Team MVPs: Class 6A

The 2021 New Mexico high school football season was filled with plenty of exemplary performances. This week, we tell you the Team MVPs for every team in Classes 6A-3A. Today, we start with Class 6A. Teams are listed in alphabetical order: <strong>Albuquerque High</strong>: <strong>Andres Aguirre</strong>. The sophomore RB  rushed for more than 900 yards and 10 TD, and amassed nearly 1,100 all-purpose yards for the Bulldogs. Already one of the top 2024 prospects in the state, you’ll hear a lot more about Aguirre next season. <strong>Atrisco Heritage</strong>: <strong>Marquise Renfro</strong>. Another sophomore who excelled for his team. Renfro was named Honorable-Mention All-State by the NMHSCA after a season in which he played a prominent role on the AHS offense, averaging more than 15 years per reception. <strong>Carlsbad</strong>: <strong>Jesse Rodriguez</strong>. The senior RB rushed for 818 yards and 5 TD while averaging over 6 yards per carry. He was named First-Team All-District and Honorable Mention All-State by the NMHSCA. <strong>Centennial</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208691" first="Mikah" last="Gutierrez"]</strong>. How  loaded was the running back position in New Mexico this season? Gutierrez rushed 200 times (workhorse!) for 1,579 yards and 17 TDs, and averaged almost 8 yards per carry yet had to settle for Honorable Mention All-State honors. He was properly named First-Team All-District. <strong>Cibola</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137861" first="Aden" last="Chavez"]</strong>. The 6-foot-5 junior QB led the state in passing yardage (3,075) for 32 TD (2^nd most in the state). Chavez will be back next season, although he’ll be missing his main 2021 weapon (Sr. WR [player_tooltip player_id="134963" first="Nathan" last="Lopez"]). However, Chavez should have another monster season before embarking on a college career at the D-I level. <strong>Cleveland</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139521" first="Evan" last="Wysong"]</strong>. Picking an MVP from a dominant and unbeaten Storm team is like trying to decide who’s the best actor in <em>The Godfather</em>. Cleveland had a staggering 12 players named NMHSCA First-Team All-State. Wysong, who already has an offer from New Mexico, threw for 1,787 yards and rushed for 987 more. The reigning MaxPreps Player of the Year is back in 2022. <strong>Clovis</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134998" first="Manny" last="Bustillos"]</strong>. The Clovis offense struggled for most of the season, but Bustillos was a stud on defense for the Wildcats, finishing with 106 tackles from his linebacker spot to earn Honorable Mention All-State honors. <strong>Eldorado</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="198231" first="Aidan" last="St. John"]</strong>. Aided by a solid offensive line led by First-team All-State OT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="198240" first="John" last="Fahey"]</strong>, St. John rushed for 1,136 yards and 10 TD for an Eldorado offense that saw two quarterbacks share snaps. <strong>Gadsden</strong> (Independent): <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138076" first="Tomas" last="Herrera"]</strong>. From a win-loss perspective, moving to independent status helped the Panthers post some wins. And nobody was more responsible for Gadsden’s offensive output than Herrera, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a dual threat quarterback. Gadsden moves to Class 5A in 2022. <strong>Hobbs</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134908" first="Colton" last="Graham"]</strong>. We could have also named LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="198321" first="Kenyon" last="Singleton"]</strong> as the Eagles’ MVP as he totaled 132 tackles and was usually the best defensive player on the field. Graham threw for 2,233 yards and rushed for 426 more, accounting for nearly 2,700 total yards. <strong>La Cueva</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137862" first="Aidan" last="Armenta"]</strong>. Already one of the top quarterbacks in the state, Armenta threw for 2,700 yards and 28 TD and helped lead the Bears to the 6A semifinals. Has WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208744" first="Exodus" last="Ayers"]</strong> not missed four games with an injury, we might be talking about him in this space, or perhaps RB <strong>Gabriel Buie</strong>., who fell just short of 1,000 yards rushing. <strong>Las Cruces</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26253" first="Dallas" last="Boyd"]</strong>. The Bulldawgs had a stellar offensive trio with Boyd, RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134990" first="Elijah" last="Ogas"]</strong> and WR <strong>Zakye Hawkins</strong>. Boyd, though, gets the MVP nod because he threw and ran for over 1,000 yards in each category, joining the exclusive 1,000-1,000 club. Boyd was definitely the Bulldawgs’ top offensive threat. <strong>Manzano</strong>: <strong>Isaiah Garcia</strong>. The senior was one of Manzano’s top rushers, averaging over 7 yards per carry, caught 19 passes for 315 yards and 3 TD and returned kicks, earning First-Team All-Metro honors on special teams. He also recently picked up his first offer from Midway University. <strong>Organ Mountain</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="198288" first="Beto" last="Garcia"]</strong>. He led the Knights to the cusp of the 6A playoffs before they fell short. But Organ Mountain looked as competitive as they have in a few years. <strong>Rio Rancho</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26227" first="Zach" last="Vigil"]</strong>. The Rams reached the Class 6A championship game and there was no dispute as to Rio Rancho’s best player. Vigil rushed for 1,583 yards, scored 30 TD and averaged over 9 yards per carry even though the Rams had multiple game cancelled due to covid protocols by opposing teams. Next time we see him in a football uniform he’ll be playing FBS football for New Mexico. <strong>Sandia</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137923" first="Malachi" last="Thymes"]</strong>. He amassed over 1,600 total yards for the Matadors, including 1,158 rushing yards on 173 Carries. He was also Sandia’s primary kick returner. Best news for Sandia? Thymes is back in 2022. <strong>Santa Fe</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26265" first="Martell" last="Mora"]</strong>. The Demons’ best player on both sides of the ball, Mora earned Second-Team All-State honors at running back after rushing for 1,230 yards and  17 TD. He amassed close to 2,000 all-purpose yards. Mora was also one of Santa Fe’s leaders on defense from his safety spot. He was offered by Eastern New Mexico three weeks ago. <strong>Volcano Vista</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26247" first="Josh" last="Gerardo"]</strong>. Throwing to one of the top (and most balanced) WR corps in the state (<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135097" first="Kaden" last="Valdez"]</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="198052" first="Kieran" last="Cordova"]</strong> both had 62 receptions), Gerardo threw for a school record 2,713 yards and 26 TD. He’ll play at the next level. <strong>West Mesa</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26242" first="Daniel" last="Ayala"]</strong>. West Mesa’s final record didn’t meet pre-season expectations, but Ayala enjoyed a solid season. He threw for 1,230 yards and ran for 411 more. He holds at least 2 college offers.() https://twitter.com/AndresGAguirre6/status/1464420368442036226 https://twitter.com/AdenChavez08/status/1465130312791302147 https://twitter.com/WysongEvan/status/1471545264951345154 https://twitter.com/Angrybirdfb/status/1462469008163315716 https://twitter.com/AidanArmenta/status/1466538780911812611 https://twitter.com/_RRHSathletics/status/1471230280946135046 https://twitter.com/zacharyvigil21/status/1470869943935811594