Hope Christian Hopes to
Build on Program’s
Greatest Season
Coming off of Hope Christian School’s greatest
season - the Albuquerque, New Mexico-based
school lost to Robertson in the semifinals of the 3A
state playoffs - Hope Christian coach Gary Beck had
a dilemma. He’d graduated two of his quarterbacks
and two others had changed schools. With only one
returning quarterback with junior varsity experience
- a daunting proposition for a program that would
face some of the state’s top teams - Beck reached a
compromise.
“We had been looking for a quarterback for our
offense,” Beck, in his sixth year at the school, said.
“Our offensive coordinator’s little brother had been
one of the stars of our basketball team. He’s 6-5,
230ish. For years I’d tried to get him to play, and this
year he finally did.”
Senior Collin Evans, the younger brother of
offensive coordinator Allan Evans (who backed up
current Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Zach Gentry
at quarterback at Eldorado High School) has been a
smart fit.
“He’s a tall, skinny kid,” said Beck. “We call him
a baby giraffe because of his footwork sometimes.
He’s got great arm strength, he’s smart and can read
defenses. The adjustment hasn’t been bad.”
He’s got a solid receiving corps with which to work.
At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds senior Ryan Cosper is one
of Beck’s best wideouts. He’s got good speed and
good hands, according to the coach. 6-1 receiver Zach
Melton came from the soccer team, and also brings
top speed. And 5-10 sophomore James Jenkins is
starting to come into his own.
Beck also has a strong corps of linebackers, all of
whom double as running backs on offense. Jared
16 2019 Albuquerque High Schools Football Yearbook
Knowles, Blane Miller and Zach Griego are among
this bunch.
“I’ve got a really good set of linebackers,” Beck
said.
6-1, 260 pound senior Ben Pavek is an offensive
lineman whom Beck views as at least good enough
to play at the Division II college level (though he is
likely to enroll in the army after high school).
“We want to win a state championship,” Beck said.
“We came really close last year. It leaves a bad taste
in your mouth.
“This would be our first state championship. Last
year we won our first district championship. We want
to do that again, then win the state.”