Tough road ahead for Cats

State runner-up. Traditional Texas Panhandle power. Track team in pads. Undefeated state champion.

And that’s just the first four weeks of the season.

Skilled but dangerously thin at key positions including running back and quarterback, the Clovis Wildcats’ primary goal in 2004 is surviving their toughest pre-district schedule in years.

“If we can get out of the non-district schedule relatively injury free, we should be OK,” Clovis defensive coordinator Darren Kelley said. “We should benefit from playing such a tough schedule. It’s going to definitely help our offensive line.”

On the plus side, the Wildcats return a pair of senior playmakers in the offensive backfield in running back Phillip Williams and quarterback John Props, and four starters on defense. The Wildcats biggest question marks are an inexperienced offensive line and at linebacker.

“We need to get better at those two spots in a hurry if we’re going to compete,” Kelley said.

Senior defensive end Jason Burns said the team is more like a family this year, a statement echoed by several players and coaches.

“We like each other and I think that makes a big difference,” said Burns, the team’s second-leading tackler last season. “We’re pushing each other in practice to make each other better. That wasn’t the case last year.”

Kelley said he’s seen a big difference in leadership and other intangibles.

“This group’s biggest thing is they want to win,” Kelley said. “They’re also very coachable.”

The Wildcats return seven starters in all from last year’s 8-3 team that won the District 4-5A title but was beaten for the first time in 22 first-round games under veteran head coach Eric Roanhaus.

A year older and 10 pounds sturdier, the speedy 5-foot-9, 165-pound Williams has set his goals high this season.

“I’m going to try and be the No. 1 running back in the state and get us as far as we can go,” said Williams, who gained 948 yards and scored nine touchdowns last season after missing the first three games with a dislocated elbow.

“I’m ready to do whatever I have to do — run the ball, catch passes, return kicks.”

Props can give defenses fits with his arm and his legs. A slippery runner with a deft passing touch, Props threw for 832 yards and 11 TDs with just two interceptions last season. He added 436 yards and eight TDs on the ground after taking over at starter because of an injury one game into the season.

“John has got to be a leader and get us down the field,” Kelley said. “Everybody looks to him as a leader but now he’s got to do it on the field.”

Senior center Jonathan Fails is the only returning starter on an offensive line, although the Wildcats have a dearth of replacements waiting in the wings, including massive Kendall Richards (6-3, 290) and Aaron Simon (6-3, 220) at tackle.

All-district wide receiver Ben Teconchuk (27.7 yards a catch, seven TDs) will be hard to replace. But seniors Elliott Hita and Jacob Jones have been solid in practice and junior tight end Chris Finch is a potential star, Kelley said.

Burns has been moved to defensive in an effort to give the Wildcats a better pash rush while senior defensive tackle Alex Everett, Jones (cornerback) and Hita (free safety) also return in the Wildcats’ 50 defense.

District 4-5A will have a different look this season with Cibola and Sandia replacing Eldorado and Manzano.

Longtime rivals Hobbs and Carlsbad make up the rest of the district.

Scrimmage notes

Clovis got off to a rough start, giving up a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play during Friday’s scrimmage against Las Cruces High in Alamogordo.

The Bulldawgs scored twice more. Senior RB Phillip Williams scored twice for Clovis, on a 10-yard run and an 8-yard pass from John Props.

Las Cruces scored five times in 10 plays in a goal-line series. Clovis scored twice.

Here are some of Clovis assistant coach Darren Kelley’s comments about the scrimmage.

Positives

Williams ran hard and well ... Junior Jordan Moore looked good at linebacker, senior Elliott Hita contributed several good blocks at WR and was solid at free safety. Senior WR Jacob Jones and junior TE Chris Finch each had a couple of nice catches.

Negatives

On defense, the Wildcats gave up too many long plays, especially on third down. In the goal-line series, the line was driven back. The offensive line had quite a few breakdowns and Props struggled at times reading the option and was a little erratic throwing.

Quotable

“The biggest thing is we need to get used to the speed of the game,” Kelley said. “Cruces did a good job of being a little more physical than us and played with more abandon. Right now, it seems like we’re a half step slow, especially the offensive line.”

Injury update

Jones suffered a stinger in his shoulder, otherwise the Wildcats came out of the scrimmage healthy.

Scouting report

The top five preseason college prospects in New Mexico according to the recruiting Web site TheInsiders.com:

1. Aaron Lewis, DT, La Cueva, 6-3, 265, 4.68

2. Zach Arnett, LB, La Cueva, 6-1, 200, 4.55

3. Phillip Harrison, DT, Highland, 6-4, 290, 5.2

4. Seth Johnson, WR, La Cueva, 6-2, 190, 4.5

5. Chris Williams,, RB, Rio Rancho, 5-11, 180, 4.5

Note: Clovis plays La Cueva, Highland and Rio Rancho this season.

— Rick White