Cleveland storms Into varsity football

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) - There's a storm brewing over Rio Rancho, but not to worry. It's not the kind that will damage homes although the early returns were not too kind to an opposing team.

Cleveland High School has opened in Rio Rancho, and its sports nickname is the Storm. The Storm played its first football game in school history Friday night in Santa Fe and produced a 59-6 victory over Capital.

Kirk Potter came out of retirement to guide the Storm in its maiden voyage. Potter previously served as Carlsbad's head coach and Hobbs' assistant coach, and spent some time coaching in Texas.

"The opportunity to open up a school, you don't get to do that very often," Potter said.

Cleveland does not have any senior players, just sophomore and juniors on the varsity squad.

"We've only got one guy with varsity experience," Potter continued. "Everybody else is experiencing all this for the very first time."

The lone player with previous varsity experience is junior running back Iseha Conklin.

"I feel like we've got to be as juniors leaders of the team and help," said Conklin.

But even with their early success, the Storm isn't resting on its laurels.

"We're very inexperienced," Potter said. "We're going to take 'em one game at a time and see what happens each time."

Because the new on-campus football stadium isn't completed, Cleveland will play its first home game Thursday at Rio Rancho High School against Miyamura. Cleveland's new stadium is expected to be ready in time for the Storm's home game Sept. 25.

"The new facilities, the weight rooms, and everything we have is amazing," Conklin said

The Cleveland Storm has been chosen the KRQE Team of the Week.