FARMINGTON – There are some new opponents and some familiar rivals for Navajo Prep’s football team to navigate in the upcoming season.
Shiprock and Santa Fe Indian School, both coming off struggling campaigns last season, join Navajo Prep in the newly aligned District 5-2A. The Chieftains drop from Class 3A after a 1-9 season last year while the Santa Fe Indian School squad played as a freelance team last year and also secured only one victory.
Newcomb, which has been a traditional district rival for the Eagles, will be one of the familiar teams Navajo Prep will face off against this season.
Navajo Prep (9-3 overall last season) advanced to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs before being eliminated on the road by Texico.
For head coach Roderick Denetso, the challenge remains the same even as new players join an already talented roster of returning starters.
“We want to compete, play hard and fast, and get better every single week,” Denetso said. “We have some new players joining the program, so right now it’s about bringing everyone together, building chemistry, and getting better each day.”
The Eagles will be leaning heavily on some returning starters who contributed much to the most recent season.
“We’re excited about the experience we have at our skill positions,” Denetso said. “Gracin Vigil, Nijrelle Denetso, Aden Clah, Luke Smith, Gabriel Muhammad and Dallas Wilson are some of the players we’re excited to watch this season. We’re expecting those experienced players to lead, compete, and help bring our younger and newer players along.”
Navajo Prep and Shiprock are familiar rivals on the gridiron. The teams have played against each other 10 times over since 2006, with each team winning five times. Last season, the Eagles topped Shiprock by a score of 42-9.
Newcomb has faced Navajo Prep 20 times since 2004, with the series even at 10 wins each.
The Eagles have a winning mark against both Santa Fe Indian School and Cuba, combining to win 10 of 16 games against the two district rivals.
The Eagles will open their 2026 season at home against Raton, which had its postseason run last year come to an end in a heartbreaking second round loss to Hozho Academy in the Class 2A state tournament.
The Tigers (7-5 overall, 4-1 District 2-2A last season) are expected to bring back several key starters including Cael Walton. The senior two-way starter rushed for more than 160 yards a game last season while scoring 18 touchdowns.
“At the end of the day, we’re not making big predictions,” Denetso said. “We want to work, compete, stay healthy, and improve every week. If we do those things consistently, we believe we can put ourselves in position to be playing meaningful football in November.”
Newcomb, coached by Vincent Lee, is hoping to improve off a tough 2-8 season last year. The Skyhawks open the season at home Friday, Aug. 21 against Wingate.
Newcomb will rely on offensive linemen Aiden Jones, Dineh Platero and Shae Neal to provides continuity up front, an essential piece for a run-first offense. Their growth will directly dictate how effective Newcomb can be offensively.
Defensively, Marlen Martin returns as the clear leader after posting 67 total tackles (59 solo) last season. He anchors a unit that also brings back contributors like Ezekeil Bennett (2028), who recorded 25 tackles.
Shiprock struggled again last season, led by Doug Ballard, the third different coach in the past three seasons.
The season opened with three straight lopsided losses to Navajo Prep (42-9), Moriarty (53-0), and Kirtland Central (50-0), as Shiprock struggled to find rhythm offensively and consistency defensively. District play did not offer much relief either, with losses to Thoreau (52-0), Wingate (31-16), and Tohatchi (28-6) keeping the Chieftains searching for traction.
Shiprock’s drop to Class 2A should help, but this is still a roster that has a lot to prove. Shiprock scored just 99 points last season while allowing 395, and even with the drop in classification, there are still major holes to address, especially on defense and in the run game.
Quarterback Blake Begay returns after taking his lumps as a first-year starter last season. Begay completed 41 of 125 passes for 723 yards and 7 touchdowns, while also rushing for 156 yards and 3 touchdowns. Linemen Dayshawn Antonio and Ryder Garnanez (2027) anchor a solid front.
NMPreps.com’s Joshua Griñe contributed to this report. For more information, log on to NMPreps.com.