Week 1 In Review: Top 10 Player of the Year Candidates

Week 1 of the New Mexico High School High School Football season was filled with many great performances. After reviewing all the evidence (we’ve only included those players who played a game in Week 1), here are the Top 10 leading candidates for 2021 Player of the Year: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26265" first="Martell" last="Mora"], Santa Fe</strong>: Mora was all over the field in Santa Fe’s season-opening win over Robertson at Ivan Head Stadium. In fact, he contributed in all three phases with 180 yards rushing, an interception on defense and a long punt return as Santa Fe won its season opener for the first time in 23 years. This definitely won't be his final season playing football. <strong>Exodus  Ayers, La Cueva</strong>: La Cueva QB [player_tooltip player_id="137862" first="Aidan" last="Armenta"], who won his much anticipated duel with Cibola’s [player_tooltip player_id="137861" first="Aden" last="Chavez"] last Saturday, had the best quote to the Albuquerque Journal about Ayers: “His basketball came out. His ability to jump, to high point the ball. . .he just balled out today.” He certain did. Two of his TDs were of the highlight reel variety. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138093" first="Alexavier" last="Carreon"]</strong>, Jal: Carreon’ numbers from Jal’s epic 63-56 victory over Texico are staggering. 29 rushes for 395 yards and SEVEN touchdowns while also scoring a defensive TD with a scoop and score. Those 395 yards rushing represent the ninth highest single game total in New Mexico history. Keep putting up numbers like that and Carreon will win the award in a runaway. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137885" first="Paul" last="Cieremans"], Los Lunas</strong>: Remember the name. The 2023 QB has been overlooked a little bit, but there is no denying his talent. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in the Tigers’ impressive lopsided road win at Piedra Vista. Showcasing his dual threat abilities, Cieremans’ 35-yard TD scamper in the final seconds of the first half was the back breaker. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26253" first="Dallas" last="Boyd"], Las Cruces</strong>: What a debut at the quarterback position for Boyd against Volcano Vista. Boyd accounted for four TDs (3 rushing + 1 passing) and finished with 237 yards of total offense against the Hawks. After the Bulldawgs face Cibola in Week 2, clashes with La Cueva and Cleveland await. Huge opportunities for Boyd. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137923" first="Malachi" last="Thymes"], Sandia</strong>: Thymes got the 2021 season started last Thursday night with a spectacular performance against Valley. He rushed 21 times for 238 yards and three touchdowns, including a 91-yard TD gallop on Sandia’s first offensive snap of the season. Thymes got zero love in the preseason but that could change quickly. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26247" first="Josh" last="Gerardo"], Volcano Vista</strong>: The Hawks fell to Las Cruces, 27-20, in a game that came down to the last play. But Gerardo was outstanding, completing 20-of-32 passes for 284 yards. Volcano Vista has enjoyed sensational QB play in recent years and it looks like Gerardo is ready to continue that trend. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134997" first="Lucas" last="Coriz"], St. Michael’s</strong>: Much like his cross-town rival Mora, Coriz was all over the field in St. Michael’s victory at Taos. As the Horsemen’s QB, he passed for 125 yards and rushed for 114, including a 50-yard TD run. He also lined up at defensive end and helped stymie the Tigers offense all night long. Coriz could end up being one of the best two-way players this year. <strong>Aidan St. John, Eldorado</strong>: While the Eldorado defense was shutting down the West Mesa offense, St. John was doing the damage offensively by carrying 29 times for 172 yards and a pair of TDs as the Eagles dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. <strong>Dominic Esquibel, Pojoaque Valley</strong>: Surprise! Esquibel and Pojoaque Valley are carving out one of the feel-good stories in New Mexico High School football. Esquibel is a big back at 6-foot-2, 225 pounds and he runs like  deer. He rumbled through the Shiprock defense for 149 yards and 4 touchdowns on just 4 carries. In other words, he scored a TD every time he took a handoff. Impressive. https://twitter.com/SportsPrimo/status/1428925507853185034 https://twitter.com/JoshGerardo2022/status/1430219798672150528