Week 9: Top Performers
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Week 9 of the New Mexico high school football season is complete. Here are last weekend’s top performers: JJ Arellano, Rio Rancho: Just a sophomore, Arellano was sensational again in leading the Rams offense against Cibola. In the first half…
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Continue ReadingWeek 9 of the New Mexico high school football season is complete. Here are last weekend’s top performers:
JJ Arellano, Rio Rancho: Just a sophomore, Arellano was sensational again in leading the Rams offense against Cibola. In the first half alone he ran for two TD and completed all 10 of his passes for 233 yards and two TD as Rio Ranch jumped out t a 28-7 halftime lead. He finished as the Rams’ leading rusher with 89 yards on 22 carries.
Omar Argott, Hobbs: Completed 17-of-25 passes for 272 yards and 4 TD as Hobbs rolled to a 47-3 win over Alamogordo.
Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: Armenta, probably the front runner for the New Mexico Heisman at the moment, has thrown for over 1,000 yards in the past two games. He passed for 475 yards and EIGHT touchdowns against West Masa last Thursday in one of the wildest and craziest games we’ve seen in a long time.
Brian Armijo Brian Armijo 5'9" | 155 lbs | LB Socorro | 2023 State NM , Socorro: The Warriors trounced Hatch Valley, 55-0, as Armijo excelled on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 100 yards and 1 TD and had 2 sacks and 1 fumble recovery on defense.
Diego Avila Diego Avila 5'6" | 160 lbs | RB Belen | 2024 State NM , Belen: 198 rushing yards in a 30-7 win over Highland.
Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: Completed 27-of-50 passes for 430 yards and 6 TD against La Cueva.
Gabriel Buie Gabriel Buie 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: Rushed for 169 yards and 4 TD on just 12 carries against West Mesa.
Ondalis Cardenas, Lovington: Cardenas ignited the Wildcats’ offense at Bernalillo as he rushed for 116 yards ad 3 TD in a 33-7 district victory over the Spartans.
Creed Chavez, St. Michael’s: Caught 3 TD passes, including the game-winner with 38 seconds left, as the Horsemen drove 70 yards in the final minutes to topple Raton. Chavez finished with 10 receptions for 178 yards.
Paxton Culpepper, Portales: Completed 10-of-14 passes for 236 yarsd and 3 TD in a 44-7 win for the rams at Albuquerque Academy.
Alexavier Carreon Alexavier Carreon 6'1" | RB Jal | 2023 State NM , Jal: The Panthers escaped Texico, 41-35, as Carreon rushed for 191 yards.
Nye Estrada, Artesia: Estrada continues to build his New Mexico Heisman resume. But even if he doesn’t win it this season, he’ll go into 2023 as one of the favorites. In Artesia’s crucial 46-28 win over Roswell, Estrada threw for 288 yards and 3 TD.
Peyton Greathouse Peyton Greathouse 5'9" | 175 lbs | WR Artesia | 2024 TN , Artesia: 8 receptions for 120 yards and 2 TD in the Bulldogs’ district win over Roswell.
Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM , Farmington: Griego has emerged as a solid starter in his first season directing the Scorpions offense. Farmington improved to 2-0 in the district with a 43-7 win over Sandia as Griego threw 4 TD passes, three to Michael Beck.
Gunnar Guardiola, Las Cruces: The freshman QB was thrown into the fire in a must-win game against Organ Mountain and he responded with a solid performance, leading a second half comeback that saw the Bulldawgs outscore the Knights, 21-7, over the final 24 minutes. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 142 yards and 1 TD.
Mikah Gutierrez Mikah Gutierrez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2023 State NM , Centennial: Fair to say Gutierrez is one of the top 3 contenders for the 2022 New Mexico Heisman. He rushed for 243 yards and 3 TD, two from 60+ yards, in a 44-7 win over Carlsbad at Field of Dreams last Saturday.
Tomas Herrera Tomas Herrera 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Gadsden | 2023 State NM , Gadsden: Herrera is one of the top dual threat QBs in Class 5A. He rushed for 227 yards and 5 TD on 23 carries as the Panthers beat Chaparral, 44-0.
Jackson Hix Jackson Hix 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2024 State NM , La Cueva: He had 124 receiving yards and 3 TD catches for the Bears against West Mesa.
Logan Howell, Piedra Vista: The Panthers opened district play with a 48-21 win over Miyamura. Howell threw 3 TD passes and ran for 1 TD. It was Piedra Vista’s 3rd straight road game.
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson 5'9" | 135 lbs | WR West Mesa | 2023 State NM , West Mesa: Johnson continues to be one of the most underrated players in Albuquerque. Against La Cueva, he had 9 receptions for 204 yards and 2 TD.
Jesse Leroch, Artesia: Had 104 yards rushing on 12 carries in the win over Roswell.
Tommy Lopez, Portales: Amassed 118 yards on just 3 receptions as the Rams beat Albuquerque Academy.
Jacob Lujan Jacob Lujan 5'8" | RB Jal | 2023 State NM , Jal: He had 191 rushing yards in the close win over Texico.
Zaeden McPherson, Hobbs: 13 tackles in win over Alamogordo.
Andres Madrid Andres Madrid 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Santa Rosa | 2023 State NM , Santa Rosa: Madrid continues to post impressive numbers, rushing for 149 yards on just 10 carries as Santa Rosa mercy ruled Laguna Acoma, 50-0.
Zach Martinez Zach Martinez 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB St. Michael's | 2023 State NM , St. Michael’s: The Horsemen stunned Raton with a last-minute TD to win 28-21. Martinez threw for 227 yards and 3 TD, all the Chavez.
Elijah Melancon, Eunice: Competed 18-of-33 passes for 329 yards and 6 TD as the Cardinals beat Loving, 47-8.
Brent Miller Brent Miller DB Hope Christian | 2023 State NM , Hope Christian: The Huskies bounced back from a double OT loss to Dexter with a lopsided win over Tucumcari, 44-0, as Miller rushed for 157 yards on 15 carries and completed 2-of-4 passes for 37 yards. He finished with 199 total yards.
Julian Munoz Julian Munoz 5'8" | 155 lbs | QB Capital | 2023 State NM , Capital: The Jaguars still harbor hopes of making the 6A playoffs in their first year in the state’s highest classification. Munoz threw for 186 yards (9-17 passing) and 2 TD while scoring a 31-yard on the ground as Capital beat Albuquerque High.
Teke Nieto Teke Nieto 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB Los Alamos | 2023 State NM , Los Alamos: We said before that Nieto is a player you need to know. Against Manzano, he rushed for 134 yards and 1 TD on 15 carries while catching 2 passes for 37 yards. That’s 171 all-purpose yards.
Ethan Ramirez, Artesia: Led the Bulldogs’ defensive effort against Roswell with 10 tackles and 2 sacks
Ian Sanchez Ian Sanchez 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: Somebody has to be catching all those TD passes from Armenta, and Sanchez was definitely the guy against West Mesa. He had 5 TD receptions and totaled 201 receiving yards in the 89-62 win.
Ryan Sharpe Ryan Sharpe QB Bloomfield | 2023 State NM , Bloomfield: The Bobcats QB led a 58-8 win over Kirtland Central by throwing for 310 yards and 4 TD. Bloomfield total nearly 600 yards in total offense.
Jonathan Silva, Goddard: Rushed for 294 yards and 3 TD on 19 carries to spark the Rockets to a win over Mayfield in a key district game.
Ashton Thompson Ashton Thompson 5'11" | 150 lbs | WR Eunice | 2024 State NM , Eunice: 10 receptions for 116 yards and 5 TD in the Cardinals’ big win over Loving.
Kaden Trevino Kaden Trevino 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2023 State NM , Hobbs: 6 receptions for 167 yards in the Eagles’ big win over Alamogordo.
Ricky Vasquez, Silver: Vasquez led the ground game for Silver as he rushed for 98 yards and 2 TD on 3 carries.
Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Raton | 2023 State NM , Raton: Became the state’s all-time leader in career rushing yardage by amassing 234 yards on 30 carries against St. Michael’s. He also had 15 tackles on defense. Now Walton has his sights on the single season rushing yardage.
Evan Wysong Evan Wysong 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland: Wysong and the Cleveland offense made short work of Atrisco Heritage in a 54-0 victory. Wysong threw 3 TD passes, including a 55-yarder to fellow Lobos commit Nic Trujillo Nic Trujillo 6'1" | 160 lbs | WR Cleveland | 2023 State NM , in the first quarter and the Storm jumped out to a 35-0 lead, assuring a running clock for the remainder of the contest.