Marshall Mecham
Roswell Tribune
mmecham@elritomedia.com
The Roswell Coyotes football team finished with a 9-4 record during the 2025 season, advancing to their third consecutive state championship game against Artesia at the Bulldog Bowl, where they fell 25-24.
Roswell head coach Jeff Lynn said his new team is young but believes they can make it to another state title game.
“I think we’ve got a chance to get back there again,” Lynn said. “We’re a talented bunch but we’re younger than we normally are. It’s important that we handle any adversity that comes our way, stay together as a team, and just keep getting better.”
Key players and losses
Lynn said many players from last year’s team graduated, including his quarterback playing son Luke Lynn and linebacker Kannon Ramage. Offensive linemen Ethan Lopez, Daniel Chavez-Gonzales, Edgar Soltero, and Clayton Kennard are other key losses.
Lynn said key players for this season include senior wide receiver Izaic Gonzales, senior offensive lineman Emmanuel Sanchez, senior linebacker Jonathan Ellis, senior cornerback David Fresquez, junior quarterback Andruw Fuentez, and junior running back Luis Rodriguez.
Schedule outlook
The Coyotes open their season against Hobbs at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at the Wool Bowl. Roswell will then face Randall from Amarillo at 7 p.m. CT Friday, Aug. 28, on the road. The Coyotes’ last non-district game will be against Rio Rancho at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at home.
Roswell starts district play against Alamogordo at 7 p.m. Sept. 11, on the road. The Coyotes will later face Gadsden at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at home. Another big district game will be the state championship rematch with Artesia at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at the Bulldog Bowl. Roswell will close the regular season against Goddard at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the Wool Bowl.
Roswell plays 10 regular season games, including seven district matchups. Lynn said his team is playing the toughest schedule in 5A.
“Our first four games are rough,” Lynn said. “Hobbs was a 6A semifinal team last year, Randall went three rounds deep in the Texas state playoffs, Rio Rancho is always good, and Alamogordo dropping from 6A to 5A is going to be a test for us. Gadsden, Goddard, and Artesia will all be good again as well, so it’s going to be a battle.”
Team goals
Lynn said he wants to see his team back in the state title game and that there are necessary steps to get there.
“The goal is always to win a state championship,” Lynn said. “I think the end of season goal will take care of itself if we just improve each week, play smart, and be good teammates.”
Marshall Mecham can be reached at (915) 232-1793 or on X @mecham_marshall.
Mecham serves with the New Mexico Local News Fellowship, which places emerging journalists in newsrooms across the state. Learn more at www.newmexicolocalnewsfellowships.org.
