Week 5 Whiparound: Top Performances, Best Games and Fun Stuff

Week 5 of the 2023 New Mexico High School football season is complete. Here is our fifth edition of the Weekly Whiparound, which takes a deep dive into everything that happened on the field over the past three days:   Teams of the Week: Bernalillo and Silver. While the Cleveland-Artesia showdown at the Bulldog Bowl was clearly the Game of the Week for Week 5, the next two best games were arguably Class 4A matchups: Silver at Aztec and Moriarty at Bernalillo. Coincidentally, both games ended with the same final score: 14-7. Silver broke through first in the Four Corners when QB [player_tooltip player_id='815932' first='Adan' last='Jacquez'] tossed a 20-yard TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1118045' first='Edgar' last='Melendez'] with four minutes left in the second quarter. The Colts added another TD on Jacquez's TD pass to Ezekiel Torres with less than a minute left in the second quarter for a 14-0 halftime lead. The only points of the second half were scored by Aztec on [player_tooltip player_id='275041' first='Baylor' last='Seabolt']'s 12-yard rushing TD early in the fourth quarter. After recovering a fumble in the red zone, Aztec had an opportunity to drive down the field and tie the score or take the lead. The Tigers drove as far as Silver 5-yard line but an interception by Silver DB [player_tooltip player_id='591998' first='Julian' last='Richard'] in the final minute ended the drama.   Bernalillo (5-0), meanwhile, kept Moriarty's run-dominated Wing-T/Triple option offense in check for most of the game to stay undefeated. Bernalillo struck first in the first quarter on next level prospect [player_tooltip player_id='275206' first='Mason' last='Espinda-McChriston']'s catch-and-run TD. Moriarty scored a rushing TD with 2:32 left in the second quarter for a 7-6 halftime lead. McChriston, though, caught his second TD pass of the night and the 2-pt conversion in the third quarter to give the Spartans a 14-7 lead. Their ‘Goon Squad' defense held Moriarty scoreless for the rest of the game. Bernalillo travels north to Taos Friday for another huge 4A clash. Bernalillo's second half schedule includes Taos, Los Alamos (possible matchup of 6-0 teams), Lovington, Portales and Albuquerque Academy. If the Spartans finish unbeaten (and likely earn a top two or three seed for the 4A playoffs), they will have definitely earned it.   Honorable Mention: Eldorado.        Player of the Week: [player_tooltip player_id='1118257' first='Ethan' last='Conn'], Artesia. On the week's biggest stage, Conn was one of its biggest stars with 9 receptions for 195 yards and 1 TD in Artesia's wild 36-34 victory over Cleveland at the Bulldog Bowl. Conn had a huge third down catch with just over two minutes remaining that gave Artesia a first down deep in Storm territory and allowed the Bulldogs to drain more valuable time off the clock, giving Cleveland little time left when they got the ball back for one final chance to pull out the win.          Honorable Mention: Demarcus Thompson (Lovington); [player_tooltip player_id='275488' first='Elijah' last='Brody'] (West Mesa); [player_tooltip player_id='340165' first='Bryce' last='Sanchez'] (Roswell).   Best Team Offensive Performance/Best Comeback: Eldorado. In a game best described as the supreme ‘Tale of Two Halves,' Eldorado pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in recent memory, erasing a 29-point halftime deficit to stun Clovis, 64-56, in a wildly entertaining game Saturday at Wilson Stadium. Eldorado outscored Clovis, 44-7, in the second half after trailing 49-20 at halftime. The Eagles broke a 56-56 tie with 30 seconds left when QB [player_tooltip player_id='275430' first='Brandon' last='Olivas'] threw a fourth down 16-yard TD pass to WR [player_tooltip player_id='275436' first='Josiah' last='Mitchell']. Eldorado lost, 70-64, to Atrisco Heritage two weeks ago on a final play Hail Mary. Olivas passed for 4 TDs in the win. Eldorado took its first lead at 50-49 and went on to win the game.          Honorable Mention: West Mesa (Beat Atrisco Heritage 74-36 as QB [player_tooltip player_id='275488' first='Elijah' last='Brody'] accounted for 8 TD, 7 rushing).          Best Team Defensive Performance: Cobre. The Indians' run defense led the way in a 47-7 victory over Ruidoso. The Warriors finished with minus-70 rushing yards on 30 attempts. They had 57 passing yards, so Ruidoso finished the game with minus-13 total offensive yards.Cobre is 3-2 with upcoming games against Tularosa and  Socorro.   Honorable Mention: La Cueva.                    Best Game: Dexter 44, Eunice 43. Two of the top teams in 3A (Dexter) and 2A (Eunice) clashed along the NM-Texas border. Eunice jumped out to a 13-0 lead after the first quarter before leading, 21-14, at halftime. The Cardinals built their lead to 28-14 in the third quarter before the Demons mounted a comeback. They scored two TDs and a safety in the final seven minutes of the third quarter to take a 30-28 lead going into the fourth quarter. Eunice regained the lead early in the fourth quarter before Dexter responded with a TD + 2-pt conversion with 5 mins left to take a 38-35 lead. Eunice again regained the lead (43-38) with a TD and 2-point conversion with 2 minutes left. But Dexter quickly drove down the field for the game-winning TD with less than a minute left, capping a wild back-and-forth fourth quarter.           Honorable Mention: Artesia 36, Cleveland 34; Eldorado 64, Clovis 56.   Best Rivalry Win: Las Cruces 44, Mayfield 7. The Bulldawgs won their eighth straight game in one of the state's most fierce rivalries. It was the first victory of the season for Las Cruces (1-4). [player_tooltip player_id='1137388' first='Daniel' last='Amaro'] got the Bulldawgs started with a punt return for a touchdown early in the first quarter and Las Cruces never looked back.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ColinDeaverTV/status/1702925445081993402?s=20 </div></figure>   Artesia, Roswell On Collision Course: Mark your calendars – Artesia at Roswell, Oct. 13 at the Wool Bowl. It's the next Game of the Year. Artesia's 36-34 victory over Cleveland has been well documented. Roswell improved to 5-0 with their fourth straight victory over a Class 6A program as a result of Friday's impressive 41-7 road victory over Carlsbad. RB [player_tooltip player_id='340165' first='Bryce' last='Sanchez'] spearheaded the Coyotes offense with 29 carries for 242 yards while QB [player_tooltip player_id='590316' first='Manny' last='Fuentez'] threw for 252 yards and 4 TD. The Coyotes have an array of weapons on both sides of the ball. The Oct. 13 showdown should be a collision between two of the top three teams in the state.   La Cueva is Back; Volcano Vista Rebounds: A long-running gag in the college football world is to ask ‘Is Texas Back' whenever the Longhorns win a game. Altered slightly, the same question could be asked of Class 6A power La Cueva, which started 0-3 with a forfeit loss to Rio Rancho and on-the-field setbacks to Cleveland and Centennial. But the Bears have bounced back strong with consecutive lopsided victories over Volcano Vista in Week 4 and a decisive 45-6 weather-delayed win over Los Lunas on Friday at Wilson Stadium. The Bears scored TDs in all three phases, jumping out to a 42-0 lead (28-0 at halftime) over the Tigers. Speedy [player_tooltip player_id='853013' first='Tanner' last='Montano'] (100 meters in under 11 seconds) returned the second half kickoff 90 yards for a TD. Right now, La Cueva is 2-3 and looks every bit the 6A title contender we expected them to be prior to the season.   Volcano Vista knocked Sandia from the unbeaten ranks with a 30-14 victory a week after the Hawks were soundly beaten by La Cueva. Volcano Vista got back to doing what it does best on offense – handing the ball off to RB [player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales']. He had 187 rushing yards and 1 TD on 25 carries against the Matadors defense. Overall, Volcano Vista ran the ball 45 times in the win. Volcano Vista faces Eldorado Saturday morning (11 am kickoff) in Week 6.          Who's Still Unbeaten?: Entering Week 6, eight teams have yet to lose a game this season, none in 6A. Here is the breakdown by classification:   6A (0): None.   5A (3): Artesia, Los Alamos, Roswell;    4A (3): Bernalillo, Bloomfield, Portales;   3A (2): Cuba, Dexter;   2A (0): None.   Los Alamos stayed unbeaten with a 45-7 victory over Pojoaque Valley, scoring the final 38 points of the game after a tight first quarter ended in a 7-7 deadlock. The Hilltoppers have largely ridden a strong defense to a 5-0 record. Los Alamos has allowed just two touchdowns to opposing offenses in the first five games. However, the game ended on a sour note for Los Alamos as elite WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='590222' first='Melaki' last='Gutierrez'] was ejected on the game's final play for targeting and he now faces a one-game suspension. The final 5 games for the Hilltoppers are all against Albuquerque Metro Region schools: Albuquerque Academy, Bernalillo, Manzano, Valley and Del Norte. Based on how the first five weeks have gone, it's fair to say the road trip to Valley on Thur. Oct 19 will decide the district championship.   Portales again relied on a its fast, aggressive defense to improve to 5-0. The Rams defense has posted FOUR shutouts in 5 games this season, including Week 5's 41-0 blanking of St. Pius X at Greyhound Stadium. [player_tooltip player_id='275478' first='Devin' last='Diaz'] (88 rushing yards) and [player_tooltip player_id='1103853' first='Zach' last='Radloff'] (64 yards) sparked a balanced rushing attack. Junior LB [player_tooltip player_id='613053' first='Manny' last='Chavez'] led the defense with 9 tackles. Halfway through the season, he has 51 tackles, pushing his impressive career total to 285.   In Class 3A, Cuba and Dexter are the two teams left with unblemished records. Cuba scored 13 unanswered points in the second half to edge Tohatchi, 20-13, while Dexter slipped past Eunice, 44-43 (see above).      Focus On The Four Corners: Kirtland Central traveled to Albuquerque Saturday for a matchup with winless Rio Grande. The Broncos controlled the game from the outset, rushed for 201 yards and posted a mercy-rule 57-6 win over the Ravens at Milne Stadium. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1103787' first='Tyler' last='Joe'] threw for 180 yards. . .Farmington (4-1) cruised to its second straight shutout victory, 50-0, over Albuquerque High at Hutchinson Stadium. QB [player_tooltip player_id='274791' first='Trel' last='Griego'] threw for 308 yards and 5 TD in the lopsided win. . .Piedra Vista made the long journey to the Wool Bowl in Roswell for the third time in the last calendar year and came away with a 21-7 victory over Goddard for its first victory of the season. Piedra Vista led, 7-0, at halftime before expanding the lead to 13-0 in the third quarter on a TD by Brenn Hurd. Goddard scored its only TD on a run by RB [player_tooltip player_id='274787' first='Jonathan' last='Silva']. However, fumbles on two punt returns in the fourth cost the Rockets multiple opportunities to even the score. . . Unbeaten Bloomfield (4-0) had a bye and travels to Valencia in Week 6.   Hobbs Is Happy: Hobbs snapped its three-game losing streak with a 24-21 victory over Rio Rancho in a game played at Cleveland's Thunderbolt Stadium due to a power outage at Rio Rancho High School. It was Hobbs' first win in the City of Rancho since 2009. Eagles QB [player_tooltip player_id='817391' first='Owen' last='Callaway'] (182 passing yards) threw a 15-yard TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='592369' first='Jeremiah' last='Jaquez'] and a 60-yard TD to D'Shawn Franklin. Hobbs led, 17-14, after three quarters and scored the first points of the 4Q on RB [player_tooltip player_id='1103655' first='Saul' last='Armendariz']'s 14-yard run. Rio Rancho scored to make it 24-21 and recovered the onsides kick but couldn't do anything with it. Hobbs got the ball back and ran out the clock by converting a pair of fourth down plays.     Finally, This: Gadsden (4-1) continued its impressive season with a 40-7 victory over 6A Organ Mountain. The Gadsden defense has allowed just 25 points in the first five games. Panthers QB [player_tooltip player_id='1119637' first='Adrian' last='Munoz'] completed 12-of-18 passes for 251 yards and 3 TD while RB [player_tooltip player_id='615673' first='Alfredo' last='Andrade'] rushed for 101 yards on 11 carries. [player_tooltip player_id='615426' first='Alex' last='Lopez'] had 10 tackles on defense. Gadsden hosts Goddard Thursday night. . .If we handed out an award for Hard Luck Team of the Year, Capital would likely get it. After dropping a 20-14 decision to Albuquerque Academy Saturday, the Jaguars have now lost four games by a total of 24 points this season. The Chargers, who grabbed an early 7-0 lead over Capital on QB [player_tooltip player_id='851898' first='Gage' last='Conway']'s 59-yard TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1137120' first='Finn' last='Thompson'], improved to 3-2 and face a huge test next weekend when they travel to undefeated 5A Los Alamos in their next-to-last non-district contest. . . Grants snapped a two-game losing streak with a 35-18 victory over Hope Christian Saturday at Community Stadium. Grants led, 14-10, at halftime and dominated the second half. . .Santa Fe finally broke into the win column for the first time since September of last year with a 42-31 home victory over Manzano at picturesque Ivan Head Stadium. QB Michael Abeyta (career high 250 passing yards and 3 TD) directed an offense that totaled 415 yards while the Demons defense forced three turnovers by the Monarchs. . .4A Valencia improved to 3-1 with a 51-13 road victory at 5A Santa Teresa as Jaguars RB [player_tooltip player_id='1103800' first='Daniel' last='Villegas'] rushed for 172 yards on 22 carries. . .West Las Vegas trounced Wingate, 55-0, Saturday, grabbing a 36-0 lead after the first quarter. The Dons are 3-2 and have one district game left before starting District 3A-2 play Sept. 30 at St. Michael's. . .Belen is reportedly appealing the decision of the NMAA requiring them to forfeit Friday night's game against Deming.   Lovington traveled to nearby Denver City, TX and knocked off the home team, 51-48. Wildcats QB [player_tooltip player_id='275459' first='Wyatt' last='Gomez'] threw for 352 yards and 5 TD while [player_tooltip player_id='613065' first='Camon' last='Ochoa'] gained 83 yards on 9 rushes. Demarcus Thompson had 7 catches for 157 yards and 3 TD and made 8 tackles on defense. . .Alamogordo's rally fell short in a 35-28 loss to El Paso (TX) Riverside. Tigers RB [player_tooltip player_id='1103183' first='Anthony' last='Audette'] rushed for 188 yards and 2 TD on 21 carries. . .Raton QB [player_tooltip player_id='1103773' first='Jacob' last='Mattorano'] threw for 244 yards and 2 TD on 12-of-20 passing as the Tigers downed Escalante, 33-6, in a northern New Mexico battle. [player_tooltip player_id='613159' first='Cannon' last='Walton'], younger brother of Cayden Walton, rushed 12 times for 61 yards. . .5A Highland won its first game of the year with a 54-32 victory over Del Norte. RB Amari Mumba rushed for 210 yards and 4 TD on 21 carries for the Hornets while [player_tooltip player_id='615426' first='Alex' last='Lopez'] made 20 tackles for the Hornets defense. . .In 2A, McCurdy improved to 3-1 with a 44-15 victory over 3A Santa Fe Indian School. . .Crownpoint edged Newcomb, 12-6, scoring two TD on a Pick-6 and 55-yard rushing TD by [player_tooltip player_id='1103825' first='Tydon' last='Tsosie']. The Crownpoint defense stopped Newcomb three times in the fourth quarter (turnover on downs + 2 punts). . .Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='275462' first='Kaleb' last='Rodriguez'] completed 17-of-23 passes for 216 yards and 3 TD and RBs [player_tooltip player_id='854281' first='Bobby' last='Parraz'] and Edgar Zacarias both gained 100+ yards on the ground to lead Loving past Mescalero Apache, 53-6. . .Socorro QB [player_tooltip player_id='613184' first='Isaiah' last='Ocampo'] passed for 200 yards and rushed for 94 more as the Warriors nipped Miyamura, 28-27. . .Espanola Valley RB Adrick Deleon rushed for 182 yards on just 6 carries as the Sundevils trounced Gallup, 58-0. Espanola Valley rushed for 292 yards. . .NMMI RB [player_tooltip player_id='1119319' first='Cohen' last='Tomasits'] rushed for 156 yards as the Colts beat Hot Springs, 41-8. NMMI ran the ball 42 times in the game. . .Hatch Valley outscored Chaparral, 25-12, in the second half for a 37-19 road victory over the Lobos. . .The Santa Rosa duo of RB [player_tooltip player_id='275599' first='Nicolas' last='Chavez'] (154 rushing yards) and QB [player_tooltip player_id='275567' first='Jykub' last='Gage'] (150) combined for 304 rushing yards in a 40-0 win over Tucumcari.   Week 6 Top Games (Sept. 21-23)   Lovington at Artesia   Volcano Vista at Eldorado   Aztec at St. Michael's (Sat.)   Grants at Kirtland Central   Bloomfield at Valencia   Valley at Los Lunas   Farmington at Rio Rancho   Robertson at Dexter   Raton at Socorro   Albuquerque Academy at Los Alamos   Clovis at Roswell   Bernalillo at Taos   Portales at Eunice   Silver at Deming   Goddard at Gadsden (Thur.)   Albuquerque High at La Cueva (Thur.)   Frenship (TX) at Cleveland   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jeffmatthews22/status/1703191055158612445?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/CHSStormFB/status/1702915010698334502?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/CoachOrtizCOLTS/status/1703174520188940702?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/artesiafootball/status/1702890914895565138?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/EldoEaglesFB/status/1703183520276123709?s=20 </div></figure>

Week 5 of the 2023 New Mexico High School football season is complete. Here is our fifth edition of the Weekly Whiparound, which takes a deep dive into everything that happened on the field over the past three days: