Sunray quarterback Armando Lujan ready for a repeat season in 2023
Sunray's football team has the benefit of returning 10 starters on each side of the ball this season, but the Bobcats have the enormous fortune that one of them is statistically one of the best players at his position in the entire country.
Junior quarterback Armando Lujan is back for year three under center and that should have the rest of the 2A region quaking in their cleats. Lujan is the reigning Amarillo Globe-News Player of the Year after throwing for 4,476 yards, 51 touchdowns to just nine interceptions. For all teams that input statistics to MaxPreps, Lujan finished in the top five in the United State in passing last season.
Did we mention he also rushed for 783 yards and 16 touchdowns while recording a pair of pick-sixes on defense? Lujan absolutely earned the title of Player of the year.
"I'm sure everyone is wondering if he's going to be able to do that again," Sunray coach Wes Boatmun said. "I'm excited for him to have the opportunity and challenge to see if he can improve on that."
Sunray football shifts to Air Raid
Lujan also tossed 25 touchdowns his freshman year despite having started playing QB his freshman year. What should also have teams fearful is that he has nearly all of his weapons back.
Tanner Van Dyk is gone after a solid run as the number three wideout for Sunray. Otherwise, everyone else returns to one of the best offenses in Texas. That includes the number two receiver in the Panhandle in Damian Barragan (79 catches, 1,338 yards, 13 touchdowns) and the number six receiver in Kagan Davis (81 catches, 1,077 yards, 10 touchdowns). Starting running back Dominic Casares is back as well.
The whole offensive line is back as well, including Julio Villado, Luis Calderon and Noel Orozco. It all added up to what should be another high-scoring year for the Bobcats.
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"It's one of those deals where an investment is coming to fruition," Boatmun said. "You've been faithful, patient and done your due diligence so now you're hoping to reap the reward. We were disappointed in 9-3 because we wanted double-digit wins, but we understood we didn't have veterans playing for us. Now we do."
Sunray defense is underrated
The Bobcat defense has heard all about their brothers on the other side of the field. While they're happy for them, they're ready for people to start talking about them, too.
They have the experience to make that happen. Villado (68 tackles) and Calderon (62 tackles, six for a loss) will once again man the trenches, while Luke Grajeda (55 tackles) is back to guide the linebackers. Eric Mendoza is the lone loss on defense, and even he will be replaced by Ty McDowell, who was lost for the season in the second game of the year. Boatmun singled McDowell's return as one of the pivotal moments of the season.
Davis (23 tackles) and Lujan (15 tackles) return as starters in the secondary.
"Getting Ty back is huge," Boatmun said. "He's one of our best football players. He's a ball magnet. He doesn't look like he'd be able to factor in as much as he does at 5-foot-10 and 177 lbs. He doesn't look like he'd be a dominant feature of a team but he is."
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Already in
Nearly every team enters the season with the goal of making the playoffs. The Bobcats are one of the few that don't have to worry about making that a goal because it's already taken care of.
Booker's decision to drop down to six-man this year means District 1-2A Division II is a four team district now. So, Boys Ranch, Vega, Gruver and Sunray are set to advance to the 2023 postseason.
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"Our expectation is to make it a year to remember," Boatmun said. "If we grow individually and as a team, become better people than when they started, I can say it was a successful season...Improvement is the goal and we want to be a better team each week."
SUNRAY BOBCATS
Head coach: Wes Boatmun
2022 record: 9-3 overall, 3-1 in district
Base offense: Air Raid
Base defense: 4-3
Last playoff appearance: 2022
Top returners: Armando Lujan, Kagan Davis, Damian Barragan, Ty McDowell, Julio Villado, Arnold Mendoza, Dawson Bennett, Dominic Casares
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25: vs. Hooker (OK), 7 p.m.
Sept. 1: at Stratford, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8: vs. Dimmitt, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: at West Texas Stinnett, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22: vs. Crosbyton, 7 p.m.
Sept. 29: vs. Guymon (OK), 7 p.m.
Oct. 6: at Lubbock Christian, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13: at Boys Ranch, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20: vs. Gruver, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27: OPEN
Nov. 3: vs. Vega, 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Sunray High School quarterback Armando Lujan ready for 2023 season
