Ray Benally/Special to the Tri-City Record)
Curtis Ray Benally
“We’ve really tried to step up the performance over the last few weeks. We’re trying to be a playoff team in 6A this year, and we want to get into the top tier of playoff teams,” Farmington coach Jeff Dalton said.
Another interesting addition to District 1-6A is cross-town rival Piedra Vista, which made the jump from Class 5A to 6A. The two faced off last season, with the Scorpions easily defeating the Panthers 48-7.
Farmington finished the 2023 season 6-6 and 1-3 in district play, doing just enough to secure the 11th playoff seed. The Scorpions defeated Volcano Vista on the road in the first round before being dismantled by La Cueva in the quarterfinals.
Friday, August 23, 7 p.m. CLOVIS
Friday, August 30, 7 p.m. in Durango
Friday, September 6, 7pm at Los Lunas
Friday, September 13, 7 p.m. FALCON (Colorado)
Friday, 20 September, 7pm in La Cueva
Friday, October 4, 7 p.m. in Cleveland
Thursday, October 10, 7pm at Volcano Vista
Thursday, 17 October, 7pm CIBOLA
Friday, October 25, 7pm RIO RANCHO
Friday, November 1st, 7pm PIEDRA VISTA
Home games in CAPITAL LETTERS
Farmington’s offense, which averaged 29 points per game in 2023, will include several playmakers who made key contributions in their younger years.
The Scorpions rely on an explosive spread passing attack that uses four receivers and a running back on the field.
Farmington will rely on the three-man defense of Michael Beck, Jace Vigil and Cayden Halliburton to score early and often while utilizing the entire field.
“We have a lot of experience with wide receivers and guys who have played that position for us in the past,” Dalton said. “You can’t stress enough how important it is to have guys with experience at that position.”
The three were responsible for 2,583 of the Scorpions’ 3,619 receiving yards and scored 29 touchdown receptions. Beck delivered an impressive season with 1,139 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Farmington outside linebacker Danny Hagstrom intercepts a pass intended for Volcano Vista receiver Aden Cardiel in the fourth quarter of the 6A first-round playoff game on Nov. 3, 2023, at Nusenda Community Stadium in Albuquerque. (Curtis Ray Benally/Turkeyboy Photography)
Curtis Ray Benally
Scorpions senior Waylon Schake, who played primarily as a running back in 2023, will take over the quarterback position this season.
“(Schake) has experience on the field, maybe not at the quarterback position, but he was on fire for us on Friday night. He’s a really teachable kid and the transition was smooth for him,” Dalton said.
On defense, the Scorpions hope that some returning starters will play key roles. With top defensive stars like Isaac Foutz and Ian Fishburn graduating, Farmington will rely on experienced returnees Jorden Pope and Santiago Gonzalez.
“These guys are a force to be reckoned with,” Dalton said. “We lost a couple of big players, but I think we replaced that with some speed.”
Farmington will open its season at home against Clovis on August 23. The Scorpions will play Durango and Los Lunas on the road the following two weeks before district play begins.
Piedra Vista wants to show its presence in the new district
The Panthers find themselves in a completely new class and will be promoted to 6A after district adjustments before the 2024 season.
The Panthers went undefeated in district play in 2023 and earned the third seed in the 5A playoffs. Piedra Vista reached the state championship semifinals but lost to Artesia in a rematch of the 2022 Class 5A championship game.
Piedra Vista now finds itself in one of the most competitive districts in the state, joining four teams that made the 6A playoffs and state runner-up Cleveland. The Panthers struggled against 6A opponents in 2023, posting a 1-3 record against that competition.
Piedra Vista quarterback Felipe Moreno looks to throw a pass against the Farmington defense in the third quarter on Aug. 18, 2023, at Hutchison Stadium. (Curtis Ray Benally/Turkeyboy Photography)
Curtis Ray Benally
“We can’t simulate the speed of the game, we have to try to play as fast as we can,” Piedra Vista coach Jared Howell said. “There will be a difference in numbers and size, but we played with a very young team in 6A last year, so we’re hoping they’re older and better.”
The experienced Panthers hope that their leader in the middle, Felipe Moreno, will make a big leap forward from last year.
“He has a better understanding of the fundamentals of the option. He was a little late on reading last year, but he sees the field well when he throws the ball, but a year of experience makes a big difference,” Howell said.
Thursday, August 22, 7 p.m. at Sandia
Friday, August 30, 7pm BLOOMFIELD
Friday, Sept. 6, 7 p.m. DURANGO
Friday, September 13, 7 p.m. in Alamogordo
Friday, September 27, in Canyon (Texas)
Friday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m. VOLCANO VISTA
Friday, October 11, 7 p.m. at Rio Rancho
Friday, October 18, 7 p.m. CLEVELAND
Friday, October 25, 7pm at Cibola
Friday, November 1, 7 p.m. in Farmington
Home games in CAPITAL LETTERS
Moreno will rely on the dynamic duo of veteran running backs Bodie Costa and Brig Keiser to provide the same hard running performance both inside and outside to get Piedra Vista in front of opponents and allow the defense to play with little pressure.
“We play a flexible offense, but we can be versatile. We definitely want to run the ball. That’s who we are, and that’s what has worked for us in the past,” Howell said.
The Panthers open the season Thursday night against Sandia in Albuquerque before facing 4A powerhouse Bloomfield on Aug. 30 at Hutchison Stadium.
