KIRTLAND – Entering the second season on the job as Kirtland Central head football coach, Travis Clary is aware of the added pressure of keeping a program headed in the right direction.
Coming off a 4-6 season last fall, which included back-to-back losses in both the regular season finale and in the first round of the postseason, Clary is optimistic the team can turn things around.
“I think the numbers I’ve seen in the weight room for workouts is up from last season,” Clary said. “There’s a lot of kids who want to be a part of the team and that’s coming out more and more every day.”
Clary took over the Broncos football team following the resignation of Jeff Schaum at the end of the 2021 season. The losses at the end of last season may have been crucial to show how far the program has come.
Kirtland lost its district finale to Aztec by a final of 56-14 before getting eliminated in the first round of the postseason by Moriarty.
“I told the kids that our goal was to make it to the playoffs, get that experience of what it’s like to play for the community on a bigger stage,” Clary said. “The losses were a tough way to end, but I think we are showing we can build from that.
Clary has a talented group of returning playmakers who he hopes can continue to progress this offseason before the 2023 campaign opens at home Aug. 18 against Valencia.
Junior Bryle Matthews scored more than a dozen touchdowns last season, including eight rushing scores and four through the air. Receiver Noah Dineyazhe caught 25 passes last season for 464 yards and five scores as a junior last season, while DeMusico Edsitty averaged nearly 5.5 yards a carry as a junior last year, rushing more than 650 yards and scoring seven touchdowns.
“All of those guys are not only contributors on the field, but they’re part of the heartbeat of the team,” Clary said. “They’re all leaders on and off the field and a big reason why we’ll hopefully be successful this season.”
Playing in District 1-4A, which happens to be the home district for Class 4A state champion Bloomfield, is also something that Clary hopes will stoke the competitive fire.
“Sure we all know that there’s a greater emphasis on this district and really the whole Four Corners area,” Clary said. “The coaches and the staffs and the players are really learning to play for the communities they represent, and I think that’s helped us.”
The team recently took part in 7-on-7 drills with a number of area and local high schools. Clary was happy with what he saw from a competitive and communicative standpoint.
“They really do get after each other, and they want to learn,” Clary said. “I think that’s the thing you really want to come away with when we have those drills is being able to communicate and make reads and learn from each play.”
Kirtland Central will have a bye week immediately following the season opener, before another home game against Thoreau on Sept. 1. The Hawks are coming off a 9-3 season last year and are defending champions in District 5-3A.
Kirtland Central 2023 Football Schedule
Home games in ALL CAPS
Fri., Aug. 18, 7 p.m. VALENCIA
Fri., Sept. 1, 7 p.m. THOREAU
Fri., Sept, 8, 7 p.m. @Montezuma-Cortez
Sat., Sept. 16, 1 p.m. @Rio Grande
Fri., Sept. 22, 7 p.m. GRANTS
Fri., Sept. 29, 7 p.m. ESPANOLA VALLEY
Fri., Oct. 6, 7 p.m. @Pagosa Springs
Fri., Oct. 13, 7pm, @Bloomfield
Fri., Oct. 20, 7 p.m. GALLUP
Fri., Oct. 27 7 p.m. AZTEC
