Chaparral Pumas: 2019 Division 4 Southern Section football preview
Chaparral will almost certainly have one of the better defenses in Division 4. Here's an inside look at the 2019 Pumas.
Links: Chaparral team page | 2019 schedule
2018 IN REVIEW
Overall record: 7-4 (2-3 in league, 5th in the Southwestern League). Chaparral lost 38-21 to Oak Hills in the first round of the D-4 playoffs.
HEAD COACH
Andrew Ramer is in his second season as head coach of Chaparral.
TOP PLAYERS
MLB Tristen Ramirez, 6-3, 180, Jr.
CB Jahiel Blue, 5-9, 165, Sr.
OLB/SS Joshua Swift, 5-11, 170, Sr.
DT/DE/C Chris Morales, 5-8, 190, Jr.
THREE TO SEE
Tristen Ramirez – MLB
As a sophomore, Ramirez recorded 129 tackles, which was good for First Team All-League honors.
Jahiel Blue– CB
Jahiel Blue sticks to wide receivers like glue. His efforts last season earned him First Team All-League honors at cornerback. Blue is a 2-star recruit who has already received an offer from NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State.
Chris Morales – C/DT/DE
Morales already made Second Team All-League last season as a center and as a defensive lineman. That’s one heck of a resume for someone coming into their junior year.
OUTLOOK
Chaparral might be a tale of two sides of the ball this season. Offensively, they’re returning pretty much nobody who was in the rotation. Chris Morales returns as a Second Team All-League center, but that’s essentially it. Their starters at QB, RB, and WR are completely up in the air.
On defense, the Pumas are returning an exceptional four-man core of Morales, Tristen Ramirez, Jahiel Blue and Joshua Swift. Blue was First Team All-League at cornerback, along with Ramirez, who recorded 129 tackles as a sophomore middle linebacker. Joshua Swift made 87 tackles as well as a strong safety who plays some outside linebacker. Both Swift and Blue are 2-star recruits who have received offers from Southwest Minnesota State, among other schools.
In short, Chaparral will almost certainly have one of the better defenses in the division. Will their offense be good enough for them to make the playoffs and get past the first round? That will be the determining question.
