Post by Rusty Ryan on Jul 24, 2011 16:16:43 GMT -5
A question that always comes up when discussing Wildcat Football is which is the greatest Wildcat team? With 17 state championships there is no doubt that there have been many teams that can claim to be the best of all time. So I decided to break it down how I think it might be solved and see if anyone agrees with me. Since I have only seen teams for the past 30 years, I will limit my scope to teams since 1980. To narrow this even further you must have won state(sorry ’89) which leaves us with 9 teams. With all of these teams playing very similar schedules including elite NM programs the teams must have gone undefeated giving us the years 2001, 1995, 1990, and 1986.
Offense
We will start with the running backs. In 2001 Lovington relied on Rusty Hargrove and Freddie Ornelas. Freddie was a good fullback Hargrove was a great athlete. Hargrove could have played any skilled position and was probably the best utility player to come through. 1995 relied on a combination of three running backs in Francisco Contreras, Daniel Reynolds, and Calvin Aswell. While Reynolds and Aswell provided the power both Contreras and Reynolds were versatile enough to split wide. As good as these groups were the best rb tandem would have to go to 1986 with Jerry Dodd and Matt Alexander in the backfield. Both were two-year starters and with Robert Arreola at QB provided what was probably the best backfield in Lovington history.
Rankings:
1. 1986 4 pts
2. 2001 2.5 pts
1995 2.5 pts
4. 1990 1 pt
Next up is the Quarterbacks. 1990 had a Abram Barrela who holds a two year record of 25-1. His winning percentage is only second to 1995’s Brandon Ridenour who was forced into action midway through what was probably the biggest game of the year and led the Wildcats to a title. Until this past season 2001’s Caden Jameson and 1986’s Robert Arreola were probably the best dual threat Qb’s for Lovington. Jameson was a three year starter who could throw, run, and block as well as anyone. Arreola was a two year starter who led the Cat’s to their first championship in 16 years and whose leadership skills led him to be part of the coaching staffs on both 1995 and 2001.
Rankings:
1. 2001 3.5 pts
1986 3.5 pts
3. 1990 2 Pts
4. 1995 1 pt
1986 was led by one of the fastest and most explosive receivers in Rudy Arreola. 1995 relied heavily on Urlacher at receiver but had many others who would step up at key times such as Ridenour, Bryan Fuqua, Troy Bower, and Reynolds. Even with defenses keying on him Urlacher still holds the single season receiving record. 1990 had Paul Brown who some consider the best WR to come through Lovington. With TJ Gallini’s speed and Chris Garcia’s passion this group is a big reason Lovington won 25 games in 2 years. In 2001 James Compton, Phillip Cromwell, and Shawn Sanchez were all over 6’ and had great speed. These 3 helped lead one of the most dangerous offenses to 2 state championships.
Rankings:
1. 2001 3.5 pts
1990 3.5 pts
3. 1995 2 pts
4. 1986 1 pt
Usually when you remember a lineman’s name it is because he missed or block or was called for holding. Fortunately the following were players that led their Hogs to outstanding seasons. Lovington has had many all-state centers and 1986 had Woody Rickerson. 2001 had great size led by Micah Duncan and Rosalio Lara. Seniors Justin Alexander and Casey Strickland anchored a line that had one 1000 yard rusher and two 1000 yard passers in 1995. 1990 was led by all-state center Brian Cunningham and Buddy Crouch.
Rankings:
1. 1990 4 pts
2. 1995 3 pts
3. 2001 2 pts
4. 1986 1 pt
For defense I will rank them as a unit. Overall 2001’s defense was very athletic. They posted 4 shutouts during the season and held Las Vegas Robertson to 3 points in the championship game.
Led by safety Brian Urlacher, linebacker Alonso Gallegos, and defensive lineman Casey Urlacher this defense posted 3 shutouts and only allowed 21 points through four games in the playoffs.
1990’s defense had one of the best defensive lines ever. With Michael Allen, Rodney Atkins, Homer Ochoa, Jason Ross, and lb Pilar Carrasco this team gave up 68 points on the season for an average of 5.2 points per game. In the championship the defense only gave up 7 points to an 11-2 Bloomfield team averaging 35 points per game. Only 1 team scored more than 7 points on the defense and they posted 5 shutouts.
The 1986 defense is probably one of the most underrated when it comes to this discussion. Led by LB Jerry Dodd, defensive lineman Aaron Ochoa and Steven Shields, and db Rudy Arreola, this unit held an explosive 12-1 Ruidoso team averaging 36 points per game to 7 points in the championship. While posting 7 shutouts only 1 team scored more than 7 points in a game against the defense. The total 51 points given up in the season comes out to an average of 3.9 points per game and this is why they are ranked as the best defense of the four.
Rankings:
1. 1986 10 pts
2. 1990 8 pts
3. 1995 6 pts
4. 2001 4 pt
Totals: 1. 1986 19.5 pts
2. 1990 18.5 pts
3. 2001 15.5 pts
4. 1995 14.5 pt
This is just based on how I would break it down. I think 1989 would have a great argument as well as 2010. While 2010 did lose 2 games I think they could score with anyone and that would keep them in a game against these other teams. While ranking units I just went by how I saw it. I think everyone can agree that with Urlacher on the field that changes the complexion of a team and game. I would love to hear how others have it or any memories of these teams.
Offense
We will start with the running backs. In 2001 Lovington relied on Rusty Hargrove and Freddie Ornelas. Freddie was a good fullback Hargrove was a great athlete. Hargrove could have played any skilled position and was probably the best utility player to come through. 1995 relied on a combination of three running backs in Francisco Contreras, Daniel Reynolds, and Calvin Aswell. While Reynolds and Aswell provided the power both Contreras and Reynolds were versatile enough to split wide. As good as these groups were the best rb tandem would have to go to 1986 with Jerry Dodd and Matt Alexander in the backfield. Both were two-year starters and with Robert Arreola at QB provided what was probably the best backfield in Lovington history.
Rankings:
1. 1986 4 pts
2. 2001 2.5 pts
1995 2.5 pts
4. 1990 1 pt
Next up is the Quarterbacks. 1990 had a Abram Barrela who holds a two year record of 25-1. His winning percentage is only second to 1995’s Brandon Ridenour who was forced into action midway through what was probably the biggest game of the year and led the Wildcats to a title. Until this past season 2001’s Caden Jameson and 1986’s Robert Arreola were probably the best dual threat Qb’s for Lovington. Jameson was a three year starter who could throw, run, and block as well as anyone. Arreola was a two year starter who led the Cat’s to their first championship in 16 years and whose leadership skills led him to be part of the coaching staffs on both 1995 and 2001.
Rankings:
1. 2001 3.5 pts
1986 3.5 pts
3. 1990 2 Pts
4. 1995 1 pt
1986 was led by one of the fastest and most explosive receivers in Rudy Arreola. 1995 relied heavily on Urlacher at receiver but had many others who would step up at key times such as Ridenour, Bryan Fuqua, Troy Bower, and Reynolds. Even with defenses keying on him Urlacher still holds the single season receiving record. 1990 had Paul Brown who some consider the best WR to come through Lovington. With TJ Gallini’s speed and Chris Garcia’s passion this group is a big reason Lovington won 25 games in 2 years. In 2001 James Compton, Phillip Cromwell, and Shawn Sanchez were all over 6’ and had great speed. These 3 helped lead one of the most dangerous offenses to 2 state championships.
Rankings:
1. 2001 3.5 pts
1990 3.5 pts
3. 1995 2 pts
4. 1986 1 pt
Usually when you remember a lineman’s name it is because he missed or block or was called for holding. Fortunately the following were players that led their Hogs to outstanding seasons. Lovington has had many all-state centers and 1986 had Woody Rickerson. 2001 had great size led by Micah Duncan and Rosalio Lara. Seniors Justin Alexander and Casey Strickland anchored a line that had one 1000 yard rusher and two 1000 yard passers in 1995. 1990 was led by all-state center Brian Cunningham and Buddy Crouch.
Rankings:
1. 1990 4 pts
2. 1995 3 pts
3. 2001 2 pts
4. 1986 1 pt
For defense I will rank them as a unit. Overall 2001’s defense was very athletic. They posted 4 shutouts during the season and held Las Vegas Robertson to 3 points in the championship game.
Led by safety Brian Urlacher, linebacker Alonso Gallegos, and defensive lineman Casey Urlacher this defense posted 3 shutouts and only allowed 21 points through four games in the playoffs.
1990’s defense had one of the best defensive lines ever. With Michael Allen, Rodney Atkins, Homer Ochoa, Jason Ross, and lb Pilar Carrasco this team gave up 68 points on the season for an average of 5.2 points per game. In the championship the defense only gave up 7 points to an 11-2 Bloomfield team averaging 35 points per game. Only 1 team scored more than 7 points on the defense and they posted 5 shutouts.
The 1986 defense is probably one of the most underrated when it comes to this discussion. Led by LB Jerry Dodd, defensive lineman Aaron Ochoa and Steven Shields, and db Rudy Arreola, this unit held an explosive 12-1 Ruidoso team averaging 36 points per game to 7 points in the championship. While posting 7 shutouts only 1 team scored more than 7 points in a game against the defense. The total 51 points given up in the season comes out to an average of 3.9 points per game and this is why they are ranked as the best defense of the four.
Rankings:
1. 1986 10 pts
2. 1990 8 pts
3. 1995 6 pts
4. 2001 4 pt
Totals: 1. 1986 19.5 pts
2. 1990 18.5 pts
3. 2001 15.5 pts
4. 1995 14.5 pt
This is just based on how I would break it down. I think 1989 would have a great argument as well as 2010. While 2010 did lose 2 games I think they could score with anyone and that would keep them in a game against these other teams. While ranking units I just went by how I saw it. I think everyone can agree that with Urlacher on the field that changes the complexion of a team and game. I would love to hear how others have it or any memories of these teams.
