Gadsden Panthers 2024 Preseason Preview
NMPreps Preseason Rank: #29
NMPreps continues to release our early New Mexico high school football preseason rankings to get you ready for the 2024 season. We will rank all 89 teams scheduled to play in the newly aligned 6A-2A classifications, competing in 11-man football. #nmpreps
2023 Playoffs: 5A State First Round
Streak into 2024: 2-game losing streak
The 2023 season kicked off with commanding victories, as the Panthers overpowered 3A Ruidoso with a 42-0 shutout and edged out El Paso High (TX) 21-14. A narrow 7-0 loss to 6A Alamogordo was a setback, but Gadsden quickly regained their momentum with a solid win against Clint, TX, 18-4, followed by a decisive 40-7 triumph over 6A Organ Mountain. Although they faced a tough challenge and fell to 5A powerhouse Goddard, 35-7, the Panthers rebounded strongly, capping off their non-district schedule with a dominant 50-0 win over 4A Valencia.
Entering district play, the Panthers continued their winning ways, cruising to victories over Chaparral (50-0) and Santa Teresa (28-7). The district championship game against Deming was a hard-fought battle, but Gadsden came up just short, losing 12-10 in a nail-biter.
Despite the loss, the Panthers earned the 8-seed in the 5A state playoffs. In a tightly contested first-round matchup, they were narrowly defeated by 9-seed Mayfield, 13-12, bringing their season to a close. While the ending was bittersweet, Gadsden's 2023 campaign was another step forward in their continued ascent under Facio, finishing with a strong 7-4 overall record and a 2-1 mark in district play.
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NMPreps Preseason Rank: #29
NMPreps continues to release our early New Mexico high school football preseason rankings to get you ready for the 2024 season. We will rank all 89 teams scheduled to play in the newly aligned 6A-2A classifications, competing in 11-man football. #nmpreps
2023 Season Review
Record: 7-4 overall, 2-1 district2023 Playoffs: 5A State First Round
Streak into 2024: 2-game losing streak
2023 Season Recap: Panthers Continue Their Ascent Under Facio
The hiring of Dino Facio has been a game-changer for the Gadsden Panthers and continues to prove its worth in the deep southern part of New Mexico high school football. Once a team that often found itself outside the Top 50 in preseason rankings, the Panthers have now made back-to-back trips to the state playoffs and finished the 2023 season with an impressive 7-4 overall record. Their performance has earned them the 29th spot in this preseason's rankings, just shy of breaking into the Top 25.The 2023 season kicked off with commanding victories, as the Panthers overpowered 3A Ruidoso with a 42-0 shutout and edged out El Paso High (TX) 21-14. A narrow 7-0 loss to 6A Alamogordo was a setback, but Gadsden quickly regained their momentum with a solid win against Clint, TX, 18-4, followed by a decisive 40-7 triumph over 6A Organ Mountain. Although they faced a tough challenge and fell to 5A powerhouse Goddard, 35-7, the Panthers rebounded strongly, capping off their non-district schedule with a dominant 50-0 win over 4A Valencia.
Entering district play, the Panthers continued their winning ways, cruising to victories over Chaparral (50-0) and Santa Teresa (28-7). The district championship game against Deming was a hard-fought battle, but Gadsden came up just short, losing 12-10 in a nail-biter.
Despite the loss, the Panthers earned the 8-seed in the 5A state playoffs. In a tightly contested first-round matchup, they were narrowly defeated by 9-seed Mayfield, 13-12, bringing their season to a close. While the ending was bittersweet, Gadsden's 2023 campaign was another step forward in their continued ascent under Facio, finishing with a strong 7-4 overall record and a 2-1 mark in district play.
Link: Sign Up For A Premium Subscription - Use Code 30RIVALS!
2024 Outlook: Offensive & Defensive Players to Watch
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