Moriarty Pintos Football: A Season of Grit and Determination

MORIARTY, N.M. — The Moriarty High School football season came to a dramatic and heartbreaking close last Friday night in the Class 4A state playoffs, as the Pintos fell just one point short against the Chaparral Lobos, 42-41.

Despite the loss, head coach Gabriel Romero’s squad (6-5) showcased the resilience and punishing ground game that defined their 2025 campaign. Coming off a dominant 49-13 playoff victory over Portales the week prior, the Pintos emptied the tank in a shootout that saw their “three-headed monster” backfield running at full throttle.

As the dust settles on the season, the stats tell the story of a team that embraced a physical identity on both sides of the ball.

Ground Game Juggernauts: The Top 3 Running Backs

Moriarty’s offense this season was a masterclass in ground-and-pound football, spearheaded by a junior-heavy backfield that promises a bright future.

1. Mario Romero (Junior): The undeniable engine of the offense, Romero finished the season with 1,280 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Averaging nearly 128 yards per game, he was the bell cow the Pintos leaned on in crunch time.
2. Royce Dennison (Junior): A perfect complement to Romero’s power, Dennisson slashed his way to 531 rushing yards and found the end zone 4 times, keeping defenses honest with his perimeter speed.
3. Mateo Manley-Griego (Junior): The versatile back added another dimension to the attack, tallying 514 rushing yards and chipping in 6 touchdowns, proving that the Pintos could attack from any angle.

Commanding the Offense: Quarterback Performance

In Moriarty’s run-heavy scheme, the quarterback position demanded toughness and decision-making over air-raid statistics.

• Devin Ortiz (Sophomore): The young signal-caller managed the game with poise beyond his years. While passing yards were secondary to the scheme (approx. 213 yards on the season), Ortiz was a legitimate dual-threat weapon. He rushed for 406 yards and punched in eight touchdowns, often keeping drives alive with his legs on critical downs. Backup Jeren Torres (Junior) also provided depth in the quarterback room, preparing the team for the future.

Through the Air: Top Receivers

With the passing game used sparingly to catch defenses sleeping, opportunities were limited but impactful.

1. Mateo Manley-Griego (Junior): When the Pintos did go to the air, Manley-Griego was the primary target, averaging 12.1 receiving yards per game and serving as the team’s most reliable set of hands.
2. Conner Hansen (Sophomore): The sophomore tight end/receiver provided a big target for Ortiz, particularly in play-action scenarios.
3. Jayden Hendricks (Freshman): The young receiver saw valuable snaps, contributing primarily as a perimeter blocker to spring the rushing attack, a selfless role crucial to the team’s success.

Defensive Anchors: Top 3 Tacklers

The Pintos’ defense was led by many of the same ironmen who starred on offense, playing sideline-to-sideline football.

1. Mario Romero (Junior): Proving he is one of the best two-way players in the district, Romero led the defense with approximately 79 total tackles (7.9 per game), punishing ball carriers with the same intensity he ran with.
2. Royce Dennisson (Junior): The safety/linebacker hybrid was everywhere, racking up 65 tackles and snagging 2 interceptions, acting as the eraser in the secondary.
3. Marques Romero (Senior): While Devin Ortiz contributed significantly to the tackle count (~35 tackles), it was senior lineman Marques Romero who wrecked game plans. He finished with 9.0 sacks, constantly disrupting the backfield and forcing opponents into bad decisions.

With the core of the team—including Romero, Dennisson, and Ortiz—set to return for the 2026 season, the Pintos have plenty of reasons to keep their heads held high.

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Looking Ahead: The Pintos will now head into the offseason looking to build on a 6-win campaign. With a loaded junior class becoming seniors, the expectation in Moriarty will be nothing short of a deep playoff run in 2026.