Shiprock Thinks Long Term

The Shiprock Chieftains aren't ready to challenge Aztec for Four Corners supremacy any time soon.

Two years removed from a 17-player team, Shiprock is ready to compete in District 1-3A next year. It could be that a seamless transition at the top of that district takes place between Bloomfield and SHS.

The Chieftains started this season with 77 players and have surpassed 80 thanks to a significant public push from coach Ricky Ballard and his staff. Ballard hasn't wavered in his aim to compete with Kirtland Central and the rest of District 1-4A -- eventually -- and his determination hasn't worn off despite a 41-7 loss to Bernalillo last week.

Ballard views it as a long term project, something he doesn't expect to happen this year or even next year. Part of his plan includes a more extensive weight program for his traditionally smaller, slower team.

The other problem at the moment is that his team lacks depth.

Witness the first half against Bernalillo: Shiprock opened the game with a seven-minute drive that stalled inside the 5. They allowed their first score after muffing a punt on their own 7. Another turnover-and-touchdown handed Shiprock a 12-0 halftime deficit -- one that could've been tied with one less fumble and a few more yards on a running play.

Then they faded during the second half.

"The war of attrition caches up to you. We would like to get to the point where we have 22 (different starters)," Ballard said. "I think the day will come. As coaches, we just haven't developed enough football players yet."

He said the team has 15 or 16 legitimate starters right now. As a consequence, the best athletes must carry more responsibility and can't specialize.

For instance, QB/kick returner Maylan Jones also plays safety, which is how he hurt his shoulder. Now he's a game time decision for the KC game.

"At a small school, if you have an athlete, he has to be on the field, man," Ballard said. "We don't have the joy of saying, 'Maylan, you're just a kick returner and a quarterback.' You're a safety. Can you kick and punt too? Can you block here?"

Ballard thinks Shiprock can compete with the good teams in New Mexico if it can sustain the type of high numbers on the football team it's enjoying right now. Eventually they'll develop more of those players into starters and they'll have more depth, strength and speed than maybe any team in school history.

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Friday's matchup: As if anyone needed confirmation, KC lost to Bernalillo by less than a touchdown, evidence they're a better team even if you don't put much stock in common opponents.

Ballard said his realistic goal is to keep the game closer than the last meeting between the two teams -- the deficit surpassed 50 points.

He hopes the Broncos play in fear of losing rather than pursue a win. KC (2-4) would all but lose hope of making the state playoffs with a loss.

"Kirtland has a lot to lose. They get beat by us, man, they're in trouble. It's a must-win for them," he said. "If we lose to Kirtland, that's OK, we end up 7-2 on the season."

Ryder Hathaway and Easton Sherwood are KC's primary offensive guys, running the football, although the team balances their offense when they're playing well. Although they're physical, KC's speed might be their largest advantage, Ballard speculated.

"Kirtland's always physical, but they're technicians. They're very technical with what they do. They don't do a whole lot, but what they do they do perfectly and they take pride in that," he said. 

"They don't run a very big, exclusive defense, they run a very fundamentally sound defense. They don't run anything real, real fancy on offense, no tricks. They take pride in it and you can tell they're well-coached and well-practiced with what they're doing."

Needless to say, this is a game that's been circled on Shiprock's calendar since the offseason.

They might have to do it without Jones, their QB. Backup QB Peterson Billy might not be cleared to play, either. Both JV quarterbacks are hurt. That will make it difficult if Jones' shoulder doesn't allow him to play. The triple option is not an easy offense for a high school QB with no experience.

Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher