20 Players To Watch In NMHSCA Large School All Star Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022 New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) Large School Red vs. Green All-Star Game scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Bulldog Bowl in Artesia features many of the finest high school football players in the state, including QB [player_tooltip player_id='137862' first='Aidan' last='Armenta'] (La Cueva), QB [player_tooltip player_id='139521' first='Evan' last='Wysong'] (Cleveland), RB [player_tooltip player_id='269525' first='Gabriel' last='Buie'] (La Cueva), WR [player_tooltip player_id='137921' first='Kaden' last='Trevino'] (Hobbs), QB Paul Cieremens (Los Lunas), QB Elliot Pasket-Bell (Volcano Vista), RB [player_tooltip player_id='208691' first='Mikah' last='Gutierrez'] (Centennial) and many more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some more players to watch on Saturday (listed in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137930' first='Isaiah' last='Abeyta'], Centennial</strong>: The Hawks relied extensively on RB [player_tooltip player_id='208691' first='Mikah' last='Gutierrez'] to carry the offensive load this season but when they threw the football, it usually landed in the arms of Abeyta. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138043' first='Eli' last='Asay'], Carlsbad</strong>: In 2021, Asay was a wide receiver. This season, he moved to RB when first year head coach Oliver Soukup installed a run-heavy offensive scheme. His speeds stands out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138072' first='Michael' last='Ash'], Bernalillo</strong>: &nbsp;Ash set a new state record for most tackles in a single game earlier this season when he collected 27 against Del Norte from his defensive tackle spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='335475' first='Kaden' last='Bell'], Los Lunas</strong>: The top kicker in the state. The football booms off his foot, whether its field goal, extra point, kickoff or punt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269966' first='Jabulani' last='Cooper'], Albuquerque High</strong>: Cooper is one of the fastest players in the state with 4.5 in the 40. He has offers from all 3 D-II team in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137932' first='Payton' last='Deans'], Artesia</strong>: Back in July, Deans was taking snaps at QB for the Bulldogs. But Ney Estrada emerged and Deans became a defensive standout for Artesia at DE/OLB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270023' first='Izaiah' last='Gonzalez'], Centennial</strong>: One of the top offensive linemen in the state. Paved the way for RB Mikah Gonzalez all season long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208819' first='Aidan' last='Granado'], Silver</strong>: Granado is one of the top two-way players in Class 4A. Excelled as a RB and DB. Helped lead the Colts to the Class 4A championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Jinzo, West Mesa</strong>: Jinzo was part of one of the top passing attacks in 6A this season, catching 32 passes for 484 yards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138047' first='Chris' last='Johnson'], West Mesa</strong>: Johnson was the No. 1 receiver for the Mustangs, catching 46 passes for 1,028 yards. Runs crisp routes and has velcro hands. Rarely drops the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269511' first='Chris' last='Montoya'], Rio Rancho</strong>: Rio Rancho's defense was solid for most of the season and Montoya led the way in tackles and big plays. Fearless tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137935' first='Brayden' last='Mummert'], Cibola</strong>: The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Mummert caught 48 passes for Cibola this past season and has the potential to become a major offensive weapon at the next level. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269559' first='Teke' last='Nieto'], Los Alamos</strong>: One of the most unheralded players in the state, and definitely one of the top players in northern New Mexico. Dangerous with the ball in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fabian Reyna, Deming</strong>: Reyna helped the Wildcats reach the Class 5A semifinals with his rushing and pass catching skills.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='335476' first='Cole' last='Runyan'], Centennial</strong>: Besides having a prolific offense, the Hawks had an array of talent on the defensive side starting with the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Runyan. Great size for safety at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233603' first='Celestino' last='Reyes'], La Cueva</strong>: One of the top OL/DL in the state as he protected QB [player_tooltip player_id='137862' first='Aidan' last='Armenta'] on offense and terrorized opposing offenses on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138050' first='Kenyon' last='Singleton'], Hobbs</strong>: Singleton has been one of the top linebackers in the state for 2 years. In 2021, he had 132 tackles from his linebacker spot. This season, he increased that number to 132 tackles. Add in the 27 tackles he had as a sophomore and Singleton finished his career with 296 tackles. Impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269975' first='Christian' last='Valenzuela'], Organ Mountain</strong>: It was a very difficult and stressful season for Organ Mountain considering everything the players faced from the tragic injury and passing of teammate Abe Romero to four losses by seven points or less. But Valenzuela is one of the top DL in southern New Mexico and he shined through the adversity &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270048' first='Dax' last='Vigil'], Piedra Vista</strong>: Piedra Vista was THE surprise team in Class 5A this season as the Panthers advanced all the way to the state championship game against Artesia. Vigil was an outstanding RB and DB for Piedra Vista along with QB Logan Howell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269622' first='Nathan' last='Wallin'], Volcano Vista</strong>: Wallin was one of the top linebackers in Albuquerque this season as he helped Volcano Vista post a 10-3 record by making 111 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 6 QB hurries    and 2 forced fumbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NMHSCA/status/1597051028649947138","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NMHSCA/status/1597051028649947138 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NMHSCA/status/1596887655979003905","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NMHSCA/status/1596887655979003905 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->