By Stephen Freyermuth
Sports Editor, Coronado Thunderbirds

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After starting the season 0-3, Coronado has turned its season around with changes at quarterback and even a change at the offensive game plan, which has proved to be successful for the relatively young T-Bird football team.

The change from Sam Legaretta, to sophomore Mickey Courtney has led to three consecutive wins, all of which has been in district play. Also, sophomore halfback Bobby Chacon has received more carries in the last three games, which were wins, than in the first three games, which resulted in losses.

Coronado fans and players hope that this newfound success will continue as the season progresses, but we look at Friday night at the SAC when Coronado faces Montwood to see if it can continue in the immediate future.

Coronado and Montwood both go into this district match up with one loss each within the district, Coronado losing to Americas, and Montwood losing to Franklin last Thursday. However, before the loss last week Montwood looked like a team from years past that would beat you on the ground and with strong defense. Also, Montwood had outscored opponents 204-115 in its four wins this season, showing that when the Rams win they really pour it on teams this season. The two losses that Montwood has, however, have the Rams outscored by a total of 61 points. This Montwood team has seemed to be very consistent in its wins, but its losses show otherwise maybe providing a flaw for the T-Birds to work off of.

“We know they are a talented team, but we also know that if we can get them down early like (Midland Lee) and Franklin did we have a chance to beat them,” said wide receiver, Phillip Harris.

The reason for Coronado’s success as of late is represented in the teams explosion of points, and the sudden change in offensive powers. In the last three games for the T-Birds Mickey Courtney has thrown for five touchdowns, and Bobby Chacon has ran for seven touchdowns more than doubling his season total going into the fourth game of the season. The teams that have beaten Montwood have also shown success in the passing game, and that is the one area that Coronado has most improved with Mickey Courtney raising his quarterback rating to above 80 when before it was below 50. If Coronado can get on the board first like it has against Hanks, Socorro, and Bel Air than it will have a good chance to defeat Montwood whose two losses have also shown them trailing after the first quarter.

Friday’s match up at the SAC provides for exciting and nail-biting football when both teams try to avoid its second loss in district play and try to improve its chances at making playoffs.

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