2026 Prep Football Team Preview: Yuma Criminals

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Yuma High School is looking to restore one of the most storied football programs in the Desert Southwest, and head coach Armando Mosqueda believes the process begins with culture.

After finishing 1-8 last season, the Criminals entered the offseason determined to rebuild from the ground up.

Rather than focusing solely on wins and losses, Mosqueda and his staff prioritized leadership, discipline, and accountability as the foundation for future success.

The transformation has been led by the team's senior class, which has embraced the responsibility of setting the standard for the rest of the roster.

"The seniors have stepped up, and it's lifted everybody else on this team to a new level," Mosqueda said. "We've got new energy and the attitude has shifted."

Among those leaders is senior captain Adrian Garcia, who understands the expectations that come with being one of the faces of the program.

"It's definitely more pressure on you, but I've grown to handle it more, and the coaches, everybody's looking at you, so you gotta be doing the right things at all times...even when nobody's looking," Garcia said. "You gotta set the example for the team."

Mosqueda also emphasized that rebuilding the program required changes beyond the players on the field.

The Criminals brought in a new coaching staff that shares the vision of developing student-athletes both on and off campus.

"It started with our new coaching staff," Mosqueda said. "We brought in more teachers and people that are more focused on student development, so we got more eyes on the campus. We're more focused on building that discipline and the attitude."

That message has resonated throughout the roster. Senior running back and linebacker Kane Huerta-Urbalejo said the program's new culture extends well beyond football.

"You know, it's more than football," Huerta-Urbalejo said. "It's being a good friend, a good brother, a good student, a good son...all that. Kind of just being a better person and working to strive toward those goals."

As the Criminals continue their rebuild, confidence around the program has grown. Mosqueda believes the combination of improved energy and stronger leadership will help the team compete more effectively against its local rivals.

"Yes, I think we're gonna do a lot better in town," the head coach said. "Specifically just because, like we said, the energy [and] the leadership."

Yuma High earned just one Desert Southwest Region victory last season, defeating Somerton, but players are eager to prove they can compete with the rest of the city's programs this fall.

"I'm very excited," Garcia said. "Coming back to town and playing all the rivals in town...not just Kofa, but also Cibola and Gila Ridge. We're looking forward to those games and just proving ourselves once more."

For senior offensive lineman and defensive end Izzie Emilio Sanchez, the team's recent struggles have only strengthened its resolve. After three consecutive losing seasons, he believes embracing the underdog role can fuel the program's resurgence.

"I'm embracing the underdog role," Sanchez said. "We've been the underdog for quite a while now. Not a lot of people believe in Yuma High anymore, but these coaches are trying to bring it back here, so we’re gonna help them bring it back."

Whether the Criminals can return to their former glory remains to be seen.

However, with a renewed culture, a veteran-led roster, and a coaching staff committed to player development, Yuma High believes it has taken the first step toward bringing winning football back to the program.