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High School football: Eagles soar over Demons

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Isiah Anaya runs for extra yards during the Santa Fe High School vs. Hobbs Varsity Football in Santa Fe, NM in August 31, 2007. (Ramsay de Give/The New Mexican)

By James Barron | The New Mexican
August 31, 2007

Hobbs 22, SFHS 9

They’re only words, but they’re all the Santa Fe High School football team has right now.

Hobbs special teams coach Jackie Young was conveying to Demons head coach Mike Ulibarri the difference he saw in Santa Fe High from 2006 to 2007. Young was trying to tell Ulibarri that he might have a good team on his hand.

“I told our kids that this is not the team you played last year,” Young said in a crowded Demons locker room. “And if you think that, then you’re crazy.”

Of course, Young’s team walked off the field at Ivan Head Stadium the victors in a 22-9 score in the 2007 season opener. His words were of encouragement, much like the words Ulibarri and the Demons have heard over the previous two seasons.

But they’re just words, and they can’t change the outcome.

“It’s all about victories now,” Ulibarri said. “It’s always nice to hear your peers saying you’ve done a good job, you’re going to turn (the program) around. In the end, all that matters is if you win or lose. We did play a good game, but we came out on the short end.”

For the 22nd time in the last 24 games, Santa Fe High was on the wrong end of the final score, and the players were left to ponder what could have been.

They’ll think about the blocked field goal in the first quarter that could have increased a 9-0 lead.

Or another blocked attempt in the second which could have made it 12-6.

Or a possible 96-yard drive for a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter that instead ended with a Sammy Mendoza pick of a Derek Nuñez pass with 3:50 remaining and the score 14-9 in favor of the Eagles.

Hobbs needed one play — a 39-yard touchdown strike from Alberto Caballero to 6-foot-2 wideout Reese Franklin — and a two-point conversion that made it 22-9.

“We played good and everything,” Nuñez said. “Personally for me, I gotta execute and work on the details and stuff, but all that matters is what’s on that scoreboard.”

Nuñez was referring to the two interceptions he threw despite a 12-for-21 performance for 108 yards. He also was referring to three botched pitch attempts, including one in the first quarter that Eagles defensive end Ty Johnson scooped up and ran in for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 9-6, Santa Fe High, at the 1:52 mark.

Hobbs’ offense sputtered in the first 12 minutes of the game, with errant shotgun snaps, poor pass protection and some dropped balls by receivers.

“We started off ugly,” Eagles head coach Phillip Roybal said. “From snaps, to handling the football, to just about everything that could go wrong in the first half.”

What went right, though, was a pair of blocked field goals by Young’s unit. The Eagles blocked Samuel Bustillos’ attempts of 21 and 46 yards as the Demons left gaping holes in their blocking schemes.

“We didn’t capitalize when we had opportunities,” Ulibarri said. “We had two field goals that were blocked that never should have been blocked. That’s six points right there. Instead of 9-6 at halftime, we would have went in up 15-6 at halftime. That’s quite a difference.”

The Eagles, who have reached the Class AAAAA state playoffs the past two years, finally got their offense in gear with their option game.

Caballero and running back DeQuawn Robinson did almost all of the work on a 16-play, 77-yard drive that ate up 7:10 of the clock in the third quarter. Three times, Caballero converted on fourth-down option runs, the last coming on a 3 yard run on fourth-and-one from the Santa Fe High 26.

The next play, Caballero hit Franklin for a 23-yard touchdown pass for 14-9.

“We knew what they were running, we just couldn’t stop it,” Ulibarri said. “Our kids just played hard to the end. When it comes down to it, players need to make plays and we didn’t make enough plays.”

Those are sage words.

But the Demons don’t play for words. Not any more.

Contact James Barron at 986-3045 or jbarron@sfnewmexican.com

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Top 50 Players: #9 Reese Franklin

Reese Franklin

By PrepNewMexico.com
Staff
Posted Jul 18, 2007

Coming in at #9 on our list is Hobbs WR Reese Franklin. Franklin has great size at 6'1 and very good speed running in the 4.4 range. Come inside to see his highlight video and watch his speed for yourself. Remember our free 7 day trial offer.

Reese Franklin WR from Hobbs HS comes in at #9 overall in our top 50 preseason rankings. Franklin has huge upside because he has the one thing that you just can’t teach. That thing, is flat out speed. If he gets the ball to the corner look out!

As a junior Franklin earned 1st team all district, 1st team all county and honorable mention all state after catching 20 balls for 480 yards. He also is a dangerous return man, taking 4 kicks back for scores.

Reese has the size and speed that colleges like. His reported size of 6’1 is the real deal and that 4.4-4.5 range is also the real deal. Franklin does a good job with the ball in his hands. He is a candidate to take the ball to the house each and every time he touches it. He is the type of high school athlete that can take a simple slant route and turn it into an 80 yard score. Reese also does a good job of going up to get the ball. Several times, fade routes are thrown in his direction Franklin goes up and gets it at its highest point. He uses his athleticism to just simply out jump players. Finally, Reese also will routinely come back to the football when his quarterback is scrambling around. Many times we see high school kids that don’t know what to do in that situation, that’s not the case with Franklin .

Franklin right now comes in at number 9 on our preseason list. However, with his athleticisim he easily could go much higher by seasons end.

27. Kyle Johnson LB – Hobbs : Johnson is a really good player in the middle of the defense. He has good size and decent speed. Probably one of the top two or three LB’s in the state this season.

31. Shon Mitchell DB – Hobbs : Mitchell is a relative unknown at this point, he missed 4 games because of a wrist injury, but he has lots of abilities and should make a name for himself this season.

By Mike Segovia
Publisher
Posted Jul 8, 2007

Sammy Mendoza DB/WR from Hobbs HS is a little guy but he is a very productive little guy. Sammy was voted 1st team all district as a junior and 2nd team all county. Check out his highlight tape and judge for yourself.

Our next video clip comes from Hobbs DB Sammy Mendoza. Mendoza is on the smaller side of things standing 5’7 and checking in at 135 pounds. Mendoza has really good feet and is a very solid high school player. In 2006 Sammy was named 1st team all district and 2nd team all Lea County as a junior. Here are stats from his junior campaign.

2006 Stats: Made 26 catches for 336 yards and 2 TDs on offense. Recorded 35 tackles, 2 PBUs, 2 TFLs, and 2 INTs on defense.

Bench- 180
Squat- 250
Forty- 4.6

Sammy will have a hard time getting a chance to play football in college, most of that has to do with his size. However he still is a very solid football player and should be a major contributor this season.

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LB Rankings: #2 Kyle Johnson

Kyle Johnson

By Mike Segovia
Publisher
Posted Jul 3, 2007

Our #2 LB pick is Kyle Johnson from Hobbs HS. At 6'1 and 210 pounds Johnson has good size. He plays fast and is a sound tackler. He has a chance to play on Saturday's.

At #2 in our LB rankings we select Kyle Johnson from Hobbs HS. Johnson right now is one of the more underrated players in the state. He has good size and speed standing 6’1 and weighing 210 pounds. Kyle also runs in the 4.8 range which will help him on the field.

Johnson was a 1^st team all district selection as a junior and was the heart and soul of the defense. Johnson has abilities to be an all state type player during the 2007 season. With his size and speed combination he also has a chance to play football at the next level. Johnson has submitted his highlight tape to be posted and also to have an evaluation done. Here are links to both of those.

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Shon Mitchell

By Mike Segovia
Publisher
Posted Jun 29, 2007

Hobbs DB Shon Mitchell is one of the better DB's in New Mexico that you may have never heard of. Mitchell missed 4 games last season because of a wrist injury. He is fully healed now and ready to prove how good he is. We recently wrote up an evaluation on Shon, here it is. Also take a look at his highlight tape, come inside and see it all.

Shon Mitchell CB from Hobbs HS missed 4 games last season with a wrist injury. That injury might be the reason why more people don’t talk about Mitchell. Mitchell could be the states best kept secret, not anymore. Here is our evaluation of Hobbs dynamic playmaker in the secondary.

Bio:

Height: 5’11

Weight: 165

40: 4.5

2006 Honors:

Missed 4 games with a wrist injury but still was able to earn honorable mention all district honors as a junior. Statistically he had 41 tackles, 1 sack, 4 PBUs, 2 INTs, 1 FR and 1 FF. Returned a kick 86 yards for a TD.

Breakdown:

We were looking for his explosive ability as well as his ability to cover in a one on one situation. Mitchell looks bigger than 5’10 on film, looks really long and appears to have a great wingspan.

Positives:

As mentioned Mitchell has a good wingspan which makes him longer than his 5’11 frame. He is also very quick and has good top end speed. Mitchell also goes up to get the ball. He doesn’t wait for the ball to drop he goes to get it, which is a key aspect. He had a kickoff return for a TD and on that return he really showed off his overall speed and explosiveness. He gets to top speed really fast and has enough speed to take it to the house.

Negatives:

Shon is a very good tackler but he isn’t a great tackler. Which is pretty common for high school players, he tries to tackle using his hands instead of squaring up and getting his body into the tackle. His head stays in the backfield for a long time, which could leave him open for double moves. With his abilities he gets away with it at the high school level.

Overall:

I like Shon Mitchell, like I said before I really think he is one of the most underrated players in the state. He is really explosive and has good enough speed to matchup with anyone.

Bottom Line:

So what about his college prospects? Shon is a great high school player and will be an all state type player this year. He has good speed and decent size, I really like his wingspan and how he goes to get the football. Right now I think he is a JUCO or an NAIA type prospect. I wouldn’t be surprised if some DII type schools come in late in the process. He could be a higher prospect if he shows he can stay healthy during his senior season.

DB: Shon Mitchell (Hobbs) 5'10, 160 lbs.
Watching his film, he looks to have some serious college potential.

This young man plays very aggressive and certainly quick enough to keep up with almost any WR in the state.

He kind of gets overshadowed by Reese Franklin, but this Hobbs Eagle is a potential game breaker and should make some noise on both sides of the ball.

#9 Hobbs Eagles

2006 Record

(5-6)

* Lost in the first round play-offs to Cibola

2006 Schedule

Result

Santa Fe	W 33-6
Artesia	L 3-42
at Roswell	W 30-13
Onate	L 30 -7
at Lovington	W 49-13
at Alamogordo	L 0-53
Gadsden	W 49-20
Goddard	L 25-42
Carlsbad	W 27-24
at Clovis	L 9-40
Cibola	L 12-15

?Hendo's Take:

The Hobbs Eagles are going to be a very team to watch this year. Led by all-purpose threat Reese Franklin, the Eagles should have some offensive firepower. If we examine their last year schedule we see the Eagles were up and down all season. A win here and a win there, but they showed no real consistency.

The two games that really stand out to me are the games against Onate and Cibola. If he Eagles can't beat pesky teams in 5A like the Black Knights, I really take them serious. If they play tough like they did in their last game against Cibola, then they could definitely be a top 10 team this year. Look for them to have a lot of steam when Clovis comes marching into town. Upset special?

We'll have to wait and see.

2006 District Outcome

District 4-5A	Record	PF	PA
Clovis	(7-4)	303	227
Hobbs	(5-6)	244	298
Carlsbad	(3-8)	125	233

?

Where we see the Eagles in 2007

District 4-5A	2007 Projections
Clovis	1
Hobbs	2
Carlsbad	3

?

The Big Enchilada's Final thought:

Skill wise they are a top 5 or 6 team in the state. However, they never seem to be even formidable up front. If they can even be average up front I think they could be a spoiler in the playoffs.

Hobbs has talent and this year should be the one they step up and play to potential, or at least close to it.