Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
New Tucumcari High School head football coach Joe South watches his players as others go through drills behind him during practice Wednesday. The Rattlers host Thoreau in their home opener Friday.
A scrimmage last Thursday at No. 1-ranked Texico was a rough way for Tucumcari's football team to prepare for its home opener Friday against Thoreau.
But new Rattlers coach Doug South liked what he saw once his team acclimated.
"Texico's very physical," South said last Friday morning. "They beat us up pretty good, but then we made some adjustments and fared pretty well. At the end of the scrimmage, we scored a touchdown, which was good.
"That was a tough way to start off, with the best team in the state, but it was good for us. We couldn't practice today if we wanted to, but we'll be fine on Monday. We'll get after it again. Thoreau is not near the team that Texico is. So it's a good match for us."
Last year, Tucumcari hung tough at Thoreau for about a half but lost 20-6. The Hawks went 7-4 last season and qualified for the Class 3A playoffs.
South, the fourth Rattlers coach in four years, has been tasked to bring stability to the program. He has nearly 40 years the high school, college and semipro coaching ranks, and he said he wants to coach another four in Tucumcari before retiring.
His predecessor, Tarik Embrack, logged a 3-6 season at Tucumcari but was not retained after being placed on administrative leave in January for unspecified reasons.
South, also the dean of students at the middle school, said his players have been getting used to his style since being hired in the spring.
"We've gotten a few new guys out, and they're kind of adjusting to my way of doing things. I have a different background than the previous head coach; I'm a little more old-school, I guess. Those kids that have been around me since July know that and are used to that.
"They're good kids. Unfortunately, I'm their fourth head coach, and they've had a lot of different systems thrown at them. So you can't really blame the players, the team on that. It's just the circumstances."
South said he runs a run-and-shoot offense, with variations on it depending on his personnel.
"I've ran the same system as a head coach probably since the '90s. It's an adjustable thing. I've had teams in California where we'd throw the ball only three to four times, but we had Division I running backs. Why throw the ball when you've got a guy who's going to get you just as many yards?
"The next school I went to was a very small, and we had to throw. But we had very good quarterbacks there. We'd throw the ball 20 times a game and we were successful there, too. We made the state playoffs six of the eight years I was there.
"So the system I run, yes, it's off the run-and-shoot. This team here I think is going to be more of a mixture. We're not going to dominate people on the run game. But we have some good receivers, and we got three good quarterbacks."
One of those quarterbacks will be junior Nick Goen, who completed 77 of 134 passes last year for 731 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
South said he's been impressed with transfer sophomore Michael Crouch and eighth-grader Robert Rice at the quarterback position.
Regarding his receivers, "Eric Acosta (sophomore) is looking really good. Julian Griego (a senior), he's a good-size wide receiver for us. Jermy Jones (freshman) is going to be a good receiver."
South said he also liked senior Diego Martinez at running back and senior Joe Page at center and defensive lineman.
South said he was hopeful senior linebacker and fullback Jordan Rincones can return at some point this season. He suffered injuries from a motorcycle accident this summer and will have to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knees.
"He's a good kid," South said. "He could be sitting home right now pouting, but he's not. He's there at practice every day. Good attitude."
South added about his team: "It's an unusual mix. We have a lot of seniors that are good at football players for us, but we also have some younger kids that are looking really sharp, too."
He was reluctant to say the 2024 Rattlers would be in a rebuilding year.
"I'm an optimist and I'm very egotistical," South explained. "I go into every game thinking we're going to win. I never go in thinking we're going to lose. If you want to call that a rebuilding year, OK ... we're going to rebuild this year and be even better next year.
"I think we can beat everybody if we prepare right ... or at least give them a game and play four quarters," he added.
South said he was aware a few varsity players from last year's team didn't go out for football this year.
"My philosophy is I'll either go with a guy that's in practice every day that has a good attitude than a guy that's a great athlete," he said. "I'd rather go with the guy who's here every day if I can work with him and make him better. Maybe that's not as fast as people want, but we'll get there."
South also praised his assistant coaches - Adrian Jones, Matt Benavidez and Gary Hittson - who served as assistants last year.
Due to Tucumcari being dropped from Class 3A to 2A and realignment, the Rattlers now are in a district with Santa Rosa, Estancia, Raton, Legacy Academy and Capitan.
Because of its long tradition of excellence, South said he believes Santa Rosa (10-2 last year) is the top contender in the district, along with Estancia and Raton. Tucumcari hosts Santa Rosa on Oct. 18.
Tucumcari's homecoming game will be on Sept. 13 against non-district foe Loving.
