Following a season beset with injuries, sickness, and off-field troubles, the Blue Jays are hoping to make the post-season playoffs for the 2000 varsity football season.

It seemed like every week some key player was going down with a season-ending or near season-ending injury or some off-field problems. But head coach Terry Newlin, who has consistently put winning and competitive teams on the field, rolled with the punches last year. On paper this year, and if things fall into place and the Blue Jays get a break here and there, look for the Blue Jays to be back in the Class A playoffs.

"We expecting to be a much improved ball club from a year ago," Newlin commented. "I think they will be good. The summer program was probably the best we’ve had in years. We had probably the best results we’ve had with our testing at the beginning of the year. We are lot bigger and stronger and may be even faster. I have to give the credit to the kids because they put the work in."

Steps this summer indicate a renewed dedication to get the Blue Jays into the playoffs. Newlin took 17 players to Albuquerque for a camp with the coaching staff at the University of New Mexico in mid-June. They met every Monday evening for weightlifting, footwork drills, and working on passing plays. Many also lifted some other days during the week.

On field leaders will be the seniors in Phillip Wilson, Jeremiah Muniz, Glenn Jones, and Chris Ellis.

Offensively, the Blue Jays will work out of the winged-T, straight T, plus some run-and-shoot, veer, and lonesome polecat (shotgun) formations. The Jays want to give the opposing defense a number of different looks.

The biggest plus is that quarterback Kelly Smith, who is a solid runner and a good passer, is back from a season-ending leg injury. He went down less than mid-way through the season a year ago. The Jays seemed to struggle without him and never quite recovered. Junior Scott Koppenhafer and freshman Scott Hallam. Both Koppenhafer and Hallam may see some varsity repetitions at that spot.

Wilson, who found himself in some off-field problems, is back for his senior at tailback. Nick Rubino also will be at fullback with Kelly Mitchell backing him up. Muniz also will be at tailback and play some at Z-back. Koppenhafer and Ellis will spend time at Z-back.

Chase Davis and Randon Mathews are at the receiver spots. The whole line plus some reserves are back. They include Rowdy Thompson, Jones, Travis Clark, Josh Seymour, Kevin Schlemmer and Ryan Shepherd. The Jays are tall and big across the line. Schlemmer is 260 pounds plus, Thompson 230, Shepherd 225, Seymour 205, Jones 185, and Clark 180. Jacob Tallent and Oklahoma transfer J.W. Mayberry will handle tight end chores.

On the defensive side of the ball, look for the Jays to make some changes. They will go more to a 4-4 stack in order to utilize the team’s quickness. Jones and Mayberry will be on the ends. Tackles working out include Shepherd, Schlemmer, Thompson, and Seymour. The linebacking corps is really strong with middles Wilson and Clark, and outsides Koppenhafer and Muniz along with Smith and Mitchell. The secondary is not really set yet but working out are Davis, Ellis, Mathews, and Rubino.

Newlin is very pleased with a group of freshmen who have come out. Some of the outstanding ones include Tory Clark, Ken Russell, Colorado Springs transfer Reese Clay, and Hallam. All could see varsity time.

Muniz will likely handle place-kicking duties for point-afters and field goals. Clark will handle some kickoffs. Muniz and Seymour are working out punting. A number of kids are working at returning punts and kickoffs. Muniz did a nice job when he was there last season at returning kickoffs.

The Blue Jays have many things working for them this year. They have a solid line with experience, veterans in skill positions, and speed and quickness. The Jays have the potential and talent to make the playoffs. They play a rugged non-conference schedule. If they can get through that and win their first league game, they could be well on their way to taking one of two playoff spots (the league had three last year but reshuffling schools on the Front Range took one of them for this season).

Talk about a tough schedule. Gone are the majority of the junior varsity teams Mancos has played in the past. The Blue Jays will open the season with a nonconference game at Class AA Ignacio on Sept. 1. They will return home for a date against perennially strong Sargent on Sept. 8. Another Class AA team is on the schedule as the Jays visit Del Norte on Sept. 16. Yet another AA team is on tap when Bayfield comes to town. Ignacio and Bayfield were once fellow San Juan League foes but those schools saw major jumps in enrollment in recent years.

Perhaps the game that has the most playoff implications will be the a game on Sept. 29. The Jays visit San Juan League foe Nucla on Sept. 29. That game right there could determine whether or not Mancos makes the playoffs. It is just about that important of a game. A loss there would certainly clip the Blue Jays’ wings.