2026 Prep Football Summer Series: Cibola Raiders

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - A big improvement in year one under head coach Caleb Gillispie almost led to Cibola making the 4A playoffs. Unfortunately, their 6-3 record was not enough to buy a ticket to the postseason after a loss to Gila Ridge in the Desert League Championship.

This year they have a lot of starting spots to fill after subtracting 25 players due to graduation. Losing starters at several key skill positions - from Daniel Saenz to Marques Montague - gives Gillispie a lot to figure out. If last year was any indication, he's got the formula to do it. Xavier Rodriguez tossed on football pads for the first time in his life and led the 2025 Raiders offense at quarterback - an offense that threw up 40 or more points four times last season.

"This year's been very interesting," said Gillispie about the quarterback position. "We [have] some young guys that have been battling at the position, so we're definitely looking to be young there, as well as some other spots. I think one of the cool things is they've started to see what our offense is, what our defense is, and a lot of the scheme."

On top of the rising seniors having a year in Gillispie's system, the head coach is switching up his coaching staff and bringing in his own group of coordinators and assistants. It's a staff that consists of plenty of coaches that experienced Cibola football first-hand.

"I think one of the awesome things on our staff is getting guys that went to Cibola High School that have been there for years," Gillispie emphasized. "They know the tradition [and] the history. Being able to get them involved, we've really seen the trickle-down effect."

Cibola made plenty of noise in the first year of the reformatted Desert League, and if the coaching staff can find the answers to fill the gaps, they are set up to do the same again.