Week 3: Top Performers
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Week 3 of the New Mexico High School Football season is complete. Here are some of the weekend’s top performers: Michael Ash Michael Ash 6'0" | 275 lbs | DL Bernalillo | 2023 State NM , Bernalillo: The senior DL…
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Continue ReadingWeek 3 of the New Mexico High School Football season is complete. Here are some of the weekend’s top performers:
Michael Ash Michael Ash 6'0" | 275 lbs | DL Bernalillo | 2023 State NM , Bernalillo: The senior DL dominated the trenches by establishing a new state single game record for tackles with 27 in the Spartans’ win over Del Norte.
Omar Argott, Hobbs: Hobbs overwhelmed Roswell, 51-7, at the Wool Bowl as Argott threw for 296 yards and 4 TD.
Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: Armenta threw for 262 yards in the thrilling last-second win over Centennial and made several clutch late throws on the Bears’ final two drives as La Cueva rallied from a 21-14 deficit with 2 TD in the final 5 minutes.
Rylee Bleicher, Albuq. Academy: The senior caught TD pass and intercepted two passes on defense to help spark the Chargers’ 35-0 win over Hope Christian.
Jack Bumgardner, Santa Teresa: Rushed for 167 yards and 2 TD in the Desert Warriors’ 52-39 win at Lovington.
Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola: The state‘s No. 1 2023 prospect led a comeback from an early 21-0 deficit by completing 26-of-33 passes for 386 yards and 3 TD. With Chavez back, the Cougars are a threat to make a deep run in the 6A playoffs.
Josh Calhoon, Estancia: 125 rushing yards and 1 TD on a workhorse 39 carries in a loss to Socorro.
Paxton Culpepper, Portales: The Rams’ QB has led Portales to a 3-0 start. Friday, he threw for 306 yards and 4 TD in an impressive 55-30 win over West Las Vegas.
Devin Diaz Devin Diaz 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Portales | 2024 State NM , Portales: Led a strong Portales defensive effort in a win over West Las Vegas with 8.5 tackles, 2 TFL and 2 INT.
Demusico Edsitty Demusico Edsitty 5'8" | 185 lbs | RB Kirtland Central | 2024 State NM , Kirtland Central: 143 rushing yards on 14 carries in Kirtland Central’s 36-6 win over Thoreau.
Nye Estrada, Artesia: The Bulldogs QB spread the ball around to his receivers en route to throwing for 189 yards and 3 TD in a 44-0 win over Belen at the Bulldog Bowl.
Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM , Farmington: The Scorpions traveled to Los Lunas and pulled out a 26-11 win over the Paul Cieremans Paul Cieremans 5'10" | 195 lbs | QB Los Lunas | 2023 State NM – less Tigers. Griego threw for 3 TD and ran for 1 TD in the big road win. Farmington came into the game with an 0-2 record.
Jesse James Gonzalez, Robertson: In defensive struggle against Santa Rosa, Gonzalez stood out on the offensive side with 122 rushing yards on 27 carries.
Alijah Gonzales Alijah Gonzales 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: The Hawks made the long trip to Carlsbad and triumphantly rode home to Albuquerque with a 32-19 victory. Gonzales had 114 yards and 1 TD rushing and caught 3 passes for 38 yards.
Ace Gonzalez Ace Gonzalez 5'10" | LB Robertson | 2023 State NM , Robertson: Led the Cardinals’ strong defensive effort at Santa Rosa with 14 tackles from his LB position.
Mikah Gutierrez Mikah Gutierrez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2023 State NM , Centennial: Emerging as the early favorite for the 2022 New Mexico Heisman award, Gutierrez rushed for close to 200 yard and 2 TD in the Hawks’ heartbreaking 28-21 loss to La Cueva.
Angel Hernandez, Santa Teresa: The Desert Warriors went to Lovington and beat the defending 4A champions, 52-39. Hernandez rushed for 236 yards on 23 carries, over 50 percent of his team’s 420-yard rushing total.
Dean Marquez Dean Marquez 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM , Atrisco Heritage: The Jaguars piled up 576 yards in total offense in a 54-33 win over Eldorado, scoring 40 points in the second half. Marquez threw for 369 yards and 5 TD in Atrisco’s first win over Eldorado in a decade.
Bryle Matthews, Kirtland Central: Kirtland Central unleased a devastating rushing attack in a 36-6 win over Thoreau. Matthews rushed for 135 yards and 1 TD on 16 carries.
Tristen McNeal Tristen McNeal 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB Aztec | 2023 State NM , Aztec: Returned a kickoff 80 yards for a TD as the Tigers won a low-scoring game at Fred Cook Memorial Stadium in Aztec.
Elijah Melancon, Eunice: The Cardinals QB completed 13-of-20 passes for 2023 yards and 5 TD to key a 33-12 win over Ropes (TX).
Latavious Morris, Atrisco Heritage: Morris is emerging as one of the top young receivers in the state. He had 8 receptions for 126 yards in the win over Eldorado.
Camon Ochoa, Lovington: Ochoa broke out with 183 rushing yards in Lovington’s loss to Santa Teresa.
Brandon Olivas Brandon Olivas 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Eldorado | 2024 State NM , Eldorado: In a shootout loss to Atrisco Heritage, Olivas passed for nearly 300 yards and 3 TD.
Josh Perry Josh Perry 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland: The Storm traveled to Amarillo (TX) and won, 47-30, over Amarillo High s Perry rushed for 177 yards and 2 TD on 25 carries.
Marquise Renfro Marquise Renfro 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM , Atrisco Heritage: Renfro rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries in the 54-33 win over Eldorado.
A.J. Rivera A.J. Rivera 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM , Albuq. Academy: The Chargers QB threw for 2 TD and ran for 1 TD in AA’s shutout win over Hope Christian.
Myuh Robertson, La Cueva: Replacing the injured Gabriel Buie Gabriel Buie 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB La Cueva | 2023 State NM , Robertson rushed for 66 yards and 2 TD in La Cueva’s exciting win over Centennial.
Patrick Rodriguez, West Las Vegas: Just a sophomore, Rodriguez rushed for 148 yards on 21 carries in WLV’s loss to Portales.
Kaden Sago Kaden Sago RB Ruidoso | 2023 State NM , Ruidoso: He was the offensive star in Ruidoso’s 42-0 victory over Chaparral with 161 rushing yards + 2 TD on 12 carries.
Jacob Schrueder, Piedra Vista: Schrueder excelled on both sides of the ball as PV edged Durango (CO) in a weather-delayed game in Farmington.
Jesse Seitzinger, Bloomfield: The Bobcats rolled over Grants, 43-0, as Seitzinger rushed for 92 yards and 2 TD
Malachi Thymes Malachi Thymes 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Sandia | 2023 State NM , Sandia: If we named the breakout stars of the 2022 season, Thymes would be near or at the top of the list. Thursday, he rushed for 214 yards and 3 TD on 27 carries, enhancing his status as a workhorse running back. He has scored 13 TD in 3 games.
Nic Trujillo Nic Trujillo 6'1" | 160 lbs | WR Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland: The New Mexico commitment caught 7 passes for 107 yards in the Storm’s huge road win over Amarillo (TX) High.
Ethan Vanlandingham Ethan Vanlandingham 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2023 State NM , Hobbs: The Eagles offense erupted for 51 points in a big road win at Roswell with Vanlandingham catching 4 passes for 130 yards.
Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Raton | 2023 State NM , Raton: Walton moved closer to the 6,000 career rushing mark with 215 yards on just 9 carries against Trinidad (CO). Raton retains the Coal Bucket.