Duncan opens 2025 campaign on Packer Field on Friday

By Raymundo Frasquillo

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Lucas Soohy strengthens his legs as he moves from station to station during a recent practice session. The Duncan senior is one of six Class of 2026 members on the 2025 squad.

DUNCAN – The Dan Coats-coached Duncan Wildkats open their 2025 football season on Packer Field Friday, Aug. 22. The Lordsburg Mavericks are the opponent, with kickoff being 7 p.m., Mountain Standard Time.

Duncan has opened against Lordsburg for the three most recent seasons, during 2022 and 2024 in the “Land of Enchantment”, succumbing 14-38 and 66-98, respectively, and on Packer Field in 2023 with a 36-64 loss. The wins gave Lordsburg a 9-1 record and an average score per game of 33-19 (328-187) or a 14-point margin over Duncan for those 10 games. The schools met for the season opener during the final seven seasons (1996-2002) before Duncan switched to the 8-man format.

The Wildkats are 87-96 (.475) overall, 14-13 (.519) section, 44-40 (.534) region, 1-10 (.091) in state playoffs, 46-45 (.505) on Packer Field, and 16-6 (.727) for homecoming during 22 seasons (2003-24) of playing in the 8-man format.

This week, the 8-man 1A South Region also has Fort Thomas hosting Sells Baboquivari, and Saint David hosting Elfrida Valley Union.

LORDSBURG (NM) Mavericks:

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Junior Aaron Zamora challenges himself in an arm lifting station.*

2A District 2

The 2022 season was the Mavericks’ initial one in the 8-man format, finishing as state runners-up, going 10-1 (.999) overall, 3-0 (1.000) in the district for first of four, and averaging a score of 52-17 (570-183) per game or a 35-point margin. Fort Sumner/House handed Lordsburg a 34-44 state championship game loss, the only one of the season.

Lordsburg followed its’ initial venture into the format with a 3-5 (.375) overall, 2-1 (.667) district for second of four, and an average score per game of 35-43 (276-340) or an 8-point deficit in 2023; and 5-6 (.455) overall, 1-5 (.167) district for sixth of seven, and averaged a 41-37 (456-407) score per game or a 4-point margin in 2024. Top-ranked Melrose handed the No. 9 Mavericks a 6-58 state quarterfinal round loss.

Dale Hooper (35-34 overall, 14-10 district, 3-6 state, 20-15 at home) is in his ninth season as the Mavericks’ head coach, the fourth in the 8-man format.

Lordsburg opens the 2025 campaign on the road in Duncan on Aug. 22, hosts Cloudcroft (Aug. 29), visits Navajo Pine (Sept. 5), hosts Roswell Gateway Christian (Sept. 12), visits Tatum (Sept. 19), hosts Mescalero Apache (Oct. 3), visits Hagerman/Lake Arthur (Oct. 10), hosts Melrose (Oct. 17), and visits Las Cruces Mesilla Valley Christian (Oct. 24).

The Mavericks are competing in the 7-member 2A District 2 with the Gateway Christian Warriors, the Hagerman/Lake Arthur Bobcats, the Melrose Buffaloes, the Mesilla Valley Christian SonBlazers, the Mescalelero Apache Chiefs, and the Tatum Coyotes.

DUNCAN Wildkats

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Joseph Contreras pushes a weight platter with teammates during an indoor practice session.*

1A South Region

Duncan went a combined 7-14 overall, 6-12 region, 4-9 at home during the most recent three seasons (2022-24), averaging a score of 27-41 (652-979) per game or a 14-point deficit. The Wildkats were 1-7 (.125) overall, 1-5 (.167) region for seventh of seven, and averaged a 26-29 (182-209) score per game or a 3-point deficit in 2024; 1-7 (.125) overall, 1-5 (.167) region for sixth of seven, and averaged an 18-41 (140-331) score per game or a 23-point deficit in 2023; and 5-3 (.625) overall, 4-2 (.5667) region for third of seven, and averaged a 37-28 (298-226) score per game or a 9-point margin in 2022.

The Wildkats host the Lordsburg, NM Mavericks (Aug. 22) and the Fort Thomas Apaches (Aug. 25), visit the Elfrida Valley Union Blue Devils (Sept. 5) and the Saint David Tigers (Sept. 12), host the Dishchii’bikoh Wildcats (Sept. 19), host the Sells Baboquivari Warriors (Sept. 26) and the Kearny Ray Bearcats (Oct. 3), and visit the San Manuel Miners (Oct. 10) and the Mayer Wildcats (Oct. 17).

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Duncan junior Dayton Penry has his reflexes and reaction attempts to catch a ball sight unseen. Assistant coach Greg Galvin tests Penry.*

Duncan lists a 16-man roster with six seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors include Ky Coats, Joseph Contreras, Joshua Free, Taygan Jensen, Pablo Ruiz, and Lucas Soohy; juniors Jarren Butler, Conner Free, Billy Johnson, Dayton Penry, and Aaron Zamora; sophomores Mark Bejarano, Karson Lacey, and Drake Waters; and freshmen Max Barker and Cade Stephens.

Dan Coats (2-11 overall, 4-10 region, 2-7 at home) is in his third year as the head coach. Assisting him are Joey Bejarano, Greg Galvin, and Chad Penry.

Duncan is competing in the seven-team South Region with Fort Thomas, Kearny Ray, Sells Baboquivari, Saint David, San Manuel, and Valley Union.