City Series: Top Quarterbacks in Southern NM for 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue our popular City Series by taking a look at the top quarterbacks in Southern New Mexico for the 2025 season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600835' first='Nathanael' last='Best'], Alamogordo</strong>: Best was quietly one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in southern New Mexico last season. He's a runner first and that shows in the numbers. He rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 8 TD on 195 carries. He had 8 games of 100+ rushing yards in 2024. If Best improves his passing this coming season, he'll likely join the prestigious 1,000-1,000 club.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155032' first='CJ' last='Granados'], Dexter</strong>: Granados is an elite two-sport athlete. He shined brightest during football season last fall when he threw for 1,708 yards and 19 TD in leading Dexter to the Class 3A state championship game. Also rushed for close to 500 yards and 7 TD. And he's only a rising junior too, putting him on track for 7,000+ career passing yards. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853029' first='Gunnar' last='Guardiola'], Las Cruces</strong>: The current gold standard for quarterbacks in southern New Mexico. Guardiola is entering his third full season as the Bulldawgs' starting quarterback. He was elite in 2024 with 2,000+ passing yards, 19 TD passes and a 62.2 completion percentage. He's also a decent runner when he takes off. Offered by New Mexico Highlands last weekend during his visit to Las Vegas for Junior Day.    </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon'], Eunice</strong>: If there's a quarterback who can argue he's the gold standard, Melancon is the guy. Based strictly on the numbers, he's the most prolific passing quarterback in the state. He was #1 in passing yardage in 2024 with 3,338 yards and 43 TD. He goes into the 2025 season with 8,044 passing yards, putting him squarely on track to join the exclusive club of quarterbacks with 10,000+ career passing yards. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137875' first='Tristen' last='Onsurez'], Loving</strong>: Dynamic duel threat QB. Onsurez joined the 1,000-1,000 club last season by throwing for 1,330 yards and 14 TD while rushing for 1,071 yards and 15 TD with 5 games of 100+ rushing yards. Loving reached the Class 2A semifinals last November and return most of their major offensive contributors in 2025. Watch out for Loving in Class 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1600830' first='Daniel' last='Ornelas'] (Jal); [player_tooltip player_id='851884' first='Israel' last='Nieto'] (Chaparral); [player_tooltip player_id='1137846' first='Nicholas' last='Vierra'] (Santa Teresa); [player_tooltip player_id='1343408' first='Bennett' last='Wahlen'] (Texico); [player_tooltip player_id='854279' first='Omar' last='Gonzalez'] (Hatch Valley); [player_tooltip player_id='854288' first='Tristan' last='Polanco'] (Hot Springs); [player_tooltip player_id='1672571' first='Derrick' last='Warren'] (Artesia); [player_tooltip player_id='1604916' first='Levi' last='Shelton'] (Ruidoso); [player_tooltip player_id='1604953' first='Max' last='Allison'] (Deming); [player_tooltip player_id='1604943' first='Ruiz' last='Laborin'] (Centennial); [player_tooltip player_id='1709925' first='Josiah' last='Madrid'] (Silver); [player_tooltip player_id='1605057' first='Junior' last='Medrano'] (Hobbs).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Every accomplishment and accolade is a direct reflection of my coaches and teammates. Excited to start preparing for the last chapter with my brothers! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BannerChasing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BannerChasing</a><br>Junior Year: <a href="https://t.co/o2jg9A9Aw2">https://t.co/o2jg9A9Aw2</a><br>Sophomore Year:<a href="https://t.co/3dltgfqEI6">https://t.co/3dltgfqEI6</a><br>Freshman Year:… <a href="https://t.co/M2NV6r21ce">pic.twitter.com/M2NV6r21ce</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='853029' first='Gunnar' last='Guardiola'] (@GunnarGuardiola) <a href="https://twitter.com/GunnarGuardiola/status/1866890072995532883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/W8CO22jimV">https://t.co/W8CO22jimV</a><br>Run Heavy Offense!<br>1708 Passing Yards <br>130.8 Qbr<br>19 Tds<br>4 Ints<br>64 Rushing Attempts <br>479 Yards<br>7 Tds <a href="https://twitter.com/DDemonFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DDemonFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/osoukup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@osoukup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KennyDillingham?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KennyDillingham</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_TSanchez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_TSanchez</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachbuttsUSU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachbuttsUSU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachGemp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachGemp</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachNellyV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachNellyV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/QBHitList?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QBHitList</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1155032' first='CJ' last='Granados'] (@cj_granados10) <a href="https://twitter.com/cj_granados10/status/1884983795168006516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my junior year highlights<br>Alamogordo high school<br>Quarterback and Receiver <br>HT:6'2<br>WT:175<br>2nd team all district <br>Offensive new comer of the year<a href="https://twitter.com/AlamoFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlamoFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCiscoAHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCiscoAHS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDrefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDrefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottSing82?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ScottSing82</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RockPerkins52?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RockPerkins52</a> <a href="https://t.co/qAauX6YILJ">pic.twitter.com/qAauX6YILJ</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1600835' first='Nathanael' last='Best'] (@NathanBest65684) <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanBest65684/status/1882822938388476057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Week 9 highlights vs Jal<br>22-29 passing, 307 yards, 6 TD<br>6 carries, 42 yards <br><br>Defense<br>5 tackles, 1 INT <a href="https://t.co/Qgu8Dvpok4">pic.twitter.com/Qgu8Dvpok4</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon'] (@Elijah_2412) <a href="https://twitter.com/Elijah_2412/status/1877544593652437049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->