AZTEC — Players in pads are smashing each other in tackling drills, and water escapes the body faster than it can be replaced. Two-a-day practices for high school football are here.
This year, teams across New Mexico are getting an extra week of two-a-day practices, giving coaches more time to get players in their gear and more time to evaluate talent before implementing the season's first game plans. While this time of year is important for every team, it is especially key for the Aztec Tigers, who fell to Artesia in the 4A state championship game in 2010.
The Tigers know a championship run begins long before the first game of the season, and first-year starting quarterback Adam Lucero is ready to lead the charge as he steps into the spotlight Brycson King previously held.
"I have some big shoes to fill. Brycson King was a great quarterback," Lucero said. "There is definitely some excitement with the season coming up, but with that comes some nerves. I know I have some great teammates behind me and they will help me out no matter if I am doing good or bad."
Lucero, a junior, has already had a taste of what it is like to be a starting quarterback at Aztec. He stepped during his freshman year when King went down with an injury, giving Lucero a trial-by-fire experience under center.
"My freshman year, after a couple of snaps in my first game I settled in there against Rio Rancho. I am hoping the same thing will happen this year," Lucero said. "That experience
definitely helped. The thing that is going to bother me about that is knowing that there is so much more expectations because I did step in as a freshman, and now they are expecting me to come in and do a lot more. Brycson helped me a lot to prepare. That is the biggest thing that will help me."
Playing quarterback for Aztec comes with celebrity cachet, which can be hard to deal with for a young student-athlete.
"I have been getting a lot of talks from people I don't know telling me I have a big future. You walk into a gas station now and people are asking you how the team is looking. Even if you don't know them, they know you," Lucero said. "I have to almost kind of ignore the media and stuff like that so it doesn't settle in.
"You don't want to get cocky or nervous, you just want to stay within your team and the locker room. Whatever happens outside of that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is what happens on the field," he said.
Lucero was an all-state defensive back as a sophomore. Despite taking the reins under center, he will still be in the Tigers' secondary this season.
"A lot of people disagree with playing both sides of the ball, but David Vega, the old Goddard quarterback, played both sides of the ball and he won two state titles for Goddard," Lucero said. "Vega has actually been a big part of this season for me. I have been trying to follow his shoes. If he can do it, why can't we?"
Lucero and many of his Aztec teammates can still vividly remember the sting of defeat in the state title game at Artesia, and that will fuel them during the grueling two-a-days for the next couple of weeks.
"It left a fire in our bellies. After coming that close and losing it, we didn't ever really stop the season, we just kind of continued it," Lucero said. "Coach (Brad) Hirsch is telling us Bring it home.' Every year he has been kind of about taking it one game at a time. Last year he started mentioning state about halfway through the year, but now he is saying Bring it home' right away. He is going for it all, and who can blame him? Getting that close just makes you want it that much more. During lifting sometimes he will come over and whisper state' in your ear or something and make you think about it that much more."
The Farmington Scorpions' football team is also ready to get the pads on and start building up for what they hope will be a second straight playoff appearance after reaching the quarterfinals last year. In 3A, Ricky Ballard's Shiprock Chieftains are looking to keep developing the program after reaching the first round of the playoffs a year ago.
Other San Juan County teams are sizing up this year's talent, and the next few weeks can go a long way in sorting out position battles.
"The biggest message the next few weeks is that we are going to put the best 11 guys out on the field," said Kirtland coach Tom Adair. "Even though some guys have worked real hard in the offseason, but it does not guarantee a starting job. They still have to work hard in these practices and show they are one of the best 11."
Piedra Vista coach Jared Howell certainly appreciates the extra week of practice this season and said it will give him a better opportunity to work with his team.
"It has been quite awhile now where we have had only two or three days of two-a-days and then the coaches have to go back when the teachers report. It just seemed real rushed and you felt like you were pressing to get everything in," Howell said. "The extra week of pushing it back is going to help New Mexico teams prepare a lot better. We don't have a patterned spring ball, so the extra week now really helps.
"You have to be organized and intense and get a lot of work done during this time," he said.
But the extra time is not a big advantage for all local schools, especially Bloomfield which has many players living large distances away from the school, making it difficult to get transportation before classes start.
"Bloomfield is a little unique in that some of our kids live quite a distance outside of town. Some of our players we might not see until the first day of school when the buses are running," said Bobcats coach Bruce Hatch. "The good thing is that even if they don't come unitll the first day of school, there are still 10 practices for them to get in before they play in their first game, which is the requirement."
Navajo Prep will be looking to finish on top of its district this year after a second place finish last season. This year they will be led by first-year head coach Rod Denetso.
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