8-man District 4

• Coach: Dickie Roybal (14th year, 113-38; 14th year overall at Melrose)

• 2009 record: 13-0 (4-0, 1st, 8-man District 4). The Buffs have won back-to-back 8-man titles and have a 26-game winning streak going.

• Returning starters (offense): 5

• Returning starters (defense): 6

• Top returning players: Chase Sneller, Sr., G/DT; Josh Broome, Jr., G/DT; Daniel Lyons, Jr., TE; Hayden Moore, Sr., FB/DE; Seaver Tate, Jr., QB/LB-DB; Lance Widner, Jr., FB/DE.

• Top newcomers: Aaron Dearing, Jr., TE; Gus Payne, Sr., TE; Kyle Jacobs, Sr., C; Lane Riley, So., QB/DB.

• Possible breakout player: Widner. Roybal noted that Widner won the state Class 1A championship in the 100 last spring and will get more touches this season. “He’s a strong kid,” Roybal said.

• The big switch: Tate, stepping in for all-everything Clint Barnard at QB.

• Biggest hole(s) to fill: “Obviously, our linebacker spot and quarterback spot with Clint will be hard to fill,” Roybal said. The Buffs must also replace the graduated Sammy Lawrence at tight end and linebacker.

• Lunchpail guy: Moore. “He doesn’t get a lot of recognition, but he works his butt off every day,” Roybal said.

• Biggest early-season test: Mountainair at Melrose, Sept. 25. The teams have developed a strong rivalry, and Roybal said the Mustangs will enter the 2010 season as the favorites in 8-man.

• Keys to 2010 season: The Buffs will need to stay healthy, Roybal said, with only 12 players out. Most of the top players are in the junior class.

• Coach’s overview: “We’re going to be competitive, but we just have to stay healthy. We’ve got to get a lot stronger, and we’ve been working a lot on that.”

• Last playoff appearance: 2009, won second consecutive 8-man state title.

• State titles (6): 1994 (6-man), 1997 (6-man), 1999 (6-man), 2004 (6-man), 2008 (8-man), 2009 (8-man).

• 2010 schedule

August: 27 — Logan, 7 p.m.

September: 3 — Animas, 5 p.m.; 10 — Foothill, 6 p.m.; 18 — Menaul, 4 p.m.; 25 — vs. Reserve at Mountainair, 7 p.m.

October: 1 — at Springer, 7 p.m.; 8 — Mountainair, 7 p.m.; 15 — Floyd, 7 p.m.--x; 22 — at Gateway Christian, 7 p.m.-x; 29 — at Tatum, 7 p.m.-x.

x — District games

• Roster

Players Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos

Jacoby Beard So. 5-9 150 DB/RB

Nicholas Bernal Fr. 5-8 170 DT/G

Josh Broome Jr. 5-9 180 LB/G

Aaron Dearing Jr. 5-9 160 DE/TE

Daylan Dial So. 5-10 150 DB/QB

Quinton Flores Fr. 5-10 160 DE/TE

Brian Hemminger Fr. 5-9 150 DE/TE

Kamron Huber Jr. 5-8 140 DB/RB

Mark Hughes So. 5-7 165 DT/G

Kyle Jacobs Sr. 6-3 240 C

Daniel Lyons Jr. 5-9 150 DE/TE

Hayden Moore Sr. 6-0 185 FB/LB

Gus Payne SR. 5-9 150 DB/TE

Dylan Pareo Jr. 6-4 180 DE/TE

Layne Riley So. 6-0 160 DE/RB

Chase Sneller Jr. 5-9 220 DT/G

Seaver Tate Jr. 6-1 150 LB/QB

Lance Widner Jr. 5-10 165 LB/RB

— Compiled by Dave Wagner