Summer wraps on the turf in Bloomfield as area teams prepare for 2025 Season

By Lee Begaye
Special to the Times

BLOOMFIELD, N.M.

One of the final summer football gatherings wrapped up under the sweltering San Juan County sun as teams from across the Four Corners region convened for a low-key 7-on-7 and Big Man Challenge at the home field of the reigning New Mexico 4A state champion Bloomfield Bobcats.

Participating teams included Monument Valley, Wingate, Piedra Vista, Cuba, and a handful of players from Navajo Prep. With the 2025-26 school year just two weeks away, the turnout represented the last push of summer development before fall camp officially begins.

“Some schools couldn’t make it due to the summer ending and the school year starting soon,” said Bloomfield head coach Mike Kovacs. “We offered to waive some fees, but logistics got the better of a few teams.”

Still, Kovacs was pleased with the turnout. “Overall, it’s a good group. We’ve been working hard all summer long and now we’ve had all this time to come together as a team.”

Few teams have put in the miles this summer like the Monument Valley Mustangs. The Mustangs took part in nine camps across the Southwest, including a trip out to California, and hosted their own 17-team 7-on-7 tournament, drawing competition from New Mexico and Utah state champions.

Head coach Bryan Begay, joined by family watching from the sideline, reflected on the progress his team has made.

“The boys got a lot of reps, saw different styles of play, and really came together as a unit,” Begay said. “They bonded, matured, and grew more confident with each event.”

Monument Valley’s upcoming season won’t give them much time to ease in. The Mustangs open on the road with back-to-back trips to St. Johns and Needles, California—the latter coming off a 10-win season. They then host Holbrook on Sept. 5, hit the road again to face Kingman, and finish non-conference play by welcoming Show Low.

“We’ve got a tough preseason schedule lined up that should test us and get us ready for region play,” said Begay. “Our focus is on staying healthy, staying eligible, and hopefully sneaking out a few key wins early on. If we can do that, we’ll be right in the mix when it matters most.”

Navajo Prep’s turnout was small—just six players made the trip—but they were able to combine with Monument Valley’s second unit for reps and team building.

“It’s always a challenge getting summer participation,” said head coach Roderick Denetso. “Our kids come from all over the reservation—and we even have a student-athlete coming from as far as Alaska. Right now, we have the local kids and the ones who have the resources to be here.”

Denetso noted that full team activities begin in two weeks, when students return to campus. The Eagles are coming off a strong 2024 season, advancing to the NMAA 2A state quarterfinals and finishing in a three-way tie for first in District 1-2A alongside Cuba and McCurdy. Despite participation hurdles, Denetso believes his squad can remain competitive.

As hosts, Bloomfield continues to build on an already loaded program. The Bobcats haven’t lost a regular-season game since 2023 and boast a 35-2 record over the past three years. Their last district loss? Back in 2018—ironically at the hands of Kirtland Central, where they will open district play on Sept. 12.

But coach Kovacs knows the road to a repeat won’t be easy. Gone are quarterback Blake Spencer and linebacker Logan Gosnell, who was often called upon to grind out short-yardage scores late in tight games.

“Our summer’s been excellent,” said Kovacs. “I’m proud of our kids and our community’s participation. I used to coach at Navajo Prep, so I understand the challenges the reservation schools face. I’m just glad they could come out and be part of this.”

Bloomfield opens the 2025 season at home with two major matchups—hosting 5A Belen on Aug. 22, followed by 5A Piedra Vista the next week—before heading to face 5A Miyamura in Gallup.

As summer gives way to the cooler winds of fall, these regional programs now turn their focus to the road ahead. Whether it’s a title defense, a breakthrough year, or simply building program depth, each coach knows the work laid in the heat of July could pay off under the Friday night lights.

Kickoff for the 2025 season is just around the corner—and the final summer snaps in Bloomfield were a reminder that football, no matter the heat, never truly stops.

Get instant access to this story by purchasing one of our many e-edition subscriptions HERE at our Navajo Times Store.

 

---