Onate Loses Big Game; School Officials Tight-Lipped About Coaching Staff Suspensions

LAS CRUCES, NM – The Onate High School Black Knights lost one of the biggest games of their football season days after losing half of their coaching staff to suspensions.

There was a somber mood Saturday as Onate students and fans showed up to their team and the embattled coaching staff.

There was only five coaches left on hand to coach the football team after six were sidelined by school district officials. The suspended coaches are under investigation for allegations of violating district policies and the code of ethics.

Officials with the school remain tight-lipped about the issue – only saying that it is an “internal matter.” They did confirm the allegations being investigated do not involve any student athletes.

Some Onate fans tell ABC-7 the recent controversy has them all a little shaken up. “It’s a big blow because they’re under a lot of pressure playing this big team and they need all the help they can get. The pressure has made them all very nervous,” said one of the fans attending the game.

Onate lost to Cibola High School, the third ranked team in the state of New Mexico, 42 to 12.