Cibola Raiders football looks to take big leap in year two for head coach Caleb Gillispie

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Cibola Raiders are entering their second year under head coach Caleb Gillispie with a renewed sense of purpose and rising expectations.

After finishing last season with a 2-8 record, the team is looking to rebuild while also relying on returning talent and promising new players.

"This year definitely a lot of turnover on the varsity level," Gillispie said. "Coming in initially, it was very difficult figuring out, scheme wise, what we wanted to change, where we're gonna plug-and-play players, but I think it's honestly pushed our coaching staff, and not only that, but some of the players."

Among the leaders returning to the field are team captains Daniel Sanez and Damion Sanchez, who are expected to make an impact on both offense and defense.

Both players are motivated by last season's results and have their focus set firmly on improvement.

"Every day, we just remember that we went 2-8," said Sanchez. "I mean, we got a lot to prove, so we're just ready to go out there and do everything we can."

"We just gotta keep stepping forward, you know," Sanez added. "The past is the past — gotta look forward."

One major strength for Cibola this year is continuity on the offensive line, with all five starters returning. That consistency up front is especially important with quarterback Xavier Rodriguez stepping in for his first season ever playing football.

"Coach [has] been teaching me, getting me used to it, going through the motions, and getting as much reps as possible before the game," Rodriguez said.

"It's been unique for me because he's asking questions, sometimes, that I wouldn't even think of," Gillispie said about working with Rodriguez. "Just for his unique perspective of not having played the position, and, and really coming into it, so, I think it's honestly challenged myself and the coaching staff to be able to figure out what works, what doesn’t work."

Gillispie is optimistic that the mix of fresh and seasoned talent will lead to more success on the field, but he also knows that there’s one key component that ultimately defines a season.

"For us, this season is really trying to turn over a new leaf with getting guys out here, making sure we have big numbers," he said. "A lot of that does come from the scoreboard at the end of the day, so for us to be able to show it up on the scoreboard is going to be very telling for us this year."

That scoreboard told quite a story in Week One, as the Raiders opened their season with a dominant 42-6 win over Rincon.

They looked strong on both sides of the ball and will look to carry that momentum through the rest of the season.