GRANTS, N.M. - The young Grants High School Pirates came up short in a physical defensive game against the senior heavy Valencia Jaguars last week in their first home game of the season.
“Our defense played outstanding—- in their fist game they (Valencia) scored 54 points and we held them to 6,” said GHS head football coach Gene Riedinger of the Valencia Jaguars whose Pirates fell 6-2 to the Jaguars.
The Pirates struck first in the first quarter with a safety scored by Antonio DeVargas who broke through a double team. Pirate 2-0.
Defense ruled the night as neither team could score until the 3rd quarter when Valencia senior quarterback Santino Mares,3, hit receiver Daniel Tafora, 24, for a 12 yard pass and a Jaguar touchdown. The subsequent extra point kick went well left of the goal post.
“Theyhadagoodbalanceandthey did run a lot,” said Riedinger of the Valencia team. “Their defense had a middle linebacker that had us running.”
Riedinger acknowledged that though they had scoring opportunities that were missed in the Valencia game he and his staff will open up the field in the future to give the Pirates more opportunities to score.
“We were in the red zone but we just couldn’t get it in,” said Riedinger.
Julian “JuJu” Fernandez,5 led the Pirates in rushing yards with 71 yards for the night.
“We all performed really good but our offense wasn’t able to execute and our defense was really good,” said Fernandez of the game.
Coach Riedinger said of his freshman quarterbackAntanacio Gallegos, 10, “He is still growing–he handed off the ball well–we missed some open routes and that will come with time.”
Gallegos from his take on the game said, “The defense did amazing the whole game, they played spot on, however, the offense needs to pick it up.”
The Pirates offense will have an opportunity to “pick it up” next week as the Pirates face off with the Rio Grande Ravens (0-2) on September 11 at home at 7pm.
Riedinger said of the Ravens, “They are quick—size wise we compare well—they have more seniors but we are improving”.
The Pirates drop to 1-1 and Valencia advances to 2-0 after last week’s game.
Last week the Cibola Citizen reported that the Grants High School Pirates football team had lost to Miyamura in the 2025-2026 season when actually the Pirates defeated Miyamura 35-14 that year. The Cibola Citizen Regrets the error.