Today, we highlight the Goddard Rocket Football Program which has reached the 4A State Title six times over the last seven seasons and the Coaching Career of Goddard Living Legend Sam Jernigan. More 2013 Prep Football Coverage Linked Here

Goddard Rocket Head Football Coach Sam Jernigan also known as a New Mexico Prep Football Living Legend took over at Goddard following Jim Hite during the 1990 season.

During the 1991 season Jernigan led the Rockets over regional rival Artesia and Head Coach Cooper Henderson in the 3A title game winning 28-14.

The Rockets would bump up to Class 4A a few years later, but that did not slow the Rockets as they would defeat Clovis in the 1993 4A State Title Game winning 24-21.

During Jernigan's first two state championship appearances he would go 2-0 against Cooper Henderson and Eric Roanhaus, two of the greatest present day high school football coaches ever to coach high school football in New Mexico.

In 1994 Goddard would lose their first state title game under Jernigan losing to the Clovis Wildcats 14-10, in 1997 the two teams would meet again, this time with Goddard winning in what many call one of the greatest state championship games ever played with Goddard eventually winning 3-0.

It does not stop there. In 1998 Jernigan and the Rockets would face off against the Mayfield Trojans led by now retired All-Time Great Head Coach Jim Bradley Sr., Mayfield would win 13-7. The following year Goddard would lose again in the 4A state title game against Jim Miller and the Las Cruces Bulldawgs.

Goddard was just 10-3 that season and lost by just 10 to the 1999 Bulldawgs who went 14-0 that season and a team that many consider to be one of the greatest prep football teams of all-time.

Goddard Rockets Over The Years

2012 4A Title Game Goddard 17, Los Lunas 14

2011 4A Title Game Aztec 28, Goddard 27

2009 4A Title Game Goddard 28, Belen 21

2008 4A Title Game Goddard 49, Aztec 45

2007 4A Title Game Artesia 58, Goddard 31

2006 4A Title Game Artesia 30, Goddard 23

2002 4A Title Game Onate 17, Goddard 14

1999 4A Title Game Las Cruces 24, Goddard 12

1998 4A Title Game Mayfield 13, Godard 7

1997 4A Title Game Goddard 3, Clovis 0

1994 4A Title Game Clovis 14, Goddard 10

1993 4A Title Game Goddard 24, Clovis 21

1991 3A Title Game Goddard 28, Artesia 14

From 1991 to 1999, Goddard would play in six state title games. Jernigan either faced Cooper Henderson, Eric Roanhaus, Jim Bradley, or Jim Miller during that stretch and was a combined 3-3 against what should be all hall of famers.

If you talk with die-hard Rocket fans, they are going to argue that their 1993 team or that their 1997 team was the greatest Goddard Rocket team of all-time. Both the 1993 and the 1997 team would finish 12-1 with state championships over Clovis.

While those teams were great and there is no questioning that, some of the latest teams to come out of Goddard over the last eight seasons will rank right up with the best of the best as time moves forward.

The 2006 and 2007 teams were each defeated by the Artesia Bulldogs in the 4A state title game.

Current Pittsburgh Steeler and former Artesia Quarterback Landry Jones led Artesia to a 30-23 win over Goddard in 2006 and to a 58-31 victory over Goddard during his senior season in 2007.

In 2008, Goddard was right back in the title hunt and defeated Aztec who was then coached by Brad Hirsch in a shootout winning 49-45 at the Wool Bowl.

In 2009, Goddard would win back to back state 4A titles by defeating Belen and Head Coach John Lerma 28-21 at a packed house in Belen. Former Goddard Quarterback David Vega will be remembered for his late touchdown score by Eagle fans for eternity.

The 2010 season has been the only year since 2006 to 2012 in which Goddard did not reach the 4A title game as they were upset at the Bulldog Bowl losing to Artesia 38-29.

The following season, Goddard would enter the 4A title game 12-0 against the Aztec Tigers who were also 12-0. Aztec scored late in the game, elected to go for two and defeated Goddard 28-27 stopping what would be Goddard's first ever perfect season.

The perfect season finally came just one year later as the Rockets went 13-0 in 2012 defeating Los Lunas 17-14 in front of a packed house at Tiger Stadium.

Goddard's first perfect season in school history. The 2012 team outscored opponents on the year 485-122 and held opponents to one score or less in eight of their 13 games.

While some big names graduate from the 2012 roster, the Goddard Rockets return one of the State of New Mexico's top running backs in Cody French.

And as always, the Rockets return young men within their program that have watched their older brothers, family members, and friends carry on the tradition of Goddard Football.