Sartans to spread things out

After years of a classic offense, one local high school football team is ready to spread it out.

San Juan Mendoza is beginning his 15th season as head coach of the St. Pius X Sartans, and in the previous 14 seasons, he's ran the traditional "Wing-T" offense.

But after finishing 5-6 last season, Mendoza is trying something different, the spread offense. It's something more and more New Mexico high schools are doing.

"We've got some great receivers in our system. We've got some good quarterback in our system. We wanted to take advantage of that," Mendoza said. "In the past, we've had eight, nine guys in the box trying to stop our run, so we wanted to spread defenses out."

Sophomore Trey Casaus will quarterback the new look Sartans.

"I really like it," Casaus said. "It opens up the defense. It makes it easier to get passes and runs in."

St. Pius X is part of the four-team District 6-4A.

"I think it's a tough district, one of the toughest in the state in 4-A," Mendoza said. "We have Volcano Vista, Belen, Grants and us and it's one heck of a district. I think anything can happen with those teams in it."

The Sartans will open their season Friday night at Moriarty.