Prep Redzone New Mexico: X-Factors In The 6A State Semifinals!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With half of the 6A State Playoffs complete, we have completed the First Round and the Quarterfinals. This 6A Playoff Bracket started with twelve teams and we are down to the final four in the 6A State Semifinals. We have two matchups; #1 Cleveland vs #5 Volcano Vista on Friday Night and #2 La Cueva vs #3 Centennial early Saturday afternoon. We take a look at the biggest X-Factors in the Semifinals with a trip to the State Championship on the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>#1 Cleveland vs #5 Volcano Vista</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback Battle: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139521' first='Evan' last='Wysong']</strong> vs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269571' first='Elliot' last='Paskett-Bell'].<em> </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Senior Quarterbacks come into this game having played great seasons up to this point. This is a rare matchup between two of the top four quarterbacks in New Mexico. Both QB's are very similar in their styles of play passing and running the football. This could be a potential shootout with a trip to the State Championship on the line. <strong>Elliot Paskett Bell</strong> ranks second in passing yards and third in passing touchdowns in New Mexico. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139521' first='Evan' last='Wysong']</strong> ranks 15th in passing yards and tied for 8th in passing touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269571' first='Elliot' last='Paskett-Bell']</strong> has rushed for 900 yards while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139521' first='Evan' last='Wysong']</strong> is not that far behind with his rushing total at 861 this season. A lot of these numbers were could've been higher considering both sat many second halves and fourth quarters during blowout victories. Whichever quarterback that outplays the other could impact the outcome the most in this game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wide Receiver Battle: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139523' first='Nic' last='Trujillo']</strong> vs <strong>Tristan Cordova</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139523' first='Nic' last='Trujillo']</strong> is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139521' first='Evan' last='Wysong']'s</strong> favorite target down the field and <strong>Tristan Cordova</strong> is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269571' first='Elliot' last='Paskett-Bell']'s</strong> number one target. These are two of the states best Wide Receivers coming into this game. <strong>Tristan Cordova</strong> ranks third in terms of receiving yardage with 1,101 yards and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139523' first='Nic' last='Trujillo']</strong> ranks 8th with 965 receiving yards this season. Both wideouts were inside the top 10 in terms of receiving touchdowns this year. Whichever player can take more pressure off their quarterback will put their team in the best chance to win this playoff showdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Running Back Battle: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138204' first='Josh' last='Perry']</strong> vs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138204' first='Josh' last='Perry']</strong> from Cleveland is the states top running back and [player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales'] has emerged as one of the best at the position this year. Both players are very important to their teams.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='138204' first='Josh' last='Perry'] </strong>comes into this game with over 1,500 rushing yards this season which is sixth in New Mexico. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales']</strong> comes into this game with three 100+ rushing games this season and is equally as important in the teams passing game as a receiving back. In a game that should get really cold tonight, expect both player to be workhorses for their respective teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebacker Battle: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274701' first='Stratton' last='Shufelt']</strong> vs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269622' first='Nathan' last='Wallin']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274701' first='Stratton' last='Shufelt']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269622' first='Nathan' last='Wallin']</strong> are both the leaders of their respective defenses. They both come into this game being game planned by the opposing coaches. These players can both take over a game by themselves and make their play contagious to their teammates. <strong>Stratton </strong>and <strong>Nathan </strong>can read where the football is going and have great instincts on the field. Don't be surprised if either one of these two make a game-changing play in this game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Free Safety Battle: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270004' first='Devonte' last='Shendo']</strong> vs <strong>Gabriel Pino</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270004' first='Devonte' last='Shendo']</strong> and <strong>Gabriel Pino</strong> are the heartbeat's of the secondary's for each defense. They are both considered lockdown defensive specialists and can change the momentum of a game in a heart beat. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270004' first='Devonte' last='Shendo']</strong> comes into this game with three defensive interceptions this season while <strong>Gabriel Pino</strong> ranked tied for third in New Mexico with seven defensive interceptions. They will make each opposing quarterback think twice before throwing their way down the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>#2 La Cueva vs #3 </strong></em><strong>Centennial</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback Battle: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137862' first='Aidan' last='Armenta'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='340297' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137862' first='Aidan' last='Armenta']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340297' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez'] </strong>squared off against each other back in early September in week three of the young season. The Bears defeated Centennial 28-21 at Wilson Stadium. Both Quarterbacks can make some damage in different ways. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137862' first='Aidan' last='Armenta']</strong> the UNM Lobos Commit; leads the state in passing yards (3,283) and passing touchdowns (40). Whereas [player_tooltip player_id='340297' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez'] is dangerous on his feet running the football and passing the football. Which ever quarterback can finish and execute more drives will be in the drivers seat in this game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wide Receiver Battle: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270020' first='Ian' last='Sanchez']</strong> vs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137930' first='Isaiah' last='Abeyta']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270020' first='Ian' last='Sanchez']</strong> is the states leading Wide Receiver in all three major receiving categories in terms of receptions, yards and receptions. He has accumulated 1,376 receiving yards, 20 receiving touchdowns and 79 receptions going into this playoff matchup. For <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137930' first='Isaiah' last='Abeyta']</strong>, we don't have his official stats (via. MaxPreps) but, he has been a problem all season for opposing defenses. Him and Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340297' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez']</strong> are a solid QB-WR tandem. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Running Back Battle: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269525' first='Gabriel' last='Buie']</strong>, <strong>Miyuh Robertson</strong> and <strong>Cameron Dyer</strong> vs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208691' first='Mikah' last='Gutierrez']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The La Cueva Bears primary running back is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269525' first='Gabriel' last='Buie']</strong> who averaged 102 rushing yards per game in the regular season but they have a trio of players in their backfield. <strong>Miyuh Robertson</strong> and <strong>Cameron Dyer</strong> keep each other fresh and the Bears have multiple weapons on the ground. Centennial's leading back is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208691' first='Mikah' last='Gutierrez']</strong> who is one of the states top backs. Unofficially, he has run for an estimated 1,600 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. Whichever team that controls the tempo of the game will come out victorious. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator -->