Before the kickoff on Aug. 19, John Riepel admitted he’d felt some butterflies as his day to become Ignacio’s starting quarterback – replacing the graduated Gabe Tucson – had at last come.
“It was kind of nerve-wracking, but I was expecting it from … summer camp,” he said. “And I was like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to be a leader; you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.’ So I just winged it, tried my best at everything.”
Week in, week out, Riepel proved to be the Bobcat for whom opposing coaches game-planned the most, but who still powered IHS to a second consecutive winning season, with five victories (and six total, counting their Sept. 19 scrimmage-game thrashing of Red Mesa, Arizona, by a 70-0 margin) against three defeats.
Including a 99-yard kickoff-return touchdown and a 95-yard TD carry, Riepel tallied 16 six-pointers (14 rushing) during official 2022 action, and added three two-point conversions as he accounted for 102 of IHS’ 216 points. Splitting more and more time under center with freshman heir apparent Zane Pontine as the season progressed, Riepel still slung four TD passes. For his extensive offensive – and defensive – contributions, he was recently named First Team All-Southern Peaks Conference.
Joining Riepel on the league’s as first team were junior wide receiver/defensive back/return specialist Devante Montoya (3 TD catches, 1 interception-return TD, 1 punt-return TD), junior offensive/defensive lineman Elliott Hendren and OL/DL Zane Ross.
“Zane Ross is … a straight dog,” Riepel had said of the one-year senior. “Great lineman – he went from wide receiver to offensive line – and I’m glad he decided to stick it out, pull through and get after it … in the trenches.”
Sophomore OL/DL Kendrick Nossaman and freshman Lincoln deKay – who saw time on both sides of the ball, including in the offensive backfield – were voted second-team All-SPC, and junior OL/DL Cruz Martinez Honorable Mention All-SPC.
“I love our line,” Riepel said. “They block, go after the (other) quarterback every single game, and I’m so proud of them for what they’ve done this year. Just got out there and had fun.”
Centauri’s Kyle Forster was chosen coach of the year after guiding the Falcons – including co-offensive player of the year Chaz Holman, a junior WR/DB – to a 5-0 SoPeaks record and 8-3 overall finish. Centauri reached the CHSAA Class 1A State Playoffs’ quarterfinal round where they fell 37-0 at Strasburg.
Monte Vista senior RB/LB Khegan Gunter was a first team All-SPC selection as well as co-offensive player of the year after helping MVHS also reach the state quarters, when the Pirates (9-2, 4-1 SPC) fell 50-20 at Limon. Senior OL/DL Alejandro ‘Alex’ Felix was named defensive player of the year, as well as first team all-conference.
Also named first team were CHS’ Leighton Curtis, Blade Absmeier, Ivan Lopez, Austin Stockebrand and Josh Polkowske, plus Monte’s DeAngelo Archuleta, Andrew Chavez, and Jonah Waggoner. Center’s Cael Ruggles, Jesus Valadez and Aaron Valadez were all named first team, as were Del Norte’s Michael Laymon and Jace Pacheco, plus Trinidad’s Jayden Maxfield and Jesse Gutierrez.
More second team All-SPC: Centauri, Troy Huffaker, Coby Thomas, Dylan Vasquez; MVHS, Jack Noonan, Jaxon Martinez; Center, Joaquin Moreno, Chayse Bouet; DNHS, Tyler Gallegos, Cody Worz; THS, A.J. Bowman.
More honorable mention All-SPC: Centauri, Adrian Prieto; MVHS, Addan Heredia; Center, Alexis Villagomez; DNHS, Marques Quintana; THS, David Romero.
