AZTEC/GODDARD HISTORICAL PREVIEW

     Goddard High School opened and became the second public high school in Roswell in 1965.  The Rockets were immediately assigned to the biggest school classification (AA) and won only two games in their first two years.  In 1967 they were dropped to Class A and found success.  They played Aztec (I saw this game) in the semifinals.  Trailing 14-0 early Goddard used the powerful legs of Tank Holland to overwhelm the host Tigers 27-14.  The Rockets went on the win the title the following week by edging Cobre, 14-6.  It was their last playoff appearance until 1988.

     Since that initial game the Rockets and Tigers have split four times.  All games have been in the playoffs.  They have never scheduled each other in the regular season.

     Aztec’s wins were in 2003’s first round (26-22) and in 2005’s semi-finals (35-30).  Goddard won the next two by equally close margins.  David Vega and his young Rockets took advantage of a cold and wet afternoon in Aztec in 2007 and upset the pass-happy Tigers, 21-16, in the semi-finals.  Then in 2008 they met again at the Wool Bowl for a memorable title game matching explosive offenses.  Goddard won, 49-45. 

     Two of the leading coaches in New Mexico will be battling each other.  Coach Sam Jernigan has been the Head Coach at Goddard since 1991.  His 201 coaching wins (191 in New Mexico) rank him seventh all-time on the NM win list (Eric Roanhaus 310).  The Abilene/Amarillo native, surprisingly has his first undefeated team in this year’s 12-0 Rockets.

     Meanwhile, rumors circulate in San Juan County that Aztec Coach Brad Hirsch will be coaching his last game for the Tigers this Saturday.  The very successful Hirsch is completing his seventh year at the helm.  He previously was an assistant at Farmington and has his roots in California. 

     For years there has been talk that Hirsch aspired to go to the college ranks and, as D1 prospects came through his program at Aztec, rumors linked him to an exodus with those athletes to the college game.  Hirsch sent several athletes including his son and last year’s quarterback Brycson King to a junior college program in California.  Now, his oldest son is graduating from Aztec and, for other personal reasons, Coach Hirsch is said to be cutting his ties with the Tiger program and will perhaps land back in California.

     Aztec is tough on coaches.  Even legendary coach Fred Cook, for whom the stadium is named, had his critics.  The only way he could escape full vilification was to die.  The football-crazy town is football savvy and is tired of losing championships.  Hirsch is an offensive wizard but can’t put a defense together to stop tough running teams in championship games.  Aztec is 1-11 in title games, having won the first one in 1953 and has lost 11 straight since, three of them on Hirsch’s watch. 

     Barbershop talk says he puts his best athletes on offense, leaving the defense with lesser athletic players and that he doesn’t have a running game to match his high powered passing attack.

     He can successfully defend the running criticism with two of the all-time leading rushers in NM history in Mike Hathcock (2005-2008) and Seth Cain (2002-2004).  Each retired with over 3,000 career yards rushing.  This season his defense has put together three shutouts but did give up 41 points to Valencia last Saturday.

     Coach Hirsch is the second winningest active coach in New Mexico (84-16 .840% with his 100th game last weekend).  He trails Michael Bradley’s 65-12 .844% record among active coaches.  Both trail Carrizozo’s Bernie Laabs (1959-66) for all coaches who have at least five years as a head coach in New Mexico.  Laabs stands at .851.      

     My Prediction:  Goddard 52  Aztec 34.