Fantastic Forty: Top Performers in First Playoff Round

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first round of the 2023 New Mexico high school football playoffs in the books. Here's our list of the weekend's top performers (in alphabetical order), something we're calling the Fantastic Forty:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JJ Arellano, Rio Rancho</strong>: The Rams' junior QB threw for 218 yards and 3 TD on 14-of-22 passing to lead Rio Rancho's offense in a 35-21 victory over West Mesa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103655' first='Saul' last='Armendariz'], Hobbs</strong>: 168 yards rushing and 3 TD on just 10 carries in the Eagles' big win over Clovis. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Beck, Farmington</strong>: 9 receptions for 182 yards (2^nd highest single game total this season) and TD in the win over Volcano Vista.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Brody, West Mesa</strong>: In what turned out to be his final prep football game, Brody rushed for 170 yards and 1 TD on 26 carries and completed 10-of-17 passes for 107 yards and 1 TD. He also played safety on the Mustangs' defense and finished with 7 tackles and 1 pass defended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103708' first='Ryan' last='Brown'], Rio Rancho</strong>: The Rams' senior LB had 9 tackles, 3 QB hurries and 3 passes defended against West Mesa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Owen Calloway, Hobbs</strong>: Completed 10-of-11 passes (90.9 completion percentage) for 187 yards and 3 TD with zero interceptions as Hobbs handled Clovis, 50-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nicolas Chavez, Santa Rosa</strong>: The Lions crushed Loving, 57-15, as Chavez rushed for 137 yards and 4 TD, pushing his season total rushing yardage to 1,844 yards on 149 carries. He added 15 tackles on defense to give him 126 in 11 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gage Conway, Albuquerque Academy</strong>: Ran for 1 TD and kicked three field goals to help the Chargers beat Grants on the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119266' first='Tristan' last='Davis'], Hobbs</strong>: Collected 13 tackles and 4.0 TFL to lead the Hobbs defense against Clovis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adrick Deleon, Espanola Valley</strong>: One of the top running backs in 4A rushed for 168 yards and 3 TD on a season high 31 carries as the Sundevils beat St. Pius X. For the season, Deleon has 1,687 rushing yards and 28 TD on 146 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119597' first='Kyle' last='Evenhus'], Los Alamos</strong>: Completed 16-of-20 passes for 321 yards and 4 TD with zero interceptions as the Hilltoppers eliminated Highlands, 55-13, in the land of Oppenheimer. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119328' first='Jett' last='Galles'], Albuquerque Academy</strong>: Scored two touchdowns in the Chargers' road win at Grants.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119120' first='Kaesn' last='George'], Dexter</strong>: George has picked the best time to play his best football of the season as he caught 5 passes for 96 yards and 2 TD in the Demons' win over Hatch Valley. It was his third straight game with 95+ receiving yards. He has 5 Td catches over that span. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alijah Gonzales, Volcano Vista</strong>: Gonzales capped a fantastic season running the football with 235 yards rushing and 2 TD on a workhorse 34 carries. He finished his senior season with 1,556 yards and 15 TD on 242 carries. He had 4 games with 200+ rushing yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trel Griego, Farmington</strong>: The Scorpions QB had one of his best games of the season against Volcano Vista, completing 23-of-44 passes for 410 yards and 5 TD in Farmington's 31-21 upset win over the Hawks. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gunnar Guardiola, Las Cruces</strong>: Tossed 4 TD passes in Las Cruces' surprisingly easy 42-6 victory over Los Lunas at Field of Dreams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Melaki Gutierrez, Los Alamos</strong>: One of the state's fastest players caught 6 passes for 144 yards in the Hilltopper's big win over Highland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremiah Jaquez, Hobbs</strong>: 4 receptions for 111 yards and 1 TD to spark Hobbs' passing game in the win over Clovis. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259046' first='Jacob' last='Lesperance'], Rio Rancho</strong>: The Rams' junior LB collected 11 tackles in the win over West Mesa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charles Lopez-Burton, Valley</strong>: CLB contributed on both sides of the ball to Valley's 50-0 mercy-rule win over Manzano. He rushed for 80 yards on offense and had a Pick-6 TD on defense to go along with 5 tackles and 1 QB pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119136' first='Julian' last='Manzanares'], Dexter</strong>: The Demons demolished Hatch Valley, 38-6, as Manzanares rushed for 201 yards and 3 TD on 17 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maddox Mata, Eunice</strong>: 5 receptions for 131 yards and 1 TD in the win over Escalante.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103773' first='Jacob' last='Mattorano'], Raton</strong>: Besides serving as Raton's QB, Mattorano is also a heady defender. He had a team-high 10 tackles in the road win at Thoreau. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Melancon, Eunice</strong>: Completed a remarkable 20-of-22 passes for 270 yards and 6 TD as Eunice walloped Escalante, 49-0. Melancon is just a sophomore, so he's got 2 more years of prep football ahead of him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137859' first='Nathaniel' last='Miera'], St. Pius X</strong>: The Sartans' QB completed 15-of-26 passes for 202 yards and 1 TD in his team's loss to Espanola Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mark Montano, West Mesa</strong>: Finished with 12 tackles in West Mesa's first round loss to Rio Rancho.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Diego Molinar, Bernalillo</strong>: Seven tackles for the Spartans in an abbreviated game vs. Valencia as Bernalillo won by mercy rule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amiri Mumba, Highland</strong>: Rushed for 162 yards on 29 carries (5^th time in last 6 games with 25+ carries) in the Hornets' loss at Los Alamos. Mumba finished his junior year with 1,685 yards rushing and 15 TD on 209 carries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jack Purdy, Espanola Valley</strong>: Our Player of the Week had 220 rushing yards on 19 carries in the Sundevils first-ever playoff win, a convincing 31-7 victory over St. Pius X.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jehoran Quintana, Los Alamos</strong>: Season-high 15 tackles, 2 TFL and 2 forced fumbles &nbsp;against Highland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rayce Ramirez, Rio Rancho</strong>: Rushed for 165 yards on 17 carries, an average of 9.7 yards, in the Rams' win over West Mesa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jason Richards, Dexter</strong>: Collected 10 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 QB hurries and 1 sack in the Demons' win over Loving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaleb Rodriguez, Loving</strong>: Completed 20-of-35 passes for 220 yards and 2 TD in Loving's loss at Santa Rosa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AJ Romo, Santa Rosa</strong>: Rushed for a season high 135 yards on just 5 carries to help the Lions trounce Loving. Also had 8 tackles on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dillon Salazer, Tularosa</strong>: Rushed for 1 TD and threw multiple TD passes in Tularosa's 42-6 win over Jal, eliminating the defending 2A champions from the playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Salazar, Taos</strong>: Threw for 186 yards and 2 TD to his older brother Lionel in the Tigers' loss to Aztec.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Baylor Seabolt, Aztec</strong>: Rushed for 227 yards and 2 TD, one on a 65-yard scamper, in Aztec's hard-fought first-round win against Taos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Delgado Sebastian, Farmington</strong>: The junior RB supported QB Trel Griego with 17 carries for 110 yards in the win over Volcano Vista. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jett Stone, Clovis</strong>: 15 rushes for 126 yards for the Wildcats in the loss at Hobbs. He finished the season with 1,103 rushing yards and 18 TD on 164 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Daniel Valdez, Valley</strong>: 13 tackles (1 TFL) and 1 forced fumble in Valley's win over Manzano.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kian Vander Wilt, Volcano Vista</strong>: Collected 12 tackles, 1 TFL and 1 sack in the hawks' loss to Farmington. He'll play at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cannon Walton, Raton</strong>: Walton, the younger brother of Raton legend Cayden Walton (state's all-time leading rusher) rushed for a season high 125 yards on 15 carries as the Tigers trounced Thoreau on the road, 35-8. He has one season left. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tazhe Wilson, Valley</strong>: Rushed for 110 yards and 3 TD on 8 carries to lead valley's big win over Manzano. Also made 4 tackles on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kyler Young, Los Alamos</strong>: Made 17 tackles in the win over Highland, the fifth time in the last 6 games Young has made 15+ tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/AdrickDeLeon/status/1720966227420402174?s=20","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/AdrickDeLeon/status/1720966227420402174?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/juicemanzanares/status/1721166263429525664?s=20","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/juicemanzanares/status/1721166263429525664?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TreGriego/status/1721314930081632464?s=20","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/TreGriego/status/1721314930081632464?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Sisco2x__/status/1721247425069781012?s=20","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/Sisco2x__/status/1721247425069781012?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/charleslb07/status/1721606244677333003?s=20","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/charleslb07/status/1721606244677333003?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TavonArchibald/status/1721720678972289266?s=20","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/TavonArchibald/status/1721720678972289266?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Ryan70Ramirez/status/1721313157107560617?s=20","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/Ryan70Ramirez/status/1721313157107560617?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CruzGraham52/status/1721345204463034638?s=20","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/CruzGraham52/status/1721345204463034638?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Aidanthomas70/status/1721228628330156238?s=20","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/Aidanthomas70/status/1721228628330156238?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/nathanlo63/status/1721222051724198284?s=20","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/nathanlo63/status/1721222051724198284?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/SocoolJp/status/1721221847126061253?s=20","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/SocoolJp/status/1721221847126061253?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Jordan_Lucas_07/status/1720574453082357922?s=20","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/Jordan_Lucas_07/status/1720574453082357922?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->