And the winner of the 2021 New Mexico Heisman is. . .
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The high school football season is in the books, and what a fantastic season it was. The time has come to award the 2021 New Mexico Heisman. THE THREE FINALISTS: (Alphabetical Order): Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs…
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Continue ReadingThe high school football season is in the books, and what a fantastic season it was. The time has come to award the 2021 New Mexico Heisman.
THE THREE FINALISTS: (Alphabetical Order):
Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola: As our #1 prospect for the 2023 class, the 6-foot-5 Chavez more than lived up to the preseason hype even though Cibola saw its season come to an end in a quarterfinal loss to district rival Rio Rancho. In 11 actual games (the Cougars are credited with a forfeit win over Highland) , Chavez threw for 3,075 yards and 32 touchdowns while completing 62.1 percent of his passes. He finished first in the state in total passing yards (by a margin of 350+ yards) and second in TD passes. Chavez has everything a Div. I programs wants in a QB: height, arm strength, accuracy, intelligence, leadership. By this time next year Chavez could be ready to sign with a FBS program.
Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM , Rio Rancho: Had Rio Rancho not had two regular season games cancelled due to covid protocols by their opponents (or suffered a rib injury in the postseason), Vigil would have likely led the state in rushing yards. Still, in 10 games, Vigil amassed 1,583 yards on the ground (158.3 yards per game), averaged 9.1 yards per carry, accounted for 2,000+ all-purpose yards and scored 30 touchdowns. His Heisman moment came in the final regular season game when he rushed for 323 yards and multiple TDs against rival Cleveland. Two weeks later, he rushed for five TDs in the Rams’ quarterfinal victory over Cibola. Vigil is fast, elusive, slippery and gifted with great vision. That’s why he’ll be playing FBS football next season for New Mexico.
Evan Wysong Evan Wysong 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland: MaxPreps has already named Wysong as the 2021 New Mexico Player of the Year. And he’s deserving of the honor after quarterbacking the Storm to a perfect 13-0 record and another Class 6A championship. He passed for 1,787 yards and rushed for 987 yards, barely missing membership in the prestigious 1,000-1,000 club. Wysong’s older brother Luke was the fastest player in the state last year and Evan has plenty of speed as well. Several times this season Wysong has burst through the first and second levels of the defense, fired up the rockets and raced past the secondary on his way to a TD. Best news for Storm fans? Wysong returns for one more season looking for a Cleveland three-peat.
And the winner is. . . Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM . Yes, Vigil didn’t play many snaps in Rio Rancho’s final two playoff games, but his regular season and playoff opener were extraordinary. He essentially secured the award in the regular season finale against Cleveland. It was as dominant a performance by a running back as any we’ve seen in years. The fact it came against a talented Storm defense makes it even more impressive. Next stop for Vigil: UNM.
Seven Serious Contenders:
Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: Armenta’s first season as the starting quarterback for La Cueva was a success as he led the Bears to the 6A semifinals before a heartbreaking 35-34 loss to Rio Rancho ended their season. Armenta threw for 2,696 yards and 28 TD and just 6 INT. Like Chavez, he’ll be back in 2022.
Paul Cieremans Paul Cieremans 5'10" | 195 lbs | QB Los Lunas | 2023 State NM , Los Lunas: Few quarterbacks in the state had a better season than Cieremans, who returns in 2022 when Los Lunas elevates to Class 6A after winning the 5A title Thanksgiving weekend. Cieremans was arguably the top dynamic QB in the state with 1,347 rushing yards and 1,544 rushing yards.
Josh Gerardo Josh Gerardo 6'1" | QB Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM , Volcano Vista: Gerardo directed one of the state’s most prolific passing attacks by throwing for 2,713 yards and 26 TD. After one season as Volcano Vista’s starting QB, Gerardo will play at the next level. He holds recent offers from Gustavus Adolphus, Clarke University, Cornell College and Bethany College.
A.J. Rivera A.J. Rivera 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM , Albuq. Academy: The Chargers saw their 2021 season come to a disappointing end at Moriarty in the quarterfinals but there’s no question Rivera enjoyed a fantastic season as a junior with 2,531 passing yards and 23 TD in leading Albuquerque Academy to a 9-3 record. He’ll be back in 2022.
Isaac Hinson Isaac Hinson 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM , Lovington: Hinson is one of a core group of players that helped lead Lovington to the Class 4A state championship. Hinson has been a two-way standout all season long as one of the Wildcats’ ‘Fantastic Four’ on offense and one of the top defensive backs in 4A. Offensively, he accounted for a team high 1,299 all-purpose yards. Defensively, he made 110 tackles. He deserves to play at the next level.
Nathan Lopez Nathan Lopez 5'5" | 135 lbs | WR Cibola | 2022 State NM , Cibola: The most impressive thing about Lopez, besides his toughness and competitiveness, is that he finished as the state’s leader in receptions with 88. The next highest figure is 67 ( Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM , Albuq. Academy). So Lopez had at least 21 more receptions than anybody else in New Mexico. His prep career is over but he was enjoyable to watch. The People’s Champion.
Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Raton | 2023 State NM , Raton: Walton probably isn’t well known south of Santa Fe, but you could make the argument he was the state’s second best running back behind Vigil this season. Walton finished as the state’s leading rusher with 1,905 yards and 24 TD. He’ll be back in 2022 and has already amassed 4,848 career rushing yards.
Honorable Mention: Dallas Boyd Dallas Boyd 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Las Cruces | 2022 State NM (Las Cruces); Brandon Furbee Brandon Furbee 6'3" | QB Farmington | 2022 State NM (Farmington); Martell Mora Martell Mora 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Santa Fe High | 2022 State NM (Santa Fe); Adam Aguilera Adam Aguilera 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM (Lovington); Aidan Granado Aidan Granado 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Silver | 2023 State NM (Silver); Ian Lopez Ian Lopez QB Centennial | 2022 State NM (Centennial); Kieran Cordova Kieran Cordova 5'10" | 145 lbs | WR Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM (Volcano Vista); Dominic Esquibel Dominic Esquibel 6'2" | 225 lbs | RB Pojoaque Valley | 2022 State NM (Pojoaque Valley); Marco Ybarra Marco Ybarra 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB St. Pius X | 2022 State NM (St. Pius X); Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM (Albuq. Academy); Damien Gallegos Damien Gallegos 5'8" | RB West Las Vegas | 2022 State NM (West Las Vegas); Matthew Gonzales Matthew Gonzales 5'5" | QB Robertson | 2022 State NM (Robertson); Mikah Gutierrez Mikah Gutierrez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2023 State NM (Centennial); Kaden Trevino Kaden Trevino 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2023 State NM (Hobbs); Dylan Quartieri Dylan Quartieri 6'1" | QB Raton | 2022 State NM (Raton); Andres Madrid Andres Madrid 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Santa Rosa | 2023 State NM (Santa Rosa); Kaden Valdez Kaden Valdez 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM (Volcano Vista); Nic Trujillo Nic Trujillo 6'1" | 160 lbs | WR Cleveland | 2023 State NM (Cleveland).
KRQE Football Friday Night Awards
6A Co-Players of the Year
Zach Vigil – Rio Rancho
Aden Chavez – CibolaSpirit Stick Champions
Rio Rancho pic.twitter.com/iH8W8NRG5e— Rio Rancho Rams (@_RRHSathletics) December 5, 2021
Senior Season stats (2 games cancelled & 1 game missed)
•173 attempts
•1583 rushing yards
•9.1 yards per carry
•158.3 rushing yards per game
•30 total TD’s
•2000+ All Purpose yards @PrepRedzoneNM @nmpreps @cameron_podcast @_NMAA @NMHSCA— Zach Vigil (@zacharyvigil21) December 2, 2021
I was told as a freshman to enjoy the moments because it comes and goes in a blink of an eye. What a ride it was with @rioramsfootball. I enjoyed the ups and downs that has came with my high school career. My 4 years starting on varsity football was a blessing! Go Rams 🐏 pic.twitter.com/3uIHIAwTec
— Zach Vigil (@zacharyvigil21) November 29, 2021
@cibolafootball @nathanlopezNM
@JustinG81028091 representing at the Red and Green All-Star Game at The Wool Bowl in Roswell pic.twitter.com/avXPas4Znx— Aden Chavez (@AdenChavez08) December 5, 2021
With @zacharyvigil21 @CieremansPaul at KRQE Awards Show@krqesports @jchester17 pic.twitter.com/WSlWagQJO2
— Aden Chavez (@AdenChavez08) December 4, 2021
Honored to be recognized! Great teammates!@cibolafootball @CoachRodWill @IBthecoach pic.twitter.com/uLqA2Lfppc
— Aden Chavez (@AdenChavez08) November 29, 2021
@WysongEvan @MaxPreps @CHSStormFB ⚡️🏈 pic.twitter.com/Uj86nGIhLF
— Cleveland High (@VSCHS_Storm) December 3, 2021
https://twitter.com/WysongEvan/status/1465473018327552001