By Eric Butler
MaxPreps.com
While most of New Mexico's prep football teams begin two-a-days this week with memories of the 2007 season in tow, one individual has thoughts of a very recent victory on his mind.
Manzano's Aaron Ocampo may not have had much time off in the weeks before the 2008 practices began, but he did get rewarded when he coached the North to a 27-14 win over the South on Friday, Aug. 1.
In mid-August, Ocampo and his assistants for that game returned to the prep scene while many of his players meanwhile moved on to college ball. The North/South football game showcased Class 4A and 5A seniors from last season making their last hurrah as representatives for their high schools.
"All the kids on our all-star team finished their seasons losing in the playoffs – and usually an emotional loss to a southern team," Ocampo said. "None of the coaches or players won a state title last year, so we wanted to earn some respect. We're very proud of northern football and what we do here and we just wanted to show collectively that we can play good football."
Ocampo rotated Cibola's Jonathan Mader and Aztec's Ken Bohannan at quarterback and it was Mader, who will play at the University of New Mexico, who got the North on the board first.
In the opening quarter, Mader found a Cibola teammate of his – Indiana Jones – for a five-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead.
Mader, who will be joined at UNM by the South's Nathan Enriquez and Fred Young Jr. (both of Mayfield), wasn't the only player on the squad who plans on playing college ball.
"We asked them that and, easily, over half of them raised their hands that they're going to walk-on someplace or do something," Ocampo said. "It was good that it wasn't everyone's last chance to play."
Joe Tanner from Kirtland Central gave the North a two-touchdown lead when he rushed to paydirt from seven yards out in the second quarter.
The South, coached by Hobbs' Phillip Roybal, retaliated with a touchdown but that was answered, in turn, by two more North TDs.
Mayfield quarterback Matt Sandoval, who led his team to the last two Class 5A championships, led the South with 27 yards rushing on eight attempts.
Eldorado's Logan Lippert was the North's leading carrier with 79 yards on 12 tries.
Mader finished the game with 70 yards passing, connecting on seven of his 12 throws, in the modified Manzano offense that Ocampo installed for the North.
"We scaled it down a little," Ocampo said. "I would say that the players adapted enough, but I wish they could have adapted a little better."
There's always the high school season for that.
Manzano opens the 2008 campaign on Sept. 4 against fellow Albuquerque foe Cibola.
