MANCOS – Ever since Josh Gardner took the helm of the Mancos football program in 2018, the Bluejays have constructed a program that has become the gold standard in Colorado’s 8-man division.
The results speak for themselves – Mancos owns the longest active streak for state semifinal appearances, having made the final four in the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. The Jays enter the campaign with an 11-game winning streak in league play, and hope to collect their third straight Mountain League crown and fifth league title overall under Gardner’s watch.
Consistency has become a hallmark of the blue-and-white domination over recent years, with perhaps no greater example of that than the Mancos offensive line. Seniors Adam Martinez and Colten Vannest have been fixtures up front for Gardner, who prides his teams on physicality. The duo will lead a reshaped Mancos backfield, but the expectations remain the same for Mancos football – control the line of scrimmage and the rest will follow.
Junior Michael Resner will shift from receiver to quarterback for the Jays this fall, and Gardner is excited to see his new signal caller in action.
“Michael’s really stepped up. He’s been a positive influence, picking guys up,” said Gardner, “and he’s having to learn a lot because our offense is going to look different this year.”
Junior James Potts will join returning starting tailback Jonah Ritter in the ground attack behind Resner, but one of the biggest shifts may involve a more prominent passing game than Bluejays fans have become accustomed to seeing in recent years. Sophomore Traycer White and senior Miguel Derizotis will see opportunities to flash their athleticism on the edges, while the Bluejays will lean on junior Gavin Smith and sophomore Levi Gardner at the tight end spots.
The Mancos skill positions aren’t the only reshuffling that the Jays will face this season – Gardner welcomes assistant coaches Louis Horton – also the school’s athletic director – as well as former middle school coach Eldon Vannest to his staff.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ritter and Potts will sit in the middle of the formation at linebacker, while Vannest and Martinez will see an elevated role on the D-line this year.
“Adam and Colten – they’re out here coaching our young guys, as well as spending some time with the middle school team – helping them learn the right steps so they’ll be ready when it’s their turn,” added Gardner.
As Mancos looks to continue to push for another deep postseason run, Gardner knows that it’ll take significant growth from Day One of practice until October and November for Mancos to maintain their spot atop the league.
“We’re really depending on our younger guys to step it up this year,” said Gardner, recognizing how many of his Class of 2028 players will see their first varsity action later this month.
The learning curve will be quick for the players getting their first starting roles this fall – Mancos will open the season against New Mexico’s 2024 state champion Melrose on Aug. 29 in Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico. After that test, the Jays will head to Fairplay on consecutive weekends to meet Sedgwick County and Merino before opening their league schedule in their home opener against Dolores on Sept. 26. A battle against rival Dove Creek awaits the following week, before Mancos faces another massive league encounter on Oct. 17 at home on Senior Night against Sanford.
