Weights, 7-on-7 competitions prepare Loving Falcons for upcoming football season
Loving High School head football coach Tyler Finch believes strength and conditioning during July will help the Falcons reach another playoff run come November.
“I always make that (the weight room) the centerpiece of our program," he said. "That’s one of our pillars that we focus on with our kids and let them know what’s behind the science of what we’re doing.”
In 2022, the Falcons finished the regular season with a 7-4 record and a berth in the 2A state playoffs.
More: Loving Falcons football looks to build on 2022 winning season and playoff appearance
Loving was ousted by the Santa Rosa Lions 56-13 in the opening round of the playoffs.
Along with weights, Finch said live drills against other teams will sharpen Loving for the Aug. 17 season and home opener against the Carlsbad High School junior varsity.
The Falcons participated in the Bronco Football 7-on-7 Tournament and Lineman Challenge on July 14 at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell.
“It was the first time in a while we had taken two 7-on-7 teams," Finch said. "We went up there competed well and had some good competition.”
He added the teams Loving faced were tough and the Falcons learned a number of items during offseason preparations for 2023.
The Falcons would have senior leadership heading into 2023 — Finch is counting on Caleb Rodriguez to be one of the leaders on this year’s Falcon team.
The quarterback and cornerback completed 112 passes last season for 1,601 yards and 19 touchdowns. He carried the football 50 times for 126 yards.
More: Loving and Carlsbad begin football title quests away from Eddy County
“We’re looking forward to seeing his growth and potential in the upcoming season,” Finch said.
Other seniors returning to the program include Eduardo De La Cruz, Ayden Leyva, Edgar Zacarias, Kysiah Lujan, Brendon Cuevas and Gio Ruiz.
“That senior group is going to be very important for us. We’ve got a lot of young talent that’s coming up as well,” Finch said. “We are excited about what we have just around the corner for our senior class.”
Finch said moving forward, returning to the state playoffs and increasing numbers for the football team are the main objectives for 2023.
New artificial turf appears ready
Crews from Sports Surfaces Performances from Bernalillo spent last week preparing the new artificial surface at the George Frederick Football Field, read a Loving Falcons Athletics Facebook post.
Crews spent nearly three months tearing out the old grass surface and the old track for track and field events. Hash marks, yard markings and lettering were added to the new turf.
Loving Municipal Schools Superintendent Lee White said cost for the new surface as around $2 million.
More: New Loving football turf installed, should be ready for home opener
“(The new turf) is a great thing for our kids and community. It’s going to be an amazing field," Finch said. "We’re just so grateful for that (and) our community for that.”
The Falcons are scheduled to play five home games on the new artificial surface in 2023.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Loving Falcons football prepares for 2023 opener with summer work
