Falcons Magnets Ready for 2024 Football Season

Team to face state champions and other playoff contenders

By Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus

Seeking another return to the state football playoff, the Falcons will face five 2023 playoff teams and three newcomers on the 2024 schedule.

Last year, under head coach Tyler Finch, the Falcons finished the season with a 6-4 overall record and a first-round loss to Santa Rosa in the playoffs.

At 7 p.m. Aug. 23 in Estancia, the season begins with a Bears team that finished 4-7 overall and lost 50-0 to Texico in the first round of the playoffs.

The Falcons and Estancia did not play last season.

At 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 in magnet, the Falcons begin the home leg of the schedule against New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in Roswell.

In 2023, the Falcons edged the Colts in Roswell 13-12.

On September 5th at 6pm in Loving, Loving faces the Artesia High School Junior B team.

On September 13 at 7 p.m. in Tucumcari, Loving will face the Rattlers. The two teams did not play last year, with Tucumcari finishing 2023 with a 3-6 record.

At 11 a.m. Sept. 21 in Newcomb, the Falcons travel to the northwest corner of New Mexico to face a Skyhawk team that finished 4-6 last season.

At 6 p.m. on Sept. 26 in Loving, the Falcons’ non-district season concludes with a contest against Carlsbad High School’s junior varsity team.

At 7 p.m. on Oct. 4 in Loving, the Falcons host Texico for homecoming and the District 4-2A opener.

The Wolverines won the 2A title last year and defeated Loving in the regular season 45-6.

At 7 p.m. on Oct. 11 in Tularosa, the Falcons face a district newcomer as the Wildcats travel to District 4-2A from District 3.

Tularosa won the district title and advanced to the second round of the playoffs and was shut out by the Eunice Cardinals 54-0.

Tularosa replaces Hagerman High School which dropped to 8 men in football.

At 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 in Loving, the Falcons wrap up the home leg of the schedule against the Jal Panthers.

Jal defeated Magnet last year 24-6 and made it to the 2A playoffs.

At 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in Eunice, Loving closes the regular season against the Cardinals, who finished second in the state playoffs last year.

Loving’s key players in 2024

As the new season looms, Finch has players who contributed last year as the Falcons lost seven seniors.

Junior running back Bobby Parraz could be the catalyst that leads the Falcons in 2024. Last season, he rushed for 926 yards and scored six touchdowns.

Junior receiver Tristen Onsurez poses a significant threat to Loving’s passing game. Last year, he caught 39 passes for 446 yards and scored nine touchdowns.

Finch could count on Exodus Fierro and Ricky Fuentes to strengthen the team with Parraz and Onsurez.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-308-8734 or by email at [email protected].