'Go through the gauntlet': Mayfield hopes unselfishness, teamwork tackle tough schedule

Mayfield had one major focus this offseason, and it wasn't about schemes or playbooks.

Trojans coach Gary Bradley emphasized unselfishness and leadership in the 2024 offseason. Facing a tough district and schedule, Bradley believes those things will act as equalizers after a 5-7 season ending with a 50-0 loss to Roswell in the 5A quarterfinals.

Bradley wanted his team to spend more time together outside of practice, specifically in “leadership lessons.” These leadership lessons were held at least once a week from January through the summer and focused on strengthening relationships between teammates.

Bradley believes it’s necessary to make Mayfield more united for games.

“We just talk. We open up and talk about our problems and talk about solutions,” Bradley said. “It just takes time more than anything. With teenagers, they've got a lot on their minds. We're just trying to simplify things for them.”

Players were divided up into groups based on grade and position, and talked about personal struggles, issues, or a story about a professional athlete or celebrity they deemed inspiring. Then, each group will try and relate those stories to football or life skills like attitude, character and responsibility. Bradley himself was involved in the conversations and brought up stories about his family and past that relate to his players.

Bradley has been involved with Mayfield for most of his life. His father, Jim, and brother, Michael, both coached the Trojans before him, with Bradley serving on the latter’s staff in 2006 and 2022 before he was named his brother’s successor in 2023. He’s always felt the need to empower Mayfield’s players and hopes the lessons do just that.

“We tell a story… and then we relate it to a teenager’s life,” Bradley said. “We want to handle some adversity and be able to bounce back from it and not quit, right? Those stories are everywhere, and it opens up a conversation.”

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As players grew to love the lessons, the Trojans started having them twice or three times a week instead of just once. They seem to have worked, as Bradley can always spot his players playing ping pong or going out to eat together more after practice.

Now, Bradley hopes it will translate on the field and make Mayfield more mature.

“If someone jumps offsides, gets beat deep or drops a touchdown pass, how do you want them to react?” Bradley asked. “Do they slam the ball and cuss or do they shake it off and give it another shot? That’s what they’re learning about. Maturity is all over the place when we're talking about teenagers, so hopefully… we’ll display that.”

Bradley hopes that maturity starts with senior quarterback Luke Linnan. He enters his second season as Mayfield’s starting quarterback after throwing for 1,291 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. Linnan also led the Trojans with five rushing touchdowns.

Bradley believes Linnan has “grown up so much” since 2023 in his on-field abilities and leadership.

“He’s had such a good offseason,” Bradley said. “As far as leadership and everything else, he’s taken things to another level. We’re going to count on him quite a bit.”

Including Linnan, Mayfield returns 13 starters, but it’s without both of its All-State players from last season in wide receiver/defensive end Brian Coyle and linebacker Bobby Herrera. Bradley is counting on guys like seniors Zaiden Salcido, Peyton Darden, Anthony Nevarez, Andreas Garay and Justin Madrid to replace them. Most of the Trojans’ starters play on offense and defense, maximizing their ability to contribute on both sides.

Salcido and Darden bring speed to Mayfield’s lineup. Salcido led all Mayfield returners with 394 receiving yards, while Darden earned 3.5 sacks from linebacker and is expected to have a larger role on offense this season. Nevarez earned the bulk of Mayfield’s rushing attempts last season, garnering 119 of them for 494 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Garay equaled Darden’s 3.5 sack total last season.

Madrid is one of the Trojans’ most dynamic playmakers on offense, totaling 477 total yards last season. Bradley loved that all five competed in either track or powerlifting in the spring, which he thinks made them better athletes.

“They all got faster and stronger,” Bradley said. “We have quite a few guys that can be real team players for us this year.”

Mayfield will need them for a tough schedule that includes six teams ranked in the top 20 of MaxPreps’ New Mexico rankings . As part of 5A’s re-classification into two large districts, the Trojans were put into District 2. Bradley calls it “the SEC of high school football in New Mexico” with defending 5A state champion Artesia, 5A runner-up Roswell, and 5A semifinalist Deming. Lovington, Goddard and Gadsden also pose challenges, with the latter narrowly losing 13-12 to the Trojans in the first round of the 5A playoffs last season.

Mayfield also plays three 6A teams in non-district play including West Mesa and rival Las Cruces in week one, the first time the city’s biggest high school rivalry opens the season.

“It’s crazy,” Bradley said of Mayfield’s schedule. “It seems like everyone we face is a top-five team. It’s tough, but we have to go through the gauntlet.”

But Bradley feels the Trojans, ranked No. 25 in New Mexico by MaxPreps, stand a chance against anybody. And he hopes that the heavy emphasis on teamwork and improvements to its speed and strength leaves Mayfield as the last 5A team standing.

"These guys don't listen to all that negative stuff. They turn everything into positives,” Bradley said. “They're proud to wear the green and gold and that's what we need in this school. They didn't jump over the fence to where the grass may be greener… they’ll make the grass greener here at Mayfield.”

Mayfield Trojans

Head coach: Gary Bradley (2nd season)

2023 record: 5-7 (0-3 District 4-5A)

2023 result: 4th in district, lost in 5A quarterfinals vs Roswell

Base offense: Spread

Base defense: 4-3

Returning starters: 13 (7 offense, 6 defense)

Top returners: QB/LB Luke Linnan, RB/DB Justin Madrid, WR/DB Zaiden Salcido, RB/DB Anthony Nevarez, WR/LB Peyton Darden, TE/DE Andreas Garay, OL/DL Brayan Mendoza

Season schedule

*denotes District 2-5A game

• Aug. 23 — at Las Cruces, 7 p.m.
• Aug. 30 — West Mesa, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 6 — Organ Mountain, 7 p.m.
• Sept. 12 — at Gadsden, 7 p.m.*
• Sept. 20 — at Santa Teresa, 7 p.m.*
• Sept. 28 — Deming, 10 a.m.*
• Oct. 4 — at Lovington, 6 p.m.*
• Oct. 18 — at Goddard, 7 p.m.*
• Oct. 26 — Roswell, 1 p.m.*
• Nov. 2 — vs Artesia, 1 p.m.*

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: 'Go through the gauntlet': Mayfield hopes unselfishness, teamwork tackle tough schedule