The St. Michael’s Horsemen are kicking off the 2026 prep football season with two absolutely massive streaks on the line. First up, they’re chasing a fourth consecutive Class 3A state championship. Yeah, you read that right: four straight! And if that wasn’t enough pressure, they’re also defending a ridiculous 33-game winning streak that dates all the way back to early October 2023. Coach Joey Fernandez says they aren’t dwelling on the streak itself, though. He’s all about “week to week” and the ultimate goal: a “blue trophy” in the state championship game. This week, they face Capital, with a chance to make it 34 straight wins.
Major Question Marks and a New Offensive Identity
Forget about just rolling out the same squad; St. Mike’s is retooling at some seriously key spots. We’re talking quarterback and tailback, where last season’s duo, Kamal Stith and Isaiah Dominguez, combined for a mind-boggling 74 passing and rushing touchdowns. That’s a huge hole to fill! Coach Fernandez straight up admits they have “a lot of question marks,” especially under center. As of Monday, the Horsemen were still trying to figure out if senior Karsen Patten or junior Estevan Gonzales would get the starting nod this week. Roman Barrera is expected to be a prominent running back. Fernandez is blunt about the new look offense: “This year, we’re not gonna be able to pass the ball like we did last year, but I think we’ll be able to run the ball.” Good thing they’ve got three offensive linemen returning to anchor that ground game. And when they do throw it? Senior Ryan Hunt, who hauled in 13 touchdown catches last season, is going to be the main target. The 6-foot-3 Hunt also plays defensive end, making him arguably the best two-way player in the entire 3A division. That kid is going to be busy!
Defense Needs to Step Up Big and Challengers Are Circling
On the defensive side, graduation hit the Horsemen hard, especially at linebacker. You gotta remember, that unit was absolutely stellar in 2025, surrendering only 92 points across 13 games. Even in their 28-21 state championship victory over Dexter, only 21 points got past them. That’s a high bar! Fernandez acknowledges his defense “don’t want a dropoff from last year” and believes they have “the strength to do the same things,” even if it takes some time to get that “flow going.” Dexter has moved down to 2A, but don’t think for a second the road is clear. District 1-3A rivals Robertson and West Las Vegas are still there. And from District 2-3A, teams like New Mexico Military Institute, Moriarty, Silver, and Hope Christian are all gunning for the Horsemen. NMMI has lost to St. Mike’s in the semifinals for three straight seasons. NMMI coach John O’Mera is honest about his “awfully young” team and “bunch of new kids,” but believes they have the pieces to make a run with players like senior Julian Butler (LB, TE, DE, FB) and senior Conrad Sugg (OLB, TE, WR).
This season is shaping up to be a wild ride for the Horsemen. Can they really make it 34 wins in a row against Capital this week? And more importantly, can they overcome these big personnel changes to keep that blue trophy streak alive? We’ll be watching every snap!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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