City Series: Top 5 Running Backs in Southern New Mexico

Phase 2 of our ‘City Series’ has begun. We’re talking a look at the top running backs in the state entering the 2022 season. Today we give you the top five running backs in Southern New Mexico: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208691" first="Mikah" last="Gutierrez"], Centennial</strong>: With QB [player_tooltip player_id="26267" first="Ian" last="Lopez"] graduating, Gutierrez could become the centerpiece of the Centennial offense in 2022. How  loaded was the running back position in New Mexico last 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>[player_tooltip player_id="138088" first="Javyn" last="Morales"], Goddard</strong>: Morales stormed onto the scene last spring when he won the Class 4A 100 meters title at the state track &amp; field meet. In the fall, he converted that blazing speed into production on the football field for Goddard before sidelined by an injury. As one of the fastest players in the state, Morales is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. Texas Tech and New Mexico State have expressed interest. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208819" first="Aidan" last="Granado"], Silver</strong>: Due to Silver City’s geographic isolation from the major metropolitan areas in New Mexico, Granado doesn’t normally get the attention he deserves. But he rushed for 1,632 yards and averaged over 11 yards per carry last season. If Granado matches that production in 2022, Silver will be a threat for the district title and a contender for the 4A title. <strong>Ondalis Cardenas, Lovington</strong>: Not only did the Wildcats have the best receiving corps in Class 4A (if not the state) in 2021, Cardenas (2025) proved himself as the top young running back in the classification. He rushed for 771 yards and 11 TD in 10 games. He should be a 1,000 yards rusher in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208821" first="Diego" last="Baeza"], Hobbs</strong>:  The Eagles had such a high-powered passing attack in 2021 with QB [player_tooltip player_id="134908" first="Colton" last="Graham"] and WR [player_tooltip player_id="137921" first="Kaden" last="Trevino"] that some people forgot they had a respectable ground game as well led by Baeza. He rushed for 671 yards and 7 TD on 118 carries. Between Trevino and Baeza, Hobbs is positioned nicely for a playoff run. <strong>Honorable Mention</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="138074" first="Devyn" last="Fierro"] (Artesia); [player_tooltip player_id="138038" first="Uriel" last="Mendoza"] (Carlsbad); [player_tooltip player_id="137929" first="Amarius" last="Wedlow"] (Alamogordo); [player_tooltip player_id="138194" first="Jacob" last="Lujan"] (Jal); [player_tooltip player_id="275560" first="Drew" last="Welletto"] (Loving); [player_tooltip player_id="274787" first="Jon" last="Silva"] (Goddard); [player_tooltip player_id="275566" first="Landon" last="Sandoval"] (Silver); Alec Holguin (Lovington). https://twitter.com/MikahG_/status/1465080020603310084 https://twitter.com/JavynMorales/status/1483894481040650244 https://twitter.com/lvtwildcatsfb/status/1466497100951302147 https://twitter.com/dcb1030/status/1465192424104419328 &nbsp;