City Series: Top Running Backs In Southern NM for 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue our ‘City Series' by taking a look at the top running backs in southern New Mexico, including those on the rise:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TOP SEVEN</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137388' first='Daniel' last='Amaro'], Las Cruces</strong>: Amaro is a fearless ball carrier with good speed as he showed in the 6A semifinals against a very good La Cueva defense. He'll have&nbsp; large role on what should be a prolific Las Crices offense in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615673' first='Alfredo' last='Andrade'], Gadsden</strong>: Andrade rushed for nearly 900 yards in 2023. Don't be surprised if he breaks the 1,000-yard plateau in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118283' first='Frankie' last='Galindo'], Artesia</strong>: Galindo switched from WR to RB early last season and turned into a 1,000-yard rusher and a TD machine for the Class 5A champion Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119136' first='Julian' last='Manzanares'], Dexter</strong>: Averaged over 10 yards per carry on his way to becoming a 1,000-yard rusher. It will be fun watching him carry the ball against the likes of new district rivals Eunice, Jal and Texico in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613065' first='Camon' last='Ochoa'], Lovington</strong>: Lovington has produced many good running backs and Ochoa looks to be the latest in the long line. He rushed for over 700 yards in 2023 and could approach or surpass 1,000 yards in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611155' first='Isaiah' last='Pizarro'], Deming</strong>: An outstanding two-way player, Pizarro produced 657 yards on the ground in 2023. Deming will be in the thick of the District 5A-2 fight all season long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615650' first='Eljan' last='Woods'], Eunice</strong>: Woods can certainly make the claim of being the top Class 2A running back in the state. He rushed for 1,216 yards and 14 TD in 2023 for the Cardinals. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ON THE RISE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267035' first='Tru' last='Camejo'], Ruidoso</strong>: Averaged 6.4 yards per carry as a sophomore in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Chatfield, Hot Springs</strong>: Chatfield is a promising young back on an improving Tigers team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613751' first='Kaidyn' last='Cordova'], Portales</strong>: He had the third most carries on the Rams in 2023 and he'll get plenty of opportunities in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119205' first='Alex' last='Fuentes'], Texico</strong>: He helped fuel Texico's run to the Class 2A championship and he'll be a central figure again for the Wolverines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Omar Gonzales, Hatch Valley</strong>: Hatch Valley has multiple stellar running backs and Gonzales is one of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137847' first='David' last='Gutierrez'], Santa Teresa</strong>: Gutierrez was the top running back for a very young Desert Warriors team in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaac Herrera, Chaparral</strong>: Herrera is a promising young RB for the rebuilding Lobos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615536' first='Alec' last='Holguin'], Lovington</strong>: He will combine with Ochoa (see above) to give Lovington an elite rushing attack in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1595711' first='Seth' last='Kazhe'], Tularosa</strong>: Top RB for the Wildcats in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Omarrion Kennedy, Hobbs</strong>: Kennedy aims to become the Eagles' successor to 1,200-yard rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103655' first='Saul' last='Armendariz'].</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anthony</strong> Nevarez, Mayfield: Nevarez should flourish in Mayfield's offensive attack in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854281' first='Bobby' last='Parraz'], Loving</strong>: As we mentioned recently, Parraz is one of the most underrated RBs in southern New Mexico.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837060' first='Rudy' last='Rios'], Centennial</strong>: Rios was injured early last season, but there is no doubting his ability. He should pile up some yards for the Hawks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137899' first='John' last='Royal'], Clovis</strong>: The Wildcats' flexbone offense is a running back's best friend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119512' first='Orrin' last='Russell'], Hatch Valley</strong>: Another solid RB for Hatch Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119374' first='Cenyon' last='Scarborough'], Socorro</strong>: Scarborough and QB [player_tooltip player_id='613184' first='Isaiah' last='Ocampo'] will form a dynamic duo for the Warriors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119319' first='Cohen' last='Tomasits'], NMMI</strong>: NMMI rode a powerful option attack to the 3A semifinals last fall and Tomasits is ready to be one of the Colts' featured backs again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Frankie1726/status/1708244228688785483?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/Frankie1726/status/1708244228688785483?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/juicemanzanares/status/1726635843325182267?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/1726635843325182267?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/OchoaCamon/status/1731005386520715483?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/OchoaCamon/status/1731005386520715483?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/33_zayaaa/status/1730385332724523016?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/33_zayaaa/status/1730385332724523016?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->