Team MVPs: Class 4A
In this article:
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 present Class 4A. Teams are listed in alphabetical order:…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
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 present Class 4A. Teams are listed in alphabetical order:
Albuquerque Academy: A.J. Rivera A.J. Rivera 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM . Rivera directed one of the most prolific offenses in 4A this past season, throwing for 2,531 yards and 23 TD. The Chargers had a 1,000-yard passer (Rivera), 1,000-yard rusher ( Cole Conway Cole Conway 6'3" | 230 lbs | RB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM ) and 1,000-yard receiver ( Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM ). All 3 players return, so expectations will be incredibly high for the Academy in 2022.
Aztec: Tristen McNeal Tristen McNeal 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB Aztec | 2023 State NM . Catching passes from promising sophomore QB Landan Frost, McNeal led the Tigers in receptions with 27 for 511 yards. He also made 90 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3 forced fumbles and 2 INT on defense. McNeal was one of the top two-way players in 4A.
Bernalillo: Tristen Ludi-Herrera Tristen Ludi-Herrera 5'11" | 150 lbs | WR Bernalillo | 2022 State NM . The Spartans featured one of the state’s top linebackers in Kavin Chavez Kavin Chavez 5'8" | 170 lbs | LB Bernalillo | 2022 State NM (152 tackles), but Ludi-Herrera gets the not because he was a two-way standout. Offensively, he caught 51 passes for 1,057 yards and 9 TD, while defensively he made 94 tackles with 7.0 TFL and 7 INT.
Bloomfield: Diego Snell-Martinez Diego Snell-Martinez 170 lbs | RB Bloomfield | 2022 State NM . Another two-way standout who helped Bloomfield secure a top four seed and reach the semifinals of the 4A playoffs. Snell-Martinez rushed for 403 yards on 69 carries, caught 15 passes for 124 yards and made a team-high 116 tackles on defense.
Espanola Valley: Ollie Fell Ollie Fell 6'6" | QB Espanola Valley | 2022 State NM . It was a tough season for the Sundevils but Fell was able to utilize his superior size to excel as a wide receiver. Fell is also an outstanding basketball player.
Grants: Tyler Everhart Tyler Everhart 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Grants | 2022 State NM . The Pirates struggled in Brandon Hernandez’s first year as head coach, but Everhart was Mr. Everything for Grants. He played QB and DB, so he rarely came off the field. He was the Pirates’ main offensive threat.
Kirtland Central: Zakk Thomas Zakk Thomas 5'10" | RB Kirtland Central | 2022 State NM . Thomas finished sixth in the state in rushing with 1,537 yards and was the main threat for the Broncos. He also contributed as a pass catcher, kickoff and punt returner and middle linebacker. He recorded 67 tackles, second-most on the team. Little wonder he was named the Farmington Times Player of the Year.
Lovington: Isaac Hinson Isaac Hinson 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM . Just as with Cleveland in 6A, picking a MVP for the Wildcats is tricky because there are so many worthy candidates. Lovington had 14 players named 4A First-Team All-State. 14! As arguably the state’s top two-way player, Hinson was the best of the best. He caught 45 passes for 727 yards and 15 TD, completed 14 passes for 207 yards, rushed for 259 yards and made 110 tackles on defense. Whew!
Moriarty: Erik Wolf Erik Wolf 5'7" | 130 lbs | RB Moriarty | 2023 State NM . How do you determine the MVP for team that possesses one of the most balanced rushing attacks in the state? Wolf led the under-the-radar Pintos in rushing with over 600 yards.
Pojoaque Valley: Dominic Esquibel Dominic Esquibel 6'2" | 225 lbs | RB Pojoaque Valley | 2022 State NM . The running back returned to the Santa Fe area from Colorado and made the most of his senior year, rushing for 1,496 yards and making a team-high 80 tackles on defense. Esquibel has the size (6-2, 225) and skills to play at the next level.
Portales: Manny Chavez. And a freshman shall lead them? Yes. Chavez emerged this season as one of the top 2025 prospects in the state with 97 tackles and 6 TFL. You’ll hear a lot more about Chavez next season.
Ruidoso: Braxton Hall Braxton Hall RB Ruidoso | 2022 State NM . Is is Braxton or Bracxton? I’ve seen it spelled both ways. Regardless, the senior RB was on fire this season, leading the Warriors to the Class 4A championship game. Hall rushed for 1,503 yards and 17 TD on offense and collected 79 tackles on defense. How’s this for a career? Hall rushed for 2,785 yards and 28 TD and made 200 tackles with 8 INT for Ruidoso. Hall of Fame career.
Silver: Aiden Granado. The junior was one of the state’s top rushers with 1,632 yards on 147 carries, meaning his averaged 11.1 yards per carry. Impressive. Silver is a solid 2022 contender with Granado running the football as they join a new district with Grants, St. Pius X and Valencia.
St. Pius X: Marco Ybarra Marco Ybarra 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB St. Pius X | 2022 State NM and Dominic Esparza Dominic Esparza 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB St. Piux | 2022 State NM . The Sartans have two players worthy of being named MVP and the margin between them is razor-thin, so we’ll give the award to both. Ybarra cemented his college football credentials by rushing for nearly 1,500 yards, many of those between the tackles, and 22 TD. His academic credentials are impeccable, which is why he could attend an Ivy League school. Esparza was one of the top all around players in 4A with 45 receptions for 685 yards and 9 TD on offense. He was also one of the top kickoff and punt returners in the state. Overall, he amassed 1,625 all-purpose yards.
Taos: Matthew Suazo Matthew Suazo 5'7" | 150 lbs | RB Taos | 2022 State NM . Class 4A is filled with outstanding two-way players and Suazo is another one. In 10 games he rushed for close to 1,000 yards and 10 TD, and made 61 tackles on defense.
Valencia: Jonathon Croker Jonathon Croker 6'1" | 245 lbs | OL Valencia | 2022 State NM . Overshadowed by neighbor Los Lunas, Croker and the Jaguars flew under the radar most of the season. But they finished 7-5 and reached the quarterfinals of the 4A playoffs. Croker is one of the top offensive linemen in the state, and he has the college offers to prove it (more on him next week).
Junior Season:
9-3 Season
2531 Yds 23 TDs 70% Comp%
2nd Team All-District
2nd Team All-Metro
Set new school single season records for passing yards, TDs and completion percentage
Check out my Junior Season highlight! https://t.co/essMPoLQgN— Andres (AJ) Rivera (@AndresAJRivera1) December 2, 2021
First team All State Running back and also 4A state leading solo tackler Diego Snell-Martinez pic.twitter.com/tTgg3muV1z
— Bobcat sports fanatic (@FanaticBobcat) December 14, 2021
https://twitter.com/CoachBranTheMan/status/1424911192263258120
@marshhhhhy Congratulations to Isaac Hinson on his All-Selections. Being selected on offense and defense is outstanding and well deserved. A direct reflection of his work ethic and his position coaches @18_Bailey_18 @carsonritterboy #FE pic.twitter.com/282b14rhkF
— Wildcat Football (@lvtwildcatsfb) December 14, 2021
Blessed this year to have received
•1st team all district running back
•2nd team all state running back
•Defensive player of the year
•NM Heisman honorable mention@NMrecruits @BrandonCSmith6 @PrepRedzoneNM 🙏🏼🙏🏼— Dominic Esquibel (@DomEsqui30) December 17, 2021
ZAKK THOMAS
2022 RB/WR
1537 Rushing Yards, 22 tds
5’9” 185 lbs
Check out this highlight! https://t.co/JdeYT9XfEV@nmpreps @PrepRedzoneNM @NMrecruits— Zakk Thomas (@zakkt_33) December 28, 2021
MARCO YBARRA
2022 RUNNINGBACK
1st Team All-State, All-Star, All-Metro, Academic All-Metro, All-District, District Offense Player of the Year
Team Captain
1497 Rushing Yds 22 TD
Single Game St Pius Rushing Record (327)
4.2 GPA 29 ACT
Student Body Presidenthttps://t.co/eRqkCxADjl— Marco Ybarra (@marcoayb) December 17, 2021