Las Cruces Enters 2015 With Chip On Their Shoulder
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com
Overview
Over the past 5-seasons at Las Cruces High School the Bulldawgs have a record of 48-13 with two quarterfinal appearances, one semifinal showing, and two state championships. Their current program prestige is among the top 5 teams in New Mexico under Head Coach Jim Miller who is 6-0 in state title games since taking over in the late 90’s. As you drive up to Las Cruces High School there are construction signs and contraction workers everywhere almost frantically trying to complete the new school in August.
While Las Cruces High School is finally getting a facelift, the feel of championship football is still present, the football parking lot is still dirt, the weight room is average for a program of their caliber, and the coaches office, well it’s in the lower bottom 10 of 6A. With that said, Las Cruces doesn’t seem to care about those fancy additions, they care about pumping out championships and since the dawn of NMPreps.com in 2006, no team has competed with more enthusiasm to win than the Bulldawgs. No team.
The practices at Las Cruces are always intense, it’s an old school feel, but after a 6-6 season and dipping out in the quarterfinals Las Cruces is hungry to get back to work and eager to get a little bit of redemption on those teams that beat them in some tight games. They lost to Rio Rancho (6A State Champs) 30-22 and then 41-23 in the quarterfinals, they lost to rival Centennial 49-47, lost to Artesia (5A State Champs) 41-33, lost to rival Onate 25-20, and lost to rival Mayfield 28-27.
What To Expect
“It’s a good group, they work hard, we have those 70 kids each and everyday that are committed and understand it’s two-a-days and though it’s been over 100 degrees out here the last few days they have been going hard and I like their effort. We’re going to make some mistakes, but that is why we are practicing and we’re correcting them and they are getting better,” said Jim Miller about his roster going into the 2015 season.
The Bulldawgs return quite a bit of guys that saw varsity experience in 2014 because of the amount of injuries they were plagued by. NMPreps.com 2015 Mr. Football Candidate and NMPreps Elite Combine MVP Kameron Miller returns for his senior season at quarterback. The 6-foot-2, 185 pound D-1 prospect has had a stellar summer racking up offers from New Mexico State and New Mexico. As a junior he threw for 1,954-yards and 20 touchdowns, rushed for 743-yards, and 5 touchdowns.
“He works so hard and though he got hurt towards the end of the season, we look at that as a blessing because now he is 100%, he’s faster, bigger, stronger. It’s his team, it was his team last year too, he’s a great leader, probably the best leader I’ve ever had here at Las Cruces High. With you having your son here it’s good (referring to my son Kaden being with me) as time goes so quickly. He’s been out at the practices since he was two-years old and now he’s a senior, this is the last two-a-day Friday he’ll ever be out here, so I am cherishing it. We have a great relationship, he’s my best friend, and it’s going to be awesome to watch him this year,” said Miller about his son/quarterback.
The running back looks to be Sophomore Payton Ball at 5-foot-8, 159 pounds. Ball had a great showing at the combine running a 4.6 40-time, benching 185 pounds 9 times, and had a standing broad of 8-feet-11 inches. Also watch for junior to be Ryan Beltran at 5-foot-7 and 161 pounds who looked very good at practice on Friday. On the outside at receiver watch for guys like Brandon Baeza at 5-foot-6, 150, Sam Ellis at 6-foot-5, 185, and Andrew Chavez at 5-foot-11, 173. Baez is a gamer and started last year as a freshman for the Bulldawgs, Ellis is a great multi sport athlete who stepped in for Miller at quarterback late in the season. At tight end the Bulldawgs have a stud in Vincent Delgadillo at 6-foot-2, 100 pounds.
Up front on offense the Bulldawgs are anchored by offensive center Tristan Olson at 6-foot-2, 266 pounds who looks like one of the top linemen in the city. Also watch for Damian Aguirre at 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, Jeremy Chavez at 6-foot-0, 228 pounds, and David Andrade at 5-foot-10, 196 pounds.
On the defensive side of the football, Vincent Delgadillo will be a two-year starter at defensive end and should have a monster season. At the combine he benched 185 pounds 18 times and had a broad jump of 8-feet-3 inches. Dominik Frietze is a new name to watch at end, Jeremy Chavez and Tristan Olson will play both ways in situations, and their backers look solid with Cory Noel returning, who is a three year starter. Also at backer watch for Damian Aguirre, Jesus Vullegas at 183 pounds, and Julian Molina at 207 pounds. The secondary has a good amount of playmakers, Brandon Baeza, Payton Ball, Sam Ellis, Alex Hernandez, and Ryan Olson should all see playing time, it’s a good unit of athletes.
“Last year there were times where 4 freshman started for us because of so many injuries. These guys went through a lot of adversity last year and these guys improve a lot. We lost a lot of tight games to some good teams, and these kids understand we were right there. A lot of these kids are so much more advanced right now though we’re 5-days into practices we got 90-95 percent of our stuff in on both sides of the football already. We’re really happy with the progress these guys are making,” said Miller regarding returners and new names for the 2015 season.
Key Returners
Kameron Miller - Quarterback - 6-2, 183, Senior
Tristan Olson - Offensive Linemen - 6-2, 266, Junior
David Andrade - Offensive Linemen - 5-9, 196, junior
Brandon Baeza - Receiver - 5-6, 150, Sophomore
Jeremy Chavez - Defensive Linemen - 6-0, 228, Junior
Julian Molina - Linebacker - 5-8, 207, Senior
Vincent Delgadillo - Defensive Linemen - 6-1, 195, Senior
Sam Ellis - Receiver/Defensive Back - 6-5, 175
Corey Noel - Linebacker/Running Back - 5-11, 185
New Names To Know
Jesus Villegas - Linebacker - 5-7, 183, Sophomore
Payton Ball - Running Back - 5-8, 159, Sophomore
Richy Terrazas - Receiver - 5-6, 125, Junior
Damien Aguirre - Linebacker - 5-9, 198, Junior
Joseph Hernandez - Offensive Linemen - 5-9, 245, Junior
Andrew Chavez - Receiver - 5-11, 173, Junior
Ryan Beltran - Running Back - 5-7, 161, Junior
2015 Schedule
“We got state champ Rio Rancho, state champ Artesia, Centennial who could of won the state championship in 5A, you got Montwood who had a huge 7-on-7 season this summer, La Cueva is always good, Volcano Vista returns a lot of talent, but we are excited about it and you have to play a tough schedule to get you ready for the district season and for the playoffs,” commented Miller on the schedule.
Aug. 28 @ El Paso Montwood, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 @ La Cueva, 1 p.m. (At Wilson Stadium) 1:00pm
Sept. 12 Volcano Vista, 1 p.m.
Sept. 18 Rio Rancho, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 @ Centennial, 7 p.m.(At Field of Dreams)
Oct. 2 Artesia, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 9 @ Deming, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 15 Gadsden, 7 p.m.
BYE
* Oct. 30 @ Oñate, 7 p.m.
* Nov. 6 Mayfield, 7 p.m. (At Aggie Memorial Stadium)
The Past 9-seasons
2014 - 6-6 Quarterfinals
2013 - 12-1 State Champs
2012 - 12-1 State Champs
2011 - 8-3 Quarterfinals
2010 - 10-2 Semifinals
2009 - 7-4 Quarterfinals
2008 - 13-0 State Champs
2007 - 10-2 Semifinals
2006 - 3-7 did not make the playoffs
Our Take
The Bulldawg’s winning history speaks for itself. You really think this year’s Las Cruces team is going to take a dip with Miller’s son finally a senior? No way. Really the only concern would be that they don’t have a ton of size up front on both sides of the football. In years past when we’ve seen them run the table they have had some very dominate offensive and defensive linemen and while they do have some All-State caliber talent in the trenches, there is not of ton of depth in that department.
Their skill guys are very good and while some are still young, they’ve had experience which should translate well come Friday Nights. Kameron Miller propels this team, but it’s not a one-man show. He’s a leader, he’s clutch, but also had a good senior, junior, and sophomore class to depend on. The Dawgs have a right to have a chip on their shoulder entering the season. Lock and load, here comes the Las Cruces.
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com
Overview
Over the past 5-seasons at Las Cruces High School the Bulldawgs have a record of 48-13 with two quarterfinal appearances, one semifinal showing, and two state championships. Their current program prestige is among the top 5 teams in New Mexico under Head Coach Jim Miller who is 6-0 in state title games since taking over in the late 90’s. As you drive up to Las Cruces High School there are construction signs and contraction workers everywhere almost frantically trying to complete the new school in August.
While Las Cruces High School is finally getting a facelift, the feel of championship football is still present, the football parking lot is still dirt, the weight room is average for a program of their caliber, and the coaches office, well it’s in the lower bottom 10 of 6A. With that said, Las Cruces doesn’t seem to care about those fancy additions, they care about pumping out championships and since the dawn of NMPreps.com in 2006, no team has competed with more enthusiasm to win than the Bulldawgs. No team.
The practices at Las Cruces are always intense, it’s an old school feel, but after a 6-6 season and dipping out in the quarterfinals Las Cruces is hungry to get back to work and eager to get a little bit of redemption on those teams that beat them in some tight games. They lost to Rio Rancho (6A State Champs) 30-22 and then 41-23 in the quarterfinals, they lost to rival Centennial 49-47, lost to Artesia (5A State Champs) 41-33, lost to rival Onate 25-20, and lost to rival Mayfield 28-27.
What To Expect
“It’s a good group, they work hard, we have those 70 kids each and everyday that are committed and understand it’s two-a-days and though it’s been over 100 degrees out here the last few days they have been going hard and I like their effort. We’re going to make some mistakes, but that is why we are practicing and we’re correcting them and they are getting better,” said Jim Miller about his roster going into the 2015 season.
The Bulldawgs return quite a bit of guys that saw varsity experience in 2014 because of the amount of injuries they were plagued by. NMPreps.com 2015 Mr. Football Candidate and NMPreps Elite Combine MVP Kameron Miller returns for his senior season at quarterback. The 6-foot-2, 185 pound D-1 prospect has had a stellar summer racking up offers from New Mexico State and New Mexico. As a junior he threw for 1,954-yards and 20 touchdowns, rushed for 743-yards, and 5 touchdowns.
“He works so hard and though he got hurt towards the end of the season, we look at that as a blessing because now he is 100%, he’s faster, bigger, stronger. It’s his team, it was his team last year too, he’s a great leader, probably the best leader I’ve ever had here at Las Cruces High. With you having your son here it’s good (referring to my son Kaden being with me) as time goes so quickly. He’s been out at the practices since he was two-years old and now he’s a senior, this is the last two-a-day Friday he’ll ever be out here, so I am cherishing it. We have a great relationship, he’s my best friend, and it’s going to be awesome to watch him this year,” said Miller about his son/quarterback.
The running back looks to be Sophomore Payton Ball at 5-foot-8, 159 pounds. Ball had a great showing at the combine running a 4.6 40-time, benching 185 pounds 9 times, and had a standing broad of 8-feet-11 inches. Also watch for junior to be Ryan Beltran at 5-foot-7 and 161 pounds who looked very good at practice on Friday. On the outside at receiver watch for guys like Brandon Baeza at 5-foot-6, 150, Sam Ellis at 6-foot-5, 185, and Andrew Chavez at 5-foot-11, 173. Baez is a gamer and started last year as a freshman for the Bulldawgs, Ellis is a great multi sport athlete who stepped in for Miller at quarterback late in the season. At tight end the Bulldawgs have a stud in Vincent Delgadillo at 6-foot-2, 100 pounds.
Up front on offense the Bulldawgs are anchored by offensive center Tristan Olson at 6-foot-2, 266 pounds who looks like one of the top linemen in the city. Also watch for Damian Aguirre at 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, Jeremy Chavez at 6-foot-0, 228 pounds, and David Andrade at 5-foot-10, 196 pounds.
On the defensive side of the football, Vincent Delgadillo will be a two-year starter at defensive end and should have a monster season. At the combine he benched 185 pounds 18 times and had a broad jump of 8-feet-3 inches. Dominik Frietze is a new name to watch at end, Jeremy Chavez and Tristan Olson will play both ways in situations, and their backers look solid with Cory Noel returning, who is a three year starter. Also at backer watch for Damian Aguirre, Jesus Vullegas at 183 pounds, and Julian Molina at 207 pounds. The secondary has a good amount of playmakers, Brandon Baeza, Payton Ball, Sam Ellis, Alex Hernandez, and Ryan Olson should all see playing time, it’s a good unit of athletes.
“Last year there were times where 4 freshman started for us because of so many injuries. These guys went through a lot of adversity last year and these guys improve a lot. We lost a lot of tight games to some good teams, and these kids understand we were right there. A lot of these kids are so much more advanced right now though we’re 5-days into practices we got 90-95 percent of our stuff in on both sides of the football already. We’re really happy with the progress these guys are making,” said Miller regarding returners and new names for the 2015 season.
Key Returners
Kameron Miller - Quarterback - 6-2, 183, Senior
Tristan Olson - Offensive Linemen - 6-2, 266, Junior
David Andrade - Offensive Linemen - 5-9, 196, junior
Brandon Baeza - Receiver - 5-6, 150, Sophomore
Jeremy Chavez - Defensive Linemen - 6-0, 228, Junior
Julian Molina - Linebacker - 5-8, 207, Senior
Vincent Delgadillo - Defensive Linemen - 6-1, 195, Senior
Sam Ellis - Receiver/Defensive Back - 6-5, 175
Corey Noel - Linebacker/Running Back - 5-11, 185
New Names To Know
Jesus Villegas - Linebacker - 5-7, 183, Sophomore
Payton Ball - Running Back - 5-8, 159, Sophomore
Richy Terrazas - Receiver - 5-6, 125, Junior
Damien Aguirre - Linebacker - 5-9, 198, Junior
Joseph Hernandez - Offensive Linemen - 5-9, 245, Junior
Andrew Chavez - Receiver - 5-11, 173, Junior
Ryan Beltran - Running Back - 5-7, 161, Junior
2015 Schedule
“We got state champ Rio Rancho, state champ Artesia, Centennial who could of won the state championship in 5A, you got Montwood who had a huge 7-on-7 season this summer, La Cueva is always good, Volcano Vista returns a lot of talent, but we are excited about it and you have to play a tough schedule to get you ready for the district season and for the playoffs,” commented Miller on the schedule.
Aug. 28 @ El Paso Montwood, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 5 @ La Cueva, 1 p.m. (At Wilson Stadium) 1:00pm
Sept. 12 Volcano Vista, 1 p.m.
Sept. 18 Rio Rancho, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 @ Centennial, 7 p.m.(At Field of Dreams)
Oct. 2 Artesia, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 9 @ Deming, 7 p.m.
* Oct. 15 Gadsden, 7 p.m.
BYE
* Oct. 30 @ Oñate, 7 p.m.
* Nov. 6 Mayfield, 7 p.m. (At Aggie Memorial Stadium)
The Past 9-seasons
2014 - 6-6 Quarterfinals
2013 - 12-1 State Champs
2012 - 12-1 State Champs
2011 - 8-3 Quarterfinals
2010 - 10-2 Semifinals
2009 - 7-4 Quarterfinals
2008 - 13-0 State Champs
2007 - 10-2 Semifinals
2006 - 3-7 did not make the playoffs
Our Take
The Bulldawg’s winning history speaks for itself. You really think this year’s Las Cruces team is going to take a dip with Miller’s son finally a senior? No way. Really the only concern would be that they don’t have a ton of size up front on both sides of the football. In years past when we’ve seen them run the table they have had some very dominate offensive and defensive linemen and while they do have some All-State caliber talent in the trenches, there is not of ton of depth in that department.
Their skill guys are very good and while some are still young, they’ve had experience which should translate well come Friday Nights. Kameron Miller propels this team, but it’s not a one-man show. He’s a leader, he’s clutch, but also had a good senior, junior, and sophomore class to depend on. The Dawgs have a right to have a chip on their shoulder entering the season. Lock and load, here comes the Las Cruces.
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