Bulldogs impress at gridiron summer camp in Albuquerque

Winslow High School football coach Matt Gracey took 32 players to the University of New Mexico Summer Football Camp at Albuquerque on June 10-13. Winslow was one of 28 schools represented in the 32 team camp. Four teams were created from individual players who came without school affiliations.

There were different competitions for linemen and backs, receivers and defenders. In the passing competition, Winslow won 12 games and lost four to finish with the fourth best record in the camp.

Winslow had three players make the All-Camp Team from that competition. They were tight end Nick Anderson, defensive back Josh Stago and linebacker Dillon DeWitt. Gracey said he was very pleased with the play of quarterbacks Tim Merritt and Jordan Payne and receivers Stago and Mark Armao. He said that transfer receiver Johnny Butler was very impressive and should help the team considerably this season.

Gracey had 21 players in the passing tournament and 11 linemen in that competition. He said that all four of the starting linemen in attendance were selected as All Camp Linemen. They were Justin Powell, Clint MacLean, Corey Dean and David Young. Cruz Valdez and Patrick Young were both members of the Ultimate Football Team and were camp champions.

The only negative development was the injury to sophomore Paul Guzman, a talented, hard working player with much potential. Guzman will miss the 2005 season, but will travel with the team and use the time as a learning experience. He is expected to return strong for his junior season.

Gracey said that the team had received many compliments from the host University of New Mexico staff for their play and for their behavior. Winslow was well represented by the young men who journeyed to Albuquerque to learn and compete.

The players will participate in a pair of tournaments in Colorado on July 13-17. The camps are at Alamosa (Adams State) and Lamar respectively.

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