We’re three weeks deep into the prep football season and the University of New Mexico football team has finally kicked off its highly anticipated campaign.

In the latest episode of “The Sports Den” podcast, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron offer their thoughts on the Lobos’ dominant 38-7 victory over Central Michigan and share their Week 4 prep football picks.

The guys came away impressed with UNM on both sides of the ball in their lopsided win over the Chippewas. The defense held Central Michigan to just 66 total yards through the first three quarters, while the offense amassed 205 of its 364 yards on the ground with a balanced rushing attack.

Will and James also discuss the tragic death of Alexia Verdugo Sigala, a 24-year-old who was the C-team coach for Capital High School’s volleyball program.

In the second segment, the guys make their picks for the upcoming slate of prep football games. They discuss Santa Fe High’s impressive win over Clovis, West Las Vegas’ strong start to the season and more.

We&rsquo;re three weeks deep into the prep football season and the University of New Mexico football team has finally kicked off its highly anticipated campaign.
In the latest episode of &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast,&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;sports writers Will Webber and James Barron offer their thoughts on the Lobos&rsquo; dominant 38-7 victory over Central Michigan and share their Week 4 prep football picks.
The guys came away impressed with UNM on both sides of the ball in their lopsided win over the Chippewas. The defense held Central Michigan to just 66 total yards through the first three quarters, while the offense amassed 205 of its 364 yards on the ground with a balanced rushing attack.
Will and James also discuss the tragic death of Alexia Verdugo Sigala, a 24-year-old who was the C-team coach for Capital High School&rsquo;s volleyball program.
In the second segment, the guys make their picks for the upcoming slate of prep football games. They discuss Santa Fe High&rsquo;s impressive win over Clovis, West Las Vegas&rsquo; strong start to the season and more.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.   
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp; The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.  

The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Hosted by award-winning sports scribes Will Webber and James Barron, The New Mexican Sports Den podcast provides coverage of the local sports scene in Northern New Mexico with a focus on prep sports and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Dialed into the New Mexico sports landscape for decades, Will and James share their insight on the latest developments from season to season. They also welcome guests for lively and colorful conversations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The New Mexican Sports Den with Will and James is a production of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican.

Lobos football team looks dominant in season opener, plus Week 4 prep football picks

The past week of The Santa Fe New Mexican's sports coverage was an eventful one for being so early in the fall sports season. It included the return of former Baylor football coach Art Briles to college football after a decade and a Santa Fe football rivalry going down to the wire. 

In the latest episode of "The Sports Den" podcast, sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss Briles' debut as head coach of Eastern New Mexico University in the Greyhounds' opener against New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, N.M. The Division II showdown delivered on the drama, with Highlands making a goal-line stand on a two-point conversion to sneak out a 35-34 victory. 

Briles didn't have much to say after the loss. Barron talks about his brief interview and the guys discuss how it will be difficult for Briles to escape questions about his past at Baylor as he travels around the Lone Star Conference in his first season with Eastern New Mexico. 

There also happened to be a thrilling — yes, thrilling — 3-0 overtime win for St. Michael's football team over intracity rival Santa Fe High at Ivan Head Stadium last Friday. Will and James reflect on what they learned about each team after a game where the result wasn't so much a surprise but the score certainly was. 

The guys then get into previewing the University of New Mexico's season opener against Central Michigan, a team they think has the potential to give the Lobos trouble. UNM will have to play without returning starting quarterback Jack Layne, who has an elbow injury that coach Jason Eck says will keep him out for the season. 

In the second segment, the guys make their Week 3 picks for local prep football teams. Saturday's St. Mike's showdown with rival Robertson could be a big test for the Horsemen.

The past week of&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican's&nbsp;sports coverage was an eventful one for being so early in the fall sports season. It included the return of former Baylor football coach Art Briles to college football after a decade and a Santa Fe football rivalry going down to the wire.&nbsp;
In the latest episode of "The Sports Den" podcast, sports writers Will Webber and James Barron discuss Briles' debut as head coach of Eastern New Mexico University in the Greyhounds' opener against New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, N.M. The Division II showdown delivered on the drama, with Highlands making a goal-line stand on a two-point conversion to sneak out a 35-34 victory.&nbsp;
Briles didn't have much to say after the loss. Barron talks about his brief interview and the guys discuss how it will be difficult for Briles to escape questions about his past at Baylor as he travels around the Lone Star Conference in his first season with Eastern New Mexico.&nbsp;
There also happened to be a thrilling&nbsp;&mdash; yes, thrilling&nbsp;&mdash; 3-0 overtime win for St. Michael's football team over intracity rival Santa Fe High at Ivan Head Stadium last Friday. Will and James reflect on what they learned about each team after a game where the result wasn't so much a surprise but the score certainly was.&nbsp;
The guys then get into previewing the University of New Mexico's season opener against Central Michigan, a team they think has the potential to give the Lobos trouble. UNM will have to play without returning starting quarterback Jack Layne, who has an elbow injury that coach Jason Eck says will keep him out for the season.&nbsp;
In the second segment, the guys make their Week 3 picks for local prep football teams. Saturday's St. Mike's showdown with rival Robertson could be a big test for the Horsemen.

Art Briles returns to college football, UNM set for season opener and Week 3 prep football picks

School’s back in session, Week 1 of the prep football season is in the books and The Santa Fe New Mexican’s sports writers have purpose in their lives once more.

In the latest episode the “The Sports Den” podcast, Will Webber and James Barron share their takeaways and surprises from the first week of action on the gridiron, offer their picks for Week 2, chat about prep soccer and look to the start of the college football season.

The guys open the pod by discussing the games they attended on Friday, with James offering his impressions of the St. Michael’s-Capital blowout and Will talking about Santa Fe High’s loss at Alamogordo. Their findings? St. Mike’s is still really good, Capital could use some conditioning, and Santa Fe High could give some teams trouble with its fast pace of play.

The guys also chat about Santa Fe Indian School’s win over Zuni, Pojoaque’s victory over Taos, Española Valley's win over Los Alamos and more.

College football begins this week, and Will and James have their eye on the matchup between New Mexico Highlands and Eastern New Mexico, where former Baylor coach Art Briles will make his return to the sidelines with the Grehyounds. New Mexico State, meanwhile, will have its hands full in its opener in Tallahassee against Florida State. The University of New Mexico Lobos will make their 2026 debut Sept. 5 against Central Michigan.

James then shares his outlook for local soccer squads, focusing on the girls teams at Santa Fe Prep and St. Michael’s.

The guys end the show with their Week 2 prep football picks, including the intracity rivalry game between St. Mike’s and Santa Fe High.

School&rsquo;s back in session, Week 1 of the prep football season is in the books and&nbsp;The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s&nbsp;sports writers have purpose in their lives once more.
In the latest episode the &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast, Will Webber and James Barron share their takeaways and surprises from the first week of action on the gridiron, offer their picks for Week 2, chat about prep soccer and look to the start of the college football season.
The guys open the pod by discussing the games they attended on Friday, with James offering his impressions of the St. Michael&rsquo;s-Capital blowout and Will talking about Santa Fe High&rsquo;s loss at Alamogordo. Their findings? St. Mike&rsquo;s is still really good, Capital could use some conditioning, and Santa Fe High could give some teams trouble with its fast pace of play.
The guys also chat about Santa Fe Indian School&rsquo;s win over Zuni, Pojoaque&rsquo;s victory over Taos, Espa&ntilde;ola Valley's win over Los Alamos and more.
College football begins this week, and Will and James have their eye on the matchup between New Mexico Highlands and Eastern New Mexico, where former Baylor coach Art Briles will make his return to the sidelines with the Grehyounds. New Mexico State, meanwhile, will have its hands full in its opener in Tallahassee against Florida State. The University of New Mexico Lobos will make their 2026 debut Sept. 5 against Central Michigan.
James then shares his outlook for local soccer squads, focusing on the girls teams at Santa Fe Prep and St. Michael&rsquo;s.
The guys end the show with their Week 2 prep football picks, including the intracity rivalry game between St. Mike&rsquo;s and Santa Fe High.

Week 1 Northern New Mexico prep football takeaways and surprises, Week 2 picks and a soccer preview

The return of high school football is just a couple days away and optimism is abundant as teams look to kick off the 2026 season on a positive note.

Ahead of their intracity matchup Friday night, St. Michael’s coach Joey Fernandez and Capital coach John Michael Salazar join “The Sports Den” podcast to discuss the outlook and expectations for their teams.

In the first segment, Santa Fe New Mexican sports writers Will Webber and James Barron offer their analysis of Week 1 matchups and make their picks.

Fernandez joins for the second segment to talk about the lofty standards the Horsemen have set as they ride a 33-game winning streak into the season. St. Mike’s has some talented stars to replace from last year’s Class 3A championship squad, including quarterback Kamal Stith. Fernandez said the roster is thin this year and won’t have much room to deal with injuries but he likes the makeup of his squad as it looks to make another run at a title.

Salazar comes on for the third segment to discuss how his team is hoping to build on a 4-7 record and playoff appearance last year. Pointing to a win last season against Highland where his team overcame a 21-0 deficit, Salazar says his players bring a bounce-back mentality to the field. With a difficult schedule that includes eight straight games against 2025 playoff teams to start the year, Salazar says he’s looking forward to seeing how his players handle the challenge.

The return of high school football is just a couple days away and optimism is abundant as teams look to kick off the 2026 season on a positive note.
Ahead of their intracity matchup Friday night, St. Michael&rsquo;s coach Joey Fernandez and Capital coach John Michael Salazar join &ldquo;The Sports Den&rdquo; podcast to discuss the outlook and expectations for their teams.
In the first segment,&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;sports writers Will Webber and James Barron offer their analysis of Week 1 matchups and make their picks.
Fernandez joins for the second segment to talk about the lofty standards the Horsemen have set as they ride a 33-game winning streak into the season. St. Mike&rsquo;s has some talented stars to replace from last year&rsquo;s Class 3A championship squad, including quarterback Kamal Stith. Fernandez said the roster is thin this year and won&rsquo;t have much room to deal with injuries but he likes the makeup of his squad as it looks to make another run at a title.
Salazar comes on for the third segment to discuss how his team is hoping to build on a 4-7 record and playoff appearance last year. Pointing to a win last season against Highland where his team overcame a 21-0 deficit, Salazar says his players bring a bounce-back mentality to the field. With a difficult schedule that includes eight straight games against 2025 playoff teams to start the year, Salazar says he&rsquo;s looking forward to seeing how his players handle the challenge.

Lobos football team looks dominant in season opener, plus Week 4 prep football picks

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