Team MVPs: Class 6A
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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:
Albuquerque High: Andres Aguirre. 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.
Atrisco Heritage: Marquise Renfro. 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.
Carlsbad: Jesse Rodriguez. 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.
Centennial: Mikah Gutierrez Mikah Gutierrez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2023 State NM . 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.
Cibola: Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM . The 6-foot-5 junior QB led the state in passing yardage (3,075) for 32 TD (2nd most in the state). Chavez will be back next season, although he’ll be missing his main 2021 weapon (Sr. WR Nathan Lopez Nathan Lopez 5'5" | 135 lbs | WR Cibola | 2022 State NM ). However, Chavez should have another monster season before embarking on a college career at the D-I level.
Cleveland: Evan Wysong Evan Wysong 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Cleveland | 2023 State NM . Picking an MVP from a dominant and unbeaten Storm team is like trying to decide who’s the best actor in The Godfather. 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.
Clovis: Manny Bustillos Manny Bustillos 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Clovis | 2022 State NM . 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.
Eldorado: Aidan St. John Aidan St. John 6'1" | 195 lbs | RB Eldorado | 2022 State NM . Aided by a solid offensive line led by First-team All-State OT John Fahey John Fahey 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Eldorado | 2022 State NM , St. John rushed for 1,136 yards and 10 TD for an Eldorado offense that saw two quarterbacks share snaps.
Gadsden (Independent): Tomas Herrera Tomas Herrera 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Gadsden | 2023 State NM . 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.
Hobbs: Colton Graham Colton Graham 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Hobbs | 2022 State NM . We could have also named LB Kenyon Singleton Kenyon Singleton 5'10" | 160 lbs | LB Hobbs | 2022 State NM 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.
La Cueva: Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM . 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 Exodus Ayers Exodus Ayers 6'2" | 175 lbs | ATH Proctor Academy | 2024 State NewE not missed four games with an injury, we might be talking about him in this space, or perhaps RB Gabriel Buie., who fell just short of 1,000 yards rushing.
Las Cruces: Dallas Boyd Dallas Boyd 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Las Cruces | 2022 State NM . The Bulldawgs had a stellar offensive trio with Boyd, RB Elijah Ogas Elijah Ogas 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Las Cruces | 2022 State NM and WR Zakye Hawkins. 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.
Manzano: Isaiah Garcia. 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.
Organ Mountain: Beto Garcia Beto Garcia 6'1" | 150 lbs | QB Organ Mountain | 2022 State NM . 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.
Rio Rancho: Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM . 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.
Sandia: Malachi Thymes Malachi Thymes 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Sandia | 2023 State NM . 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.
Santa Fe: Martell Mora Martell Mora 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Santa Fe High | 2022 State NM . 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.
Volcano Vista: Josh Gerardo Josh Gerardo 6'1" | QB Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM . Throwing to one of the top (and most balanced) WR corps in the state ( Kaden Valdez Kaden Valdez 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM and Kieran Cordova Kieran Cordova 5'10" | 145 lbs | WR Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM both had 62 receptions), Gerardo threw for a school record 2,713 yards and 26 TD. He’ll play at the next level.
West Mesa: Daniel Ayala Daniel Ayala 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2022 State NM . 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.()
Sophomore season
9 games played(1 cancelation)
900+ yards rushing
150+ yards receiving
1,067 all purpose yards
10 touchdowns rushing
1 touchdown receiving
0 fumblesCheck out this highlight! https://t.co/OnRKsSXbBw
— Andres Aguirre (@AndresGAguirre6) November 27, 2021
Honored to be recognized! Great teammates!@cibolafootball @CoachRodWill @IBthecoach pic.twitter.com/uLqA2Lfppc
— Aden Chavez (@AdenChavez08) November 29, 2021
2021 Season Stats
⚡️NM 6A State Champs 13-0⚡️
Passing:
123-187 (66%) for 1,787 yards, 19 TD, 3 INT, 123.9 QBR
Rushing:
120 rushes for 987 yards, 15 TD, 8.2 yds/carry, 75.9 yds/game
Receiving:
3 receptions for 63 yards, 1 TDCheck out my highlight – https://t.co/4Eio2joCNg
— Evan Wysong (@WysongEvan) December 16, 2021
Newcomer of the Year for district 3-6A, @MikahG_ pic.twitter.com/iXwI82YXlG
— Aaron Ocampo (@Angrybirdfb) November 21, 2021
Junior year-
District 2-6A offensive player of the year
2,696 passing yards
28 touchdowns
6 interceptions
121.0 passer rating
5 rushing touchdowns
132 rushing yards @LaCuevaFootball @Rivals_Clint @KyleMorgan_XOS @TrustMyEyesO https://t.co/wMsgSZfbnw— Aidan Armenta (@AidanArmenta) December 2, 2021
Cayden “Diesel” Romero and Zach Vigil signing National Letters of Intent to play football at the University of New Mexico.
So proud of these young men!! Congratulations!!@rioramsfootball
@RioRamPreps @gpannoni @natemp83 pic.twitter.com/ZbpqlemQgE— Rio Rancho Rams (@_RRHSathletics) December 15, 2021
Senior Year Accolades
•NM Gatorade Player of the Year •Mr. NM football Player of the Year •NM Heisman Player of the Year •All-Metro Player of the year •District Player of the year •1st Team All State •1st Team All District •1st Team All Metro @UNMLoboFB @rioramsfootball— Zach Vigil (@zacharyvigil21) December 14, 2021