Week 4 Whiparound: Top Performances, Best Games and Fun Stuff

Week 4 of the 2023 New Mexico High School football season is complete. Here is our fourth edition of the Weekly Whiparound, which takes a deep dive into everything that happened on the field over the past three days:   Team of the Week: Lovington. Only infrequently does a Class 4A team beat a Class 6A team. Rarer still is a 4A team beating a 6A team on the road, especially a traditional blue blood program. But that's what happened Friday night in Hobbs as Lovington earned a hard-fought 26-23 victory over the struggling Eagles. Wildcats QB [player_tooltip player_id='275459' first='Wyatt' last='Gomez'] threw for 239 yards and 4 TD while RB [player_tooltip player_id='613065' first='Camon' last='Ochoa'] rushed for 122 yards on 18 carries to spark the Lovington offense. Lovington jumped out to a 19-7 halftime lead and added a TD in the third quarter on Gomez's 40-yard TD pass for a 26-7 advantage before Hobbs mounted a comeback. Hobbs had the ball twice in the fourth quarter with a chance to go ahead but the Lovington defense came up with two interceptions to secure the victory. The road victory over a 6A program catapulted Lovington to the No. 1 spot in the latest MaxPreps Class 4A poll (see below). The Wildcats also jumped 12 spots in the statewide poll to No. 11. Lovington travels to Denver City (TX) Friday night.   Honorable Mention: Roswell; La Cueva, Dexter.         Player of the Week: [player_tooltip player_id='340165' first='Bryce' last='Sanchez'], Roswell. In the state's biggest game of Week 4, Sanchez and the Coyotes offense brought its ‘A' game to an empathic 34-7 victory over Los Lunas at the Wool Bowl. Sanchez rushed for 123 yards and 2 TD on 27 carries to lift the Roswell offense, which has scored 34 or more points in all four games this season.   Honorable Mention: Ryan Spencer (Bloomfield); [player_tooltip player_id='275488' first='Elijah' last='Brody'] (West Mesa); [player_tooltip player_id='611098' first='Cameron' last='Dyer'] (La Cueva); [player_tooltip player_id='275599' first='Nicolas' last='Chavez'] (Santa Trosa); [player_tooltip player_id='275430' first='Brandon' last='Olivas'] (Eldorado); Karter Weddle (Cleveland).   Best Team Offensive Performance: West Las Vegas. It's been an up-and-down season for the Dons, who improved to 2-2 with a 48-11 victory over Espanola Valley. But WLV's offense was in high gear against the Sundevils, totaling 489 yards in offense. QB C.J. Perea passed for 231 yards on 12-of-22 passing while a balanced rushing attack amassed 258 yards on the ground.               Best Team Defensive Performance: Roswell. Not only was [player_tooltip player_id='340165' first='Bryce' last='Sanchez'] and the Roswell offense clicking on Friday night but so was the Coyotes defense. Los Lunas was held to 170 total yards, just 64 on the ground on 25 carries. The Tigers averaged less than 3.0 yards per carry. They also completed just 6-of-19 passes. Roswell's defense has been ferocious all season long.      Best Game: Navajo Prep 28, Crownpoint 26. This was a close, hard-fought game the entire way with the largest lead for either team (both teams are nicknamed the Eagles) being 8 points. Crownpoint scored on next level prospect [player_tooltip player_id='817453' first='Jonathan' last='Antonio']'s 2-yard run to take a 26-22 lead early in the fourth quarter. About a minute later, Navajo Prep took the lead for good on Joshua Wells' 65-yard TD run. But the two-point conversion failed, giving Crownpoint an opportunity to win the game with a field goal. Crownpoint drove to the Navajo Prep's 20-yard line with 2 minutes left but the Eagles' defense stiffened and forced a turnover on downs, sealing the victory for Navajo Prep.                        Honorable Mention: Alamogordo 21, Capital 14; West Mesa 43, Albuquerque High 35; Bernalillo 18, Highland 14; Socorro 29, Hope Christian 21; Santa Rosa 34, Tularosa 28; Estancia 40, Escalante 37; Lovington 26, Hobbs 23.     Big Two In 5A: After four weeks, you get the feeling it's Artesia and Roswell and everybody else in Class 5A, although No. 3 Goddard (3-1) gets an opportunity to play both teams when district play starts. Two other teams – Gadsden and Los Alamos – are lurking. But it's undisputable Artesia and Roswell have been dominant all season. The Bulldogs whipped Deming, 54-26, on the road. Artesia has scored 42+ points in all 4 games this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1118283' first='Frankie' last='Galindo'] scored 4 TD for Artesia against the Wildcats. Friday, the Bulldogs host Cleveland in a massive 6A/5A matchup. Roswell's victory over Los Lunas catapulted the Coyotes ahead of Artesia into the No. 1 spot in the latest MaxPreps 5A poll.   Latest MaxPreps Class 5A Rankings - As of Sunday, Sept. 10   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-10-at-19-30-22-New-Mexico-Class-5A-High-School-Football-Rankings-Football.png?w=557" alt="" class="wp-image-989244" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: MaxPreps</figcaption></figure>   Parity In 4A: Class 4A is currently the most competitive classification in New Mexico High School football. Right now, there are AT LEAST seven schools that rightfully have legitimate championship aspirations – Aztec, Bernalillo, Bloomfield, Lovington, Portales, Silver and Moriarty. Bernalillo hosts Moriarty in a monster matchup on Friday. Silver hosts Bloomfield on Oct. 6. . .Bernalillo won an 18-14 slugfest over Highland. Spartans QB [player_tooltip player_id='615632' first='Uriel' last='Castro'] threw for 177 yards and 1 TD for Bernalillo while two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='275206' first='Mason' last='Espinda-McChriston'] collected 13 tackles and 5 receptions for 70 yards. . .Bloomfield blasted Albuquerque Academy, 41-0, as QB Ryan Spencer completed 21-of-25 passes for 299 yards and 5 TD. . .Portales mercy-ruled Valencia, 51-0, as the Rams defense posted its third shutout of the season. . .Moriarty, one of the most underrated and mysterious teams in the state (based on their lack of media coverage), outlasted Grants, 21-13, to improve to 4-0. . .In Silver City, the Silver Fightin' Colts defense forced five turnovers in a 35-0 victory over 6A Santa Fe as the Demons continued to struggle on defense. They have scored six or fewer points in three of their first four games. For Silver, QB [player_tooltip player_id='815932' first='Adan' last='Jacquez'] threw for 195 yards, ran for 116 more and accounted for 3 TD.      First Wins: Clovis and La Cueva registered their first wins of the season on Friday. Clovis beat Carlsbad, 33-23, at Leon Williams Stadium. The Wildcats rushed for 304 yards, led by [player_tooltip player_id='275376' first='Jett' last='Stone'] with 154 yards on 22 carries. . .La Cueva, which beat Rio Rancho in the season opener but later forfeited the victory, upended Volcano Vista, 49-21.  QB [player_tooltip player_id='611098' first='Cameron' last='Dyer'] raced 42 yards for a TD and OLB [player_tooltip player_id='611083' first='Mason' last='Posa'], who picked up several Power 5 offers last week, scored on a 55-yard scoop-and-score fumble recovery to give the Bears an early 14-0 lead. When Volcano Vista scored on [player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales']' 1-yard TD run to cut the deficit to 7 points, dynamic WR/KR Kobe McGill returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a TD. La Cueva added three more TDs (2 TD passes by Dyer) before the second quarter ended for a surprising 42-7 halftime lead.     DH at The Field of Dreams: Because of the referee shortage in New Mexico, Saturday saw a rare high school football doubleheader at Field of Dreams. In the morning opener, Rio Rancho improved to 3-1 with a 34-7 victory over winless Organ Mountain. [player_tooltip player_id='590564' first='Anthony' last='Raymer'] scored three TD as the Rams grabbed a 21-7 halftime lead. Organ Mountain's defense kept the Knights in the game going into the second half but their offense generated little against a solid Rio Rancho defense. . .In the nightcap, Centennial blanked Mayfield, 42-0. Hawks QB Daniel Hernadez, one of the hottest players in the state, ran for a TD and threw for two more as Centennial jumped out to a 21-0 lead. Emerging 6-foot-4 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1037108' first='Jesus' last='Barraza'] ran for 3 TD for Centennial, which cemented its claim as the No. 2 team in Class 6A behind Cleveland.              North Vs. South In 3A: The top eight teams in Class 3A polls are equally divided between north and south. The four northern teams are St. Michael's, Robertson, Raton and West Las Vegas. The four southern based schools are Dexter, Socorro, Ruidoso and Cobre. St. Michael's will likely stay No. 1 in the polls despite a 28-7 road loss at Los Alamos. [player_tooltip player_id='275066' first='Matthias' last='Duran'], arguably the Horsemen's best offensive player, missed the game with a knee injury. . .No. 2 Robertson blanked Ruidoso, 51-0. Dexter is a team to watch. The Demons are 4-0 after a 30-6 road win at 2A Jal. Circle this game on your calendar: Robertson at Dexter, Sept. 22. . .No. 4 Socorro improved to 3-1 with a hard-fought 29-21 home victory over Hope Christian on Thursday. Socorro jumped out to a 14-0 before the Huskies rallied to tie the score at 21-21. Socorro QB [player_tooltip player_id='613184' first='Isaiah' last='Ocampo'] threw for three TDs and ran for a fourth. With so many contending teams, the 3A playoffs are setting up to be a battle royale.   Latest MaxPreps Class 4A Rankings - As of Sunday, Sept. 10   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-10-at-19-34-56-New-Mexico-Class-4A-High-School-Football-Rankings-Football.png?w=555" alt="" class="wp-image-989245" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: MaxPreps</figcaption></figure>   Who's 4-0?: Entering Week 5, 12 teams are 4-0, just one in Class 6A. Here is the breakdown by classification:   6A (1): Sandia   5A (3): Artesia, Los Alamos, Roswell;    4A (4): Bernalillo, Bloomfield, Moriarty, Portales;   3A (2): Cuba, Dexter;   2A (2): Eunice, Texico.   How many people predicted before the season started that Sandia would be the last undefeated team in Class 6A? Zero. The Matadors had a bye in Week 4 and face Volcano Vista Thur. night at Community Stadium. . . .Besides 5A's ‘Big 2' of Artesia and Roswell, Los Alamos improved to 4-0 with a 28-7 home win over St. Michael's in a battle between Northern New Mexico's last unbeaten teams. [player_tooltip player_id='1103818' first='Niko' last='Garcia'] scored three TDs for the Hilltoppers, all in the first half. There was no scoring in the second half as both defenses held firm.       Focus On The Four Corners: Farmington bounced back from last week's home loss to Los Lunas by blanking Cibola, 39-0, at Community Stadium in Albuquerque. Scorpions QB [player_tooltip player_id='274791' first='Trel' last='Griego'], one of the biggest players at his position in the state, ran for three TDs and threw for another as Farmington improved to 3-1. The Scorpions limited Cibola to 77 total offensive yards. Griego finished 30-of-49 passing for 305 yards. Farmington hosts Albuquerque High Friday night. . .Previously unbeaten Aztec lost at local rival Durango (CO), 41-7. Aztec's next three games are home vs. Silver, at St. Michael's and home vs. Taos. . .Piedra Vista lost, 41-19, on the road at Eldorado as Eagles WR [player_tooltip player_id='275436' first='Josiah' last='Mitchell'] caught 4 TD passes from QB [player_tooltip player_id='275430' first='Brandon' last='Olivas'], who finished with 389 passing yards and 5 TD for Eldorado.        Finally, This: Cleveland (3-1) retained their No. 1 spot in the MaxPreps statewide and 6A polls after a convincing 42-13 victory over Las Cruces. Karter Weddle scored four touchdowns for the Storm, two receptions (62 and 34 yards) and two  punt returns of 67 and 46 yards. QB Jordan Hatch returned to action after missing last week's OT game against Amarillo (TX). Cleveland led 42-6 at halftime and cruised home in the second half, which began with a running clock. . .Valley and Belen were given ‘strikes' under the NMMA's new ‘two strike' policy and will forfeit their next games after what was described as a ‘melee' broke out in the fourth quarter of Valley's 33-7 victory. Belen had been scheduled to play at Deming Friday night. Valley's next scheduled game was Sept. 22 at Los Lunas. . .Alamogordo made the long trip to Santa Fe Thursday and held off Capital, 21-14. The Tigers led, 18-0, at halftime and kicked a field goal to expand the lead in the third quarter. Capital scored two touchdowns within a 42-second span in the third quarter to climb within seven points but the Alamogordo defense held the Jaguars scoreless the rest of the way. The Tigers are 3-1 and travel to El Paso (TX) Riverside Friday. . .Atrisco Heritage amassed 574 yards in total offense in a 54-17 victory over Manzano at Wilson Stadium. [player_tooltip player_id='611116' first='Latavious' last='Morris'] threw for 268 yards and 3 TD for the Jaguars. Last season's starting QB, [player_tooltip player_id='275207' first='Dean' last='Marquez'], made his season debut for Atrisco after suffering a serious injury late last season. Marquez was 2-for-2 for 13 yards. Manzano QB [player_tooltip player_id='1258970' first='James' last='Vautier'] passed for 215 yards. . .West Mesa QB [player_tooltip player_id='275488' first='Elijah' last='Brody'] contributed in several ways as the Mustangs beat Albuquerque High, 43-35, in a Community Stadium shootout. Brody ran for 3 TD, passed for two TD and intercepted a pass on defense. Brody led West Mesa on a decisive 16-play, 80-yard drive towards the go-ahead TD with 3 minutes remaining in the game. The drive, which drained 7-1/2 minutes off the clock, ended with RB [player_tooltip player_id='817244' first='Marcus' last='Sharp']'s 3-yard TD run. . .In a Class 2A showdown, Santa Rosa edged Tularosa, 34-28, as dynamic RB [player_tooltip player_id='275599' first='Nicolas' last='Chavez'] rushed for 199 yards on a workhorse 26 carries. Santa Rosa is ranked No. 3 in the latest MaxPreps 2A poll behind two 4-0 teams – Texico and Eunice. Those two unbeaten teams square off Sept. 29 at Eunice. In Week 4, Eunice trounced Hot Springs, 54-0 while Texico edged Olton (TX), 36-34. . .Cobre went on the road and beat 5A Santa Teresa, 34-12, holding the Desert Warriors to just 82 yards passing.                                   Week 5 Top Games (Sept. 14-16)   Cleveland at Artesia (Game of the Week)   Moriarty at Bernalillo   Silver at Aztec   Los Lunas at La Cueva   Atrisco Heritage at West Mesa   Sandia at Volcano Vista (Thur.)   Hobbs at Rio Rancho   Las Cruces at Mayfield   Cuba at Tohatchi   Dexter at Eunice   Los Alamos at Pojoaque Valley   St. Pius X at Portales   Alamogordo at El Paso (TX) Riverside   Lovington at Denver City (TX)   Texico at Farwell (TX)   Latest Maxpreps Statewide Poll - As of Sun., Sept. 10   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Screenshot-2023-09-10-at-19-41-02-New-Mexico-High-School-Football-Rankings.png?w=509" alt="" class="wp-image-989246" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: MaxPreps</figcaption></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1700751090285957208?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CoachCarlos62/status/1701048633200881692?s=20 </div></figure>              <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1700485134045401163?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CoachGonzo96/status/1700689489168064899?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BoykinTrain/status/1701004565288784218?s=20 </div></figure>

Week 4 of the 2023 New Mexico High School football season is complete. Here is our fourth edition of the Weekly Whiparound, which takes a deep dive into everything that happened on the field over the past three days: