Fantastic Forty: Top Performers of Week 10
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Week 10 of the 2023 New Mexico High School Football season is in the books. Here’s our list of the week’s top performers (in alphabetical order), something we’re calling the Fantastic Forty: Alfredo Andrade Alfredo Andrade 5'6" | RB Gadsden…
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Continue ReadingWeek 10 of the 2023 New Mexico High School Football season is in the books. Here’s our list of the week’s top performers (in alphabetical order), something we’re calling the Fantastic Forty:
Alfredo Andrade Alfredo Andrade 5'6" | RB Gadsden | 2025 State NM , Gadsden: Rushed for 173 yards and 2 TD on 19 carries as Gadsden beat rival Santa Teresa, 28-7, to set up a winner-take-all district championship game against Deming Friday night.
JJ Arellano JJ Arellano 5'11" | 165 lbs | QB Rio Rancho | 2025 State NM , Rio Rancho: Arellano ran for the game-winning TD with lessthan a minute remaining to left Rio Rancho past Volcano Vista. He finished with 148 yards passing.
Anthony Audette Anthony Audette 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Alamogordo | 2024 State NM , Alamogordo: Rushed for 131 yards on 16 carries in a loss to Centennial.
Justin Black, Hobbs: Hobbs pummeled Organ Mountain, 58-10, in a must-win game for the Eagles if they want to earn an at-large berth into he 6A playoffs. Black had 5 receptions for 190 yards and 1 TD.
Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: The Mustangs QB continue to excel with his legs. In West Mesa’s 57-0 trouncing of Rio Grande, Brody averaged 60 yards per rushing attempt, finishing with 180 yards overall. He is currently the state’s fifth-leading rusher with 1,401 yards.
Manny Chavez Manny Chavez 5'11" | 170 lbs | LB Portales | 2025 State NM , Portales: Chavez is the leader of a dynamic Portales defense that has blanked six of nine opponents this season. The latest shutout came Friday night in a 38-0 win at Bernalillo. Chavez collected 15 tackles and 3 sacks and he now has 94 tackles on the season.
Nicolas Chavez Nicolas Chavez 5'9" | 150 lbs | RB Santa Rosa | 2024 State NM , Santa Rosa: One of the state’s best two-way players did it again in the Lions’ 55-0 win over Escalante. Chavez rushed for 187 yards and 3 TD on 14 carries and added 10 tackles on defense.
Tru Camejo, Ruidoso: While the 2023 season has been a rough one for the defending Class 3A champions, Camejo is one of several young promising players for the Warriors. He rushed for 123 yards on 15 carries against Hope Christian.
Ethan Conn Ethan Conn 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Artesia | 2025 State NM , Artesia: Conn scored four touchdowns in the first half of Artesia’s 54-14 victory over Goddard, a win that came one week after the Bulldogs lost to Roswell at the Wool Bowl. His final TD of the first half was a 4-yard run late in the second quarter that gave the Bulldogs a 34-0 lead.
Paxton Culpepper Paxton Culpepper 6'0" | 150 lbs | QB Portales | 2025 State NM , Portales: Culpepper completed 13-of-19 passes for 235 yards and 3 TD in the 38-0 win over Bernalillo.
Zaiden Davis, Centennial: Again filling in at quarterback for the Hawks, Davis threw for 136 yards and rushed for 112 yards on 7 carries in a 42-21 victory over Alamogordo. Centennial will play Las Cruces in a winner-take-all district championship game Friday night at Field of Dreams.
Adrick Deleon, Espanola Valley: Deleon and his teammates are the talk of Espanola this week as they seek an undisputed district title and an automatic berth into the Class 4A playoffs. Deleon rushed for 205 yards and 2 TD on 15 carries in a 50-0 mercy-rule win over Moriarty.
Nye Estrada Nye Estrada 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB Artesia | 2024 State NM , Artesia: Except for the Bulldogs’ loss at Roswell, Estrada has enjoyed a sensational senior campaign. In Artesia’s 54-14 bounce back win over Goddard, Estrada completed 18-of-26 passes for 218 yards and 6 TD with zero interceptions..
Jett Galles Jett Galles RB Albuquerque Academy | 2025 State NM , Albuquerque Academy: Galles has emerged this season as one of the most dynamic offensive players in the Albuquerque Metro region. In Week 11, he broke off an 85-yard TD run against Lovington and finished with 139 yards on 13 carries. The Chargers have a key game Friday against Bernalillo.
Luis Gomez Luis Gomez 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Eunice | 2025 State NM , Eunice: Collected 13 tackles and 1 interception in Eunice’s district championship-clinching win over Loving.
Wyatt Gomez Wyatt Gomez 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Lovington | 2024 State NM , Lovington: Lovington made its only trip to Albuquerque this season to face district rival Albuquerque Academy. The Wildcats offense didn’t disappoint in a 43-26 victory over the Chargers. Gomez completed 28-of-48 passes for 240 yards and 5 TD. Lovington hosts Portales in a winner-take-all district championship game Friday night.
Jesse James Gonzales, Robertson: Gonzales led Robertson to an important 37-14 road victory at Raton with 195 yards passing + 178 yards rushing on 19 carries. Robertson faces crosstown rival West Las Vegas Saturday at noon.
CJ Granados CJ Granados 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Dexter | 2027 State NM , Dexter: The freshman QB passed for 301 yards and 4 TD in Dexter’s lopsided win over Tucumcari.
E.J. Guerra, Organ Mountain: Two receptions for 82 yards in Organ Mountain’s loss to Hobbs.
Landyn Hiles Landyn Hiles RB Mescalero Apache | 2026 State NM , Mescalero Apache: Scored two rushing TDs and returned an interception 60 yards for another score in Mescalero Apache’s 48-6 win over Capitan.
Adan Jacquez Adan Jacquez 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB Silver | 2024 State NM , Silver: The Colts came to Albuquerque and blanked St. Pius X, 46-0, as Jacquez completed 15-of-20 passes for 263 yards and SEVEN touchdowns. Silver and Jacquez can wrap up the district title in Week 11 and should get a high seed for the 4A playoffs.
Jay Lee Jay Lee 5'11" | 155 lbs | WR Socorro | 2026 State NM , Socorro: Only a sophomore, Lee caught 6 passes for 157 yards and 2 TD in Socorro’s 37-20 win over Hatch Valley.
Charles Lopez-Burton Charles Lopez-Burton 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Valley | 2024 State NM , Valley: Lopez-Burton came up big last Thursday for the Vikings against Los Alamos. After a shaky start with two fumbles, he rushed for 269 yards and 3 TD as Valley clinched the District 5A-2 title with a 26-23 win over the Hilltoppers.
Parker Miller, Rio Rancho: The sophomore WR caught 4 passes for 95 yards in the Rams’ win over Volcano Vista.
Deaven Montano Deaven Montano 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Capital | 2025 State NM , Capital: Threw for 241 yards and 2 TD on 17-of-29 passing in a loss to Clovis.
Julien Montano, Centennial: Led the Hawks defense with 14 tackles and 1 sack in Centennial’s win over Alamogordo.
RJ Montoya RJ Montoya 5'8" | 170 lbs | QB Hope Christian | 2026 State NM , Hope Christian: The Huskies enhanced their Class 3A playoff hopes with a 35-28 win over Ruidoso as Montoya threw for 195 yards and 3 TD and rushed for 52 yards and 1 TD.
Isaiah Ocampo Isaiah Ocampo 5'10" | 150 lbs | QB Socorro | 2025 State NM , Socorro: He passed for 247 yards and 4 TD to lead the Warriors past Hatch Valley, 37-20. Socorro travels to Hot Springs for the regular season finale.
Brandon Olivas Brandon Olivas 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Eldorado | 2024 State NM , Eldorado: Olivas led Eldorado to a wild 44-40 victory over Farmington by throwing for 336 yards and 5 TD while completing 24-of-38 passes. Eldorado has a huge Week 11 game against West Mesa.
Julian Padilla Julian Padilla QB Grants | 2024 State NM , Grants: The Pirates’ turnaround this season is largely attributable to a strong running game with Padilla and Andres Lazos Andres Lazos 5'4" | 125 lbs | RB Grants | 2025 State NM and an improved defense. Padilla shined in Week 10 with 247 rushing yards on 17 carries to spark a 35-21 victory over Valencia.
Jack Purdy Jack Purdy 5'3" | 135 lbs | RB Espanola Valley | 2024 State NM , Espanola Valley: Purdy combined with Adrick Deleon to give the Sundevils a lethal rushing attack against Moriarty. Purdy had 161 rushing yards and 3 TD on 17 carries, combining with Deleon for 366 rushing yards.
Rayce Ramirez Rayce Ramirez 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM , Rio Rancho: Ramirez was a workhorse against Volcano Vista with a season high 26 carries for 105 yards, his third 100+ yard rushing game this season. Elijah Rivero Elijah Rivero 5'9" | 145 lbs | WR Lovington | 2026 State NM , Lovington: Rivero was Lovington’s top passing catching threat against Albuquerque Academy with seven receptions for 96 yards and 2 TD. He added 137 yards in kickoff return yardage, finishing with 233 total yards.
Kash Roberts Kash Roberts 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Clovis | 2024 State NM , Clovis: The Wildcats’ flexbone offense was operating high gear with 405 rushing yards on 50 carries. Roberts had 192 yards and 3 TD on 21 carries, combining with Jett Stone Jett Stone 5'8" | DB Clovis | 2024 State NM for 333 rushing yards.
Derian Rodriguez, Belen: Rushed for a season-high 108 yards on 15 carries to left Belen past Miyamura, 28-14, for the Eagles first victory of the season.
Kaleb Rodriguez Kaleb Rodriguez 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Loving | 2024 State NM , Loving: Loving lost to Eunice in a highly competitive game but Rodriguez threw for 213 yards and 3 TD on 21-of-32 passing. Five of those completions were to Bobby Parraz Bobby Parraz 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Loving | 2026 State NM , who finished with 169 total yards.
Elijah Saiz, Hope Christian: The senior amassed 146 rushing yards and 1 TD on 10 carries in the Huskies’ win over Ruidoso.
Jett Stone Jett Stone 5'8" | DB Clovis | 2024 State NM , Clovis: He had 141 rushing yards and 2 TD on 22 carries as the Wildcats ground game punished Capital.
Jose Tapia Jose Tapia WR Highland | 2026 State NM , Highland: Made a season high 12 tackles for the Hornets in their loss to Piedra Vista.
Daniel Valdez, Valley: Except for a 63-yard TD run by Melaki Gutierrez Melaki Gutierrez 6'1" | 150 lbs | WR Los Alamos | 2024 State NM , the Vikings defense held the Los Almos offense in check for most of the night. Valdez had a large role in Valley’s defensive effort with 13 tackles.
James Vautier James Vautier QB Manzano | 2025 State NM , Manzano: Vautier threw for 242 yards and 6 TD in the Monarch’s 63-8 trouncing of Del Norte, a win that likely put Manzano into the Class 5A playoffs as the No. 12 seed.
Jonah Villegas Jonah Villegas 5'4" | 120 lbs | RB Pojoaque Valley | 2027 State NM , Pojoaque Valley: The Elks freshman has enjoyed a sensational freshman campaign. He had 107 yards and 1 TD on 9 rushes against Taos.
Tazhe Wilson Tazhe Wilson 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Valley | 2024 State NM , Valley: Charles Lopez-Burton Charles Lopez-Burton 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Valley | 2024 State NM wasn’t the only Valley RB who had a fantastic night against Los Alamos. Wilson rushed for 131 yards on 18 carrrie sin the district-clinching win. Overall, Valley ran for 472 yards on 55 attempts, throwing the ball just 5 times with no completions.
Eljan Woods Eljan Woods 5'7" | 145 lbs | RB Eunice | 2025 State NM , Eunice: Rushed for 117 yards and 2 TD on 15 carries as Eunice clinched the district title with a hard-fought 35-28 victory over Loving.