Santa Fe New Mexican
August 14, 2026
The Pojoaque Valley Elks have endured lightning, fire and rebuilt turf over the past three years, so what’s a couple of injuries?
If any team seems capable of handling adversity, it is Pojoaque. So, when fullback Jaziah Romero dislocated his kneecap against Valley just three plays into Thursday’s fourteam scrimmage at Capital’s Jaguar Field and receiver Jaden Leyba-Moya suffered a hyperextension of his right knee against the host Jaguars, the Elks simply adjusted.
It’s a quality fourth-year head coach Zeke Villegas admires about his team, which has consistently lost outdoor practices over the past three years because of lightning, went through this summer using the soccer fields instead of Jacona Field as new turf was installed and had to navigate air quality issues earlier this week because of the Frijoles Fire east of the school.
“Those are the things I wanted to build when I got here — confidence and then the mental part,” Villegas said. “With those two things, that’s why they can do what they do because nothing gets in the way of something they love to do.”
Football and Pojoaque haven’t exactly gone together since the program began in 1996, but the 30th year of its existence might prove to be its most significant. The Elks are on the precipice of contender status, which it has never enjoyed.
Last year, Pojoaque achieved two program firsts — a win over Las Vegas Robertson and getting a home playoff game. Villegas said the next step is to contend for the District 1-3A (formerly 2-3A) title and win a game. If those two things happen, that should mean the Elks reach the semifinals — another first.
A second win would likely get them to their first 3A title game appearance.
That’s a far cry from a program that went 0-9 in 2022, the year before Villegas’ arrival. In his four years, the Elks ended a 10-year playoff drought.
But the goal is not what happened, but what is to come.
“You just want to get further and further every year,” senior quarterback Josh Gonzales said. “I think we have the pieces to do it. Just stay healthy, that’s the main thing.”
Villegas said Leyba-Moya should be ready for their Aug. 21 season opener at home against Taos, but Romero will take longer. Still, Villegas feels confident Pojoaque has the depth to withstand those injuries. A fourth year in his off-season weight-lifting and conditioning program appears to be paying off for the players.
This is the biggest and the strongest team in the past four years. Led by senior tackle/nose guard Michaelangelo Leapingwolf and junior guard/middle linebacker Jeremiah Ortiz, who was a second-team All-State performer, the Elks have a front five that averages about 230 pounds from end to end.
A year ago, that group helped Pojoaque average 191 rushing yards a game, and the goal is to take that average up a notch.
“We are definitely bigger than we were last year,” Leapingwolf said. “I’m so excited for what we’re gonna do this year. I mean, we just have each other’s backs, and we risk our lives on the field for the skill [players]. As long as they get the touchdowns, that’s all that really matters.”
But the X factor this year might be senior quarterback Josh Gonzales. He threw for 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns, while leading the team in rushing with 552 yards. That dual-threat quality in a quarterback will make game plans challenging for opponents.
Gonzales, though, wants to show Pojoaque is just as dangerous in the passing game as it is on the ground.
“We’ve been working on the quick game a lot this year,” Gonzales said. “I’m just more composed, too. I used to look at the line instead of the receivers sometimes last year. I was a little scared, but I’m more confident about our line this year.”
Villegas said Gonzales added about 20 pounds of muscle, and it shows in his arm strength and ability to shake off tacklers when scrambling. For much of the scrimmage, he didn’t try to run when outside the pocket, preferring to look for receivers downfield.
With the offense shifting more toward a spread look than its traditional power-I formation, Villegas wants to spread defenses out and open the field for his skill players.
“There were times when the line gave him, like, 5 seconds and created a pocket,” Villegas said. “The biggest growth I’ve seen from [Gonzales] is trusting the line and staying in the pocket. He’s not really a pocket passer, but when we call pocket pass plays, he understands that’s what it is.”
Pojoaque’s emergence in the 3A pecking order comes just as the class embarks on large districts. Instead of the usual four or five district games, 1-3A teams have seven to navigate. That means Pojoaque hits district play in Week 3 against Aztec.
If the Elks live up to the hype, the odds are high that Pojoaque’s regular-season finale Oct. 30 against three-time defending state champion St. Michael’s could have more than just district title implications. The Elks could be playing for a top-four seed — or maybe even No. 1 — when the Horsemen come to town.
That’s a delicious thought to 2025 record: 5-5 overall, 2-2 in District 2-3A.
Head coach: Zeke Villegas (fourth season)
Key players: Josh Gonzales, 6-foot, 160 pounds, senior, QB/S; Jonah Villegas, 5-7, 130, senior, ATH/AB; Muzic Portis, 6-11, 180, sophomore, ATHLB; Jaden Leyba-Moya, 5-7, 135, senior, WR/DB; Michaelangelo Leapingwolf, 5-9, 230; T/NG; Jeremiah Ortiz, 6-1, 250; junior, G/LB.
Outlook: This could be the breakthrough season for an Elks program that hasn’t sustained this kind of success for most of its 30-year lifetime. With plenty of size along the offensive and defensive line, depth and a strong set of skill players, Pojoaque appears to have what it takes to be a contender in 3A. Gonzales has grown into the de facto leader of the offense, and his arm and athleticism could be the difference. Pojoaque broke through with its first win against Robertson and earning its first home playoff game a year ago. Now, a trip to at least the semifinals — if not further — is the logical next step for the Elks.
2026 SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 — vs. Taos, 6 p.m.
Aug. 28 — at Moriarty, 7 p.m.
x-Sept. 4 — vs. Aztec, 6 p.m.
Sept. 11 — at Belen, 1 p.m.
x-Sept. 25 — at Las Vegas Robertson, 7 p.m.
x-Oct. 2 — vs. Gallup, 6 p.m.
x-Oct. 9 — at Thoreau, 7 p.m.
x-Oct. 16 — vs. West Las Vegas, 6 p.m.
x-Oct. 23 — at Kirtland Central, 6 p.m.
x-Oct. 30 — vs. St. Michael’s, 6 p.m.
x-District 1-3A game
Gonzales and his teammates.
“Hopefully, we go undefeated and they probably will, too,” Gonzales said. “That would be pretty awesome, especially on our new field. I think that’s a lot better than being on their grass.” But it’s a long way to October. The Elks have plenty to endure before then.