Depending on future numbers, the 2025 Socorro High School football season could be either a rebuild or a realignment as the Warriors advance to the most competitive Class 3A district in New Mexico.
Half of Socorro's games have been league games since last year's reorganization of the New Mexico Activities Association, which added New Mexico Military Institute and Ruidoso to Socorro, Hatch Valley, Cobre and Hot Springs.
As the summer football season approaches, Socorro High School head coach Damien Ocampo is concerned about the significant decline in his senior class due to the past two graduations.
“The last two years we've graduated a lot of good students,” Ocampo said. “This year, so far, it doesn't look like we're graduating as many players. Hopefully, we'll have some good players coming out of middle school. Maybe we'll have more players coming out of high school. If we want to make it to the top like we've had in the past, we need more players. We'll definitely be working on that over the summer and into the fall.”
Spring football numbers hovered in the mid-20s and some of the workouts were a little different when it came to executing the offensive strategy. Fans can expect a different look. Ocampo wants more results from other players rather than relying less on the skills of first-team all-state quarterback Isaiah Ocampo.
It's a bit of a head-scratcher considering the offense of next year's senior and potential U.S. Naval Academy recruit produced 3,221 yards of total offense and 33 touchdowns last season, but Ocampo is a realist and knows he needs to be a tough team to prepare the Warriors offensively.
“It's going to be a game of X's and O's. We have some good young guys returning but not a lot of them. We're making some changes to the system so you'll see a little bit more from multiple options,” Ocampo said.
Another factor that makes summer football difficult is the multiple obligations some of Ocampo's players have with summer athletics, sports camps and the need for players to take on summer jobs.
“Two of the top three teams in the state come from our district. It's a very tough district this year. We're definitely going to have a tough competition. If we don't have enough numbers and a consistent rotation on the field, our kids will get tired throughout the game. It's essential to have a consistent rotation of players to keep them fresh,” Ocampo said.
The players will go through tougher training conditions to build the super-strength they need to compete, and part of that process will involve participating in 7-on-7 matches, with a tournament starting June 20 in Socorro.
It's all part of a broader process as the Warriors prepare for the 2024 season.
“We're going to do a lot of plays that split the field in half, give the defense a lot of information and hopefully split the defense in half with our movements and our moves,” Ocampo said. “It might take half a season to make it work, but I think that's what suits our kids, it suits our speed, so that's what we're going to lean on.”
All this is done around a busy schedule.
“We have some young guys being scouted in other sports. They have to go to camps, which is great. We're going to put everything we have into it over the summer,” Ocampo said.
Ocampo will also be accompanying his son, Isaiah, who will be attending the prospects camp at the Naval Academy immediately following the Socorro 7-on-7 tournament.
Life may be moving a mile a minute right now, but Ocampo still hasn't forgotten the fact that this is his oldest son's final high school season and this year isn't just about winning.
“Isaiah knows he's one piece of the puzzle, and he knows we're always determining what's best for the whole team and what will lead to success. He's already on board with all the new things we're putting in place. He doesn't want to let anyone down.”
“He just wants to go out there and have fun with his guys and play easy for his final year,” Ocampo said. “I want him to have a great experience and finish the year with his guys and leave the field together knowing how much we all love each other and sacrifice for each other. A win is a loss and a loss. I want these young guys to have a great experience and grow together and learn how to be stronger men for the future.”
