Built to finish

Five straight years of playoff success have changed what Gadsden expects from a football season. The Panthers have reached the state semifinals in consecutive years, turning what was once a rebuilding program into a consistent postseason contender. Through the first three weeks of 2026, that momentum continues. 

Gadsden opened with a 57-7 win over rival Santa Teresa before traveling north and defeating Capital 62-8 on Aug. 29. The Panthers followed with a 51-14 win over Silver on Sept. 4, improving to 3-0. Gadsden returns home to face Mayfield at 7 p.m. Sept. 11. 

For head coach Dino Facio Jr., now in his ninth season leading Gadsden, the early results are another chapter in a turnaround that has raised the standard within the program. 

“Our program has come from the dead, literally,” Facio said. “We’ve had five years of straight playoff success.” 

Many of the seniors leading this year’s team have experienced that rise firsthand, with some contributing at the varsity level since their freshman season. Facio said those players understand what is expected and provide an example for younger teammates stepping into larger roles. 

That experience has become especially valuable with a sophomore taking over at quarterback. Rosalio Gomez Jr. emerged from a young quarterback room that includes three sophomores and two freshmen. Facio said Gomez impressed the coaching staff throughout the spring and summer before earning their confidence entering the season. 

“He just checks all these boxes, and he’s a phenomenal athlete,” Facio said. “He’s a three-sport athlete. He’s our star pitcher for our varsity baseball team. He can pitch with both arms. I mean, the kid is a talent.” 

Facio does not expect Gomez to carry the offense by himself. Instead, the sophomore is surrounded by experienced playmakers capable of easing his transition into the starting role. 

“I tell him, ‘You don’t have to do a lot. Just get these guys the ball and they’ll make you look great,’” Facio said. 

Through three games, Gomez has thrown nine touchdown passes while completing 74.5% of his attempts. Gomez said taking command of a varsity offense has required him to mature quickly. 

Playing multiple sports has helped with that transition. Gomez said those experiences have pushed him to communicate more and become comfortable taking on leadership responsibilities. 

The Panthers have also given their young quarterback an experienced running game to lean on. Senior running back Armando Ramirez rushed for 132 yards in the opener, but his connection with the players blocking for him stretches back much further than this season. 

“We’ve always had that little semifinal hump,” Ramirez said. “So, we’ve really been trying to overcome it and get that state game and win that state game as well.” 

Junior Deion Torres entered a program where those postseason expectations were already established. After arriving as a sophomore following one of Gadsden’s semifinal appearances, Torres quickly understood how the Panthers measured success. 

Torres has done his work on both sides of the ball at running back and defensive back. Rather than viewing the workload as a burden, he welcomes the additional opportunities. Through three games, Torres has six total touchdowns and three interceptions while averaging 10.3 tackles per game. 

“Honestly, it’s fun,” Torres said. “Football, I live for it. It just lets me play more of the game.” 

Senior wide receiver and defensive back Anthony Palomares traces some of the team’s belief to the work that followed last season’s semifinal loss. Gadsden spent part of the offseason competing in 7-on-7 against programs from El Paso while developing chemistry across its roster. 

“We’ve been at it all offseason,” Palomares said in response to last year’s finish. “It was just eating at us.” 

Palomares said those months also gave him a chance to see how this year’s roster compares with the teams that made the previous postseason runs. 

“We got more speed, we got more strength, we got more depth,” Palomares said. “Our skill depth looks really good. We got a bunch of athletes that I think — I think we got the best athletes in the state.” 

That confidence has carried into the season. Palomares caught eight passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Silver, giving him four receiving touchdowns through three games. 

Gadsden’s defense has matched the offense’s strong start despite losing one of its senior leaders. Linebacker Diego Alvillar suffered a broken femur during the Santa Teresa game and said he does not expect to return this season. Before the injury, Alvillar recorded 12 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Assistant coach Gonzales said Alvillar was injured in the third quarter after putting together a “phenomenal” performance. 

Gadsden’s veteran core has helped establish the expectations now being passed to younger players. Facio believes the seniors have an opportunity to leave the program in an even stronger position than they inherited it. Doing that would require reaching a destination that has remained just out of reach. 

“They’d have to get to the state championship game,” Facio said. “They’ve got to win that thing because the last two years, that’s where we’ve stopped — semifinals.” 

For Palomares, reaching that stage would carry significance beyond the players who take the field. 

“It would mean everything,” Palomares said. “This community, welcoming with open arms, man, it’s such a good community. So many alumni, so much history.”