Players To Watch In The 6A Semifinals This Week!

With four schools remaining in the New Mexico 6A Class, this article will break down the players to watch in the Semi-Finals that had great performances in the quarterfinals! The first Semifinals matchup is between the #1 Cleveland Storm and #5 Las Cruces Bulldawgs this Friday night at 7:00 pm. <img class="size-medium wp-image-233977 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/Stratton-crop-772x507-1637004577-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   Stratton Shufelt- 6’2 OLB "Cleveland" Class of 2024 Sophomore Stratton Shufelt had a great performance in the quarterfinals vs #8 Hobbs this past Saturday. He contributed with several tackles, 3 sacks, and 4 tackles for losses in a 42-14 win over Hobbs. His elite play has drawn much attention this year and he will continue to be a player to keep an eye on this week in the semifinals in his next matchup vs #5 Las Cruces. If Stratton Shufelt continues his play, this will help Cleveland’s chances at a state championship. <img class="size-medium wp-image-233990 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/evan-2-crop-576x379-1637005979-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="139521" first="Evan" last="Wysong"]-5’9 QB "Cleveland" Class of 2023 Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="139521" first="Evan" last="Wysong"] is one of the most dangerous and athletic quarterbacks in New Mexico and it was on full display this past Saturday afternoon in a quarterfinals showdown vs #8 Hobbs. In a 42-14 home playoff win, he was once again a threat passing and running the ball. He completed 10/15 of his passes to throw for 104 passing yards and 1 passing touchdown. On the ground, he had 13 carries and 151 rushing yards. His elite ability to throw and run makes him a player to watch this week in the semifinals vs #5 Las Cruces this Friday night. <img class="size-medium wp-image-233985 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/elijah-2-crop-975x641-1637005334-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   [player_tooltip player_id="134990" first="Elijah" last="Ogas"]-5’7 RB "Las Cruces" Class of 2022 Las Cruces running back [player_tooltip player_id="134990" first="Elijah" last="Ogas"] had a strong performance running the football in the Bulldawgs 35-21 road playoff win vs #4 Centennial. In that quarterfinals matchup he had 11 carries, 79 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown. He has been one of the most consistent runners in New Mexico all season and expect him to continue his consistent play in the semifinals vs #1 Cleveland this Friday night. <img class="size-medium wp-image-234004 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/zayke-crop-2195x1441-1637006551-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Zayke Hawkins- 6’1 WR "Las Cruces" Class of 2024 Zayke Hawkins had a great performance in the quarterfinals this past weekend where he helped the Las Cruces Bulldawgs defeat #4 Centennial 35-21 on the road and advance to the semifinals this week. He was heavily involved in the air attack where he had 110 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns that helped Las Cruces pull away with the victory. Expect him to get many more opportunities and a lot more of the attention this week vs #1 Cleveland. The second Semifinals matchup is between the #2 Rio Rancho Rams and #3 La Cueva Bears this Friday night at 7:00 pm. <img class="size-medium wp-image-234011 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/zach-1-crop-576x379-1637007263-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="26227" first="Zach" last="Vigil"]- 5’10 RB "Rio Rancho" Class of 2022 Rio Rancho Star running back [player_tooltip player_id="26227" first="Zach" last="Vigil"] just recently committed to the New Mexico Lobos, but his story for the Rio Rancho Rams isn’t finished yet. This past Friday night vs #7 Cibola in the quarterfinals, he had 15 carries for 150 rushing yards which was 10 yards per carry and he also had 5 total touchdowns in a 44-20 home playoff win vs the Cibola Cougars. This Friday night they matchup with the #3 La Cueva Bears who are currently on a nine game winning streak and the winner of this game heads to the 6A state championship game. [player_tooltip player_id="26227" first="Zach" last="Vigil"] is a player to keep your eyes on in this matchup Friday night. <img class="size-medium wp-image-234022 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/exodus-1-crop-576x379-1637007900-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="208744" first="Exodus" last="Ayers"]-6’3 WR "La Cueva" Class of 2023 This past Friday night vs the #6 Volcano Vista Hawks in the quarterfinals may have been [player_tooltip player_id="208744" first="Exodus" last="Ayers"] best game of his short high school career so far and he’s had some big performances but none on a bigger stage than the state tournament. In a close back and forth game most of the way, the La Cueva Bears were able to pull away in a 35-21 win to advance to the semifinals. In this quarterfinals game he had 8 receptions for 170 receiving yards and 4 receiving touchdowns vs one of the top defenses in New Mexico. The La Cueva Bears only loss this season was vs #2 Rio Rancho, in a highly anticipated rematch expect [player_tooltip player_id="208744" first="Exodus" last="Ayers"] to be heavily involved this Friday night. <img class="size-medium wp-image-234030 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/dev-crop-576x379-1637008523-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   Deven Dyer-6'2 DE "La Cueva" Class of 2022 La Cueva's DE Deven Dyer has been one of the top defensive players in New Mexico all season long with his consistent play every week. In La Cueva's 35-21 Quarterfinals win vs #6 Volcano Vista, Deven Dyer was a huge reason for that outcome happening. In that game he had 2 sacks, 5 QB pressures, 2 tackles for losses, 1 caused fumble and 1 fumble recovery. His all-around defensive game helped neutralize one of the best offenses in New Mexico. In a rematch with the #2 Rio Rancho this Friday night, expect Deven Dyer to put his fingerprints on this game and be a huge X-Factor in the outcome. <img class="size-medium wp-image-234041 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/gabe-crop-513x337-1637009119-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   Gabriel Buie- 5'10 RB "La Cueva" Class of 2023 Gabriel Buie has been one of the most consistent and underrated running backs all season and is starting to get the recognition and respect he deserves. His play in last Friday's quarterfinals matchup vs #6 Volcano Vista had a huge impact on the outcome of this game. He had 16 carries for 149 yards that helped La Cueva advance to the semifinals vs Rio Rancho this Friday night at 7:00 pm. In a game that decides who goes to the state championship game, expect Gabriel Buie one of La Cueva's top players to have many opportunities to put his stamp on this game like he has all season.