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IFL FOOTBALL
Game: San Diego Strike Force at New Mexico Chupcabras
Date: Sunday, May 31
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Tingley Coliseum
Amid a 1-7 start, the Chupacabras opted to make a major “culture change."
New Mexico’s first-year Indoor Football League (IFL) franchise traded starting quarterback Ja’rome Johnson to the Tulsa Oilers in mid-May for future considerations.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound former IFL MVP was dealt by New Mexico to Tulsa on May 13, then moved to Tucson on the same day, per the league’s transactions log. He completed 93 of 152 passes for 927 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven games with the Chupacabras, including the team’s lone win against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on April 11.
Despite the timing of the trade, Johnson was only officially announced as a Sugar Skull this week via social media. In return for the IFL veteran, Tulsa agreed to give New Mexico considerations on player rights in the future.
Chupacabras co-owner and local businessman Mike Fietz said the decision to deal Johnson was an “organizational decision” made between the team’s coaching staff and ownership, citing a desire to get a player at the position who could better handle adversity.
“It was a culture decision, bottom line … We’re not playing for one year, we’re playing for the long term,” he said. “It’s, ‘who do we want to build our culture around?’ And I’m not saying he’s a bad person, he just wasn’t the right fit for the culture that we want to have here.”
Johnson did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment. The Bowie State graduate previously played under Chupacabras head coach Kyle Moore-Brown with the Vegas Knight Hawks, accounting for 80 total touchdowns in his 2024 MVP season with the club.
Since trading Johnson, the Chupacabras have played both Wisconsin-Eau Claire alums Harrison Roubidoux and Donovan Porterie, the third all-time leading passer in New Mexico football history. Roubidoux has struggled, completing 15 of 35 passes (42.9%) for 146 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions, while Porterie has completed 15 of 29 (51.7%) passes for 126 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
When asked if the team would add another quarterback this season, Fietz said “every day is a tryout,” but guaranteed the 37-year-old Porterie would be with the team for the remainder of the season.
The longtime indoor football veteran played at UNM from 2006-2009, passing for 6,756 yards, 33 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.
“All the guys call him the O.G. … They look at him as kind of a big brother leader,” Fietz said of the Chupacabras backup quarterback. “Obviously his experience at the University of New Mexico, his history speaks for itself … if you go watch warmups, there’s not a guy with a better arm in the league still to this day.
“But I don’t know — we’re still consistently evaluating things. There is no question Harry Roubidoux has the skill set to get things done, but he’s got to perform on the field.”
The Chupacabras enter Sunday’s game against the San Diego Strike Force on a five-game losing streak with the lowest scoring offense (27.4 points per game) and tied with the Iowa Barnstormers and Northern Arizona Wranglers for the worst record (1-7) in the league.
Amid a rough start to the season — one in which the Chupacabras played just two games at Tingley Coliseum — Fietz said he has confidence in the coaching staff with eight games to go.
“We’ve got a great staff that (are), quite frankly, tremendous leaders of young men,” he said. “They’ve just to instill the confidence into these guys that we are as good as we are. We are, no question, as talented of a football team as any other team in the league.”
Lobos on the squad
Porterie isn’t the only Lobo suiting up for the Chupacabras: former New Mexico offensive lineman Isaiah Sillemon and defensive back Ky’won McCray signed with the club in April and May, respectively.
Sillemon appeared in 45 games over the last five seasons with UNM while McCray made 38 total tackles with the Lobos last season after transferring in from Jacksonville State.
“I’m not so sure he shouldn’t be up for one of the best offensive linemen in the league,” Fietz said of Sillemon. “The kid’s amazing and got more fire than anybody I’ve ever seen. And Ky’won, (he’s a) long, rangy NFL-type guy.
“He’ll get his shot in the league, I think … It’s exciting to have Lobos moving to our roster.”
Giveaway info
The Chupacabras are giving out bobbleheads of its mascot, Chuppi, and hosting a pregame tailgate in Chevron Pavilion starting at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Fans who buy a ticket will also be entered into a giveaway to win a “brand new vehicle” from Pitre Automotive, per a post on the team’s Facebook page.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @lenaweereider.
Continue reading...
Game: San Diego Strike Force at New Mexico Chupcabras
Date: Sunday, May 31
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Tingley Coliseum
Amid a 1-7 start, the Chupacabras opted to make a major “culture change."
New Mexico’s first-year Indoor Football League (IFL) franchise traded starting quarterback Ja’rome Johnson to the Tulsa Oilers in mid-May for future considerations.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound former IFL MVP was dealt by New Mexico to Tulsa on May 13, then moved to Tucson on the same day, per the league’s transactions log. He completed 93 of 152 passes for 927 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions in seven games with the Chupacabras, including the team’s lone win against the Northern Arizona Wranglers on April 11.
Despite the timing of the trade, Johnson was only officially announced as a Sugar Skull this week via social media. In return for the IFL veteran, Tulsa agreed to give New Mexico considerations on player rights in the future.
Chupacabras co-owner and local businessman Mike Fietz said the decision to deal Johnson was an “organizational decision” made between the team’s coaching staff and ownership, citing a desire to get a player at the position who could better handle adversity.
“It was a culture decision, bottom line … We’re not playing for one year, we’re playing for the long term,” he said. “It’s, ‘who do we want to build our culture around?’ And I’m not saying he’s a bad person, he just wasn’t the right fit for the culture that we want to have here.”
Johnson did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment. The Bowie State graduate previously played under Chupacabras head coach Kyle Moore-Brown with the Vegas Knight Hawks, accounting for 80 total touchdowns in his 2024 MVP season with the club.
Since trading Johnson, the Chupacabras have played both Wisconsin-Eau Claire alums Harrison Roubidoux and Donovan Porterie, the third all-time leading passer in New Mexico football history. Roubidoux has struggled, completing 15 of 35 passes (42.9%) for 146 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions, while Porterie has completed 15 of 29 (51.7%) passes for 126 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
When asked if the team would add another quarterback this season, Fietz said “every day is a tryout,” but guaranteed the 37-year-old Porterie would be with the team for the remainder of the season.
The longtime indoor football veteran played at UNM from 2006-2009, passing for 6,756 yards, 33 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.
“All the guys call him the O.G. … They look at him as kind of a big brother leader,” Fietz said of the Chupacabras backup quarterback. “Obviously his experience at the University of New Mexico, his history speaks for itself … if you go watch warmups, there’s not a guy with a better arm in the league still to this day.
“But I don’t know — we’re still consistently evaluating things. There is no question Harry Roubidoux has the skill set to get things done, but he’s got to perform on the field.”
The Chupacabras enter Sunday’s game against the San Diego Strike Force on a five-game losing streak with the lowest scoring offense (27.4 points per game) and tied with the Iowa Barnstormers and Northern Arizona Wranglers for the worst record (1-7) in the league.
Amid a rough start to the season — one in which the Chupacabras played just two games at Tingley Coliseum — Fietz said he has confidence in the coaching staff with eight games to go.
“We’ve got a great staff that (are), quite frankly, tremendous leaders of young men,” he said. “They’ve just to instill the confidence into these guys that we are as good as we are. We are, no question, as talented of a football team as any other team in the league.”
Lobos on the squad
Porterie isn’t the only Lobo suiting up for the Chupacabras: former New Mexico offensive lineman Isaiah Sillemon and defensive back Ky’won McCray signed with the club in April and May, respectively.
Sillemon appeared in 45 games over the last five seasons with UNM while McCray made 38 total tackles with the Lobos last season after transferring in from Jacksonville State.
“I’m not so sure he shouldn’t be up for one of the best offensive linemen in the league,” Fietz said of Sillemon. “The kid’s amazing and got more fire than anybody I’ve ever seen. And Ky’won, (he’s a) long, rangy NFL-type guy.
“He’ll get his shot in the league, I think … It’s exciting to have Lobos moving to our roster.”
Giveaway info
The Chupacabras are giving out bobbleheads of its mascot, Chuppi, and hosting a pregame tailgate in Chevron Pavilion starting at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Fans who buy a ticket will also be entered into a giveaway to win a “brand new vehicle” from Pitre Automotive, per a post on the team’s Facebook page.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @lenaweereider.
Continue reading...
