Championship Saturday: Top Performers In Title Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plenty of outstanding performances highlighted Championship Saturday when five new team champions were crowned. Here are some of the top performers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119160' first='Soren' last='Annon'], St. Michael's</strong>: Brilliant all-around game from one of the Horsemen's top players. Scored 2 TD on a pass in the first half and a 51-yard run through the right side in the third quarter + clutch reception on 4^th-and-12 on the eventual game-winning drive. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='836902' first='Jon' last='Baca'], Cleveland</strong>: Had a key 20-yard reception that led to Cleveland's first TD of the afternoon against La Cueva.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154948' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter'], St. Pius X</strong>: Carpenter threw for 270 yards and 2 TD as St. Pius X battled Bloomfield for a half before the Bobcats pulled away in the 4A title game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1432984' first='Izac' last='Cazares'], Artesia</strong>: Rushed for 2 TD in the first half of Artesia's loss to Roswell before he was forced to exit the game with an injury.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615690' first='McKell' last='Colbert'], Bloomfield</strong>: Stellar on defense and special teams for Bloomfield. Finished with 10 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 QB hurries and 2 blocked punts, including a scoop-and-score in the second half to help Bloomfield pull away. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155012' first='Curtis' last='Flakes III'], St. Pius X</strong>: Caught 8 passes for 139 yards, including a 74-yarder for a TD in St. Pius X's loss to Bloomfield. He added 122 kick return yards for 261 all-purpose yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119205' first='Alex' last='Fuentes'], Texico</strong>: Rushed for 4 TD in Texico's mercy-rule win over Santa Rosa in the Class 2A championship game. It was the Wolverines' second straight 2A title as they capped off a 12-0 season with a flawless performance on the road. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118051' first='Mason' last='Greathouse'], Roswell</strong>: The two-way standout caught a TD pass and intercepted a pass in Roswell's win over Artesia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Hatch, Cleveland</strong>: Completed 14-of-23 passes for 175 yards and 2 TD in the Storm's big win over La Cueva. For the season, he had 29 TD passes and just 2 interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594644' first='Elias' last='Johnson'], Bloomfield</strong>: Led the Bobcats defense with 13 tackles and 1 INT in the big win over St. Pius X.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851903' first='Jacob' last='Maldonado'], Cleveland</strong>: Led the Storm with 7 receptions for 105 yards and 1 TD on a well-designed flea flicker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118057' first='AJ' last='Manning'], Cleveland</strong>: The Storm's defense was superb throughout Saturday's game against la Cueva and Manning had a key interception early in the third quarter that led to a TD and a commanding 23-0 lead. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611120' first='Juan' last='Munoz'], Cleveland</strong>: Munoz, who transferred from Capital a couple of years ago, had 127 yards rushing on 26 carries to lead the Storm ground game. It was his fifth 100+ yard game of the season, and his second straight. He saved his best for last, rushing for 376 yards on 48 carries in the semifinals and finals. He finished with 1,107 rushing yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267030' first='Kolbe' last='Padilla'], St. Pius X</strong>: Led the St. Pius X defense with 9 tackles, 2 TFL and 3 QB hurries in the loss to Bloomfield. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Palomino, Artesia</strong>: Rushed for 3 TD, including a 62-yard scamper early in the game, and threw for another in Roswell's win over rival Artesia at the Wool Bowl. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155310' first='Fernando' last='Prieto'], Dexter</strong>: Pick-6 interception with 2-1/2 minutes left gave Dexter the lead in a game they trailed 22-8 in the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613193' first='Cole' last='Sandoval'], St. Michael's</strong>: Capped one of the best clutch drives of the season with a 6-yard TD run in which he powered through multiple Dexter defenders with 35 seconds remaining to lift the Horsemen to a dramatic win over the Demons in the 3A title game &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615635' first='Blake' last='Spencer'], Bloomfield</strong>: His dual threat skills were on full display in the Bobcats' win over St. Pius X. He completed 13-of-22 passes for 150 yards and rushed for 105 yards and 2 TD, both in the first half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258088' first='Abey' last='Toscano'], Roswell</strong>: Threw a 40-yard TD pass and ran 21 yards for another score in the second half to account for Roswell's final two TD in their victory over Artesia. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">State champions! Absolutely blessed love this team 💙<a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_RGarza?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_RGarza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDez03?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDez03</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Ridenour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Ridenour</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NMrecruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMrecruits</a> <a href="https://t.co/GuUeBa118O">pic.twitter.com/GuUeBa118O</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='851903' first='Jacob' last='Maldonado'] (@jakemaldonado08) <a href="https://twitter.com/jakemaldonado08/status/1863245459730427950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Incredible leader. <br>Incredible player.<br>And now a State Champion<br>29 TDs 2 INTS. <br><br>Jordan Hatch is a baller folks. <a href="https://t.co/vHEu6AAuxY">pic.twitter.com/vHEu6AAuxY</a></p>&mdash; Heath Ridenour (@Coach_Ridenour) <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Ridenour/status/1863099368099741955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">26-8 Win vs. La Cueva!! State Champs! 🏆🟦<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1594112' first='Micah' last='Hoffman'] #5<br>4 Tackles<br>1 QB Pressure<a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_RGarza?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_RGarza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Ridenour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Ridenour</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachD84?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachD84</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NMrecruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMrecruits</a> <a href="https://t.co/TWieacE23f">pic.twitter.com/TWieacE23f</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1594112' first='Micah' last='Hoffman'] (@micah_hoffman15) <a href="https://twitter.com/micah_hoffman15/status/1863307500415787240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cole. Stud. Sandoval. <br><br>35 seconds left, he puts St. Mike's back in front 28-26 <a href="https://t.co/AiBVY1W3ek">pic.twitter.com/AiBVY1W3ek</a></p>&mdash; New Mexican Sports (@sfnmsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/sfnmsports/status/1862992078604791912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->