City Series: Top Running Backs in Southern NM For 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Chapter 2 of our summer long City Series, we take a look at some of the top running backs in the state for the 2025 season. Here are some of the top ball carriers in Southern New Mexico:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137388' first='Daniel' last='Amaro'], Las Cruces</strong>: Amaro is Mr. Everything for the Bulldawgs. He averaged close to 20 carries per game last season, finishing with 1,297 yards and 23 TD on 198 carries, caught 25 passes for 363 yards and 2 TD and excelled on special teams. His punt return for the game-winning TD in the final minutes at Rio Rancho is the stuff of legend. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854287' first='Garet' last='Gonzalez'], Dexter</strong>: The Demons rode a balanced rushing attack – and the rocket arm of QB [player_tooltip player_id='1155032' first='CJ' last='Granados'] - all the way to the Class 3A championship game last November. Gonzalez rushed for 825 yards and 9 TD, one of three rushers with 550+ yards on the ground. Out of that group, though, Gonzalez is the lone returner, so his number of carries could surge in 2025. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854281' first='Bobby' last='Parraz'], Loving</strong>: Parraz is one-half of one of the best QB-RB duos in southern NM. Last season Parraz rushed for 833 yards and 10 TD, combining with exceptional dual threat QB [player_tooltip player_id='1137875' first='Tristen' last='Onsurez'] for over 1,900 rushing yards and 25 TD. Both are back in 2025, making Loving a serious 2A title contender. The Falcons reached the semifinals in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605005' first='Brock' last='Wright'], Carlsbad</strong>: Featuring great size at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Wright emerged last season as one of the top young running backs in southern NM. He led the Cavemen in rushing by a wide margin. Wright, a rising junior, didn't join the Cavemen football program until late in preseason camp last August and, according to his coach, didn't hit his stride until the middle of the season. Definitely has 1,000-yard potential. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604984' first='Shamus' last='Wright'], Hobbs</strong>: Just a rising junior, Wright packs a punch into his 5-foot-10 frame. He's incredibly strong and runs over would-be tacklers. Last season Wright shared ball carrying duties with a senior, but this year the job belongs to him. He definitely has 1,000-yard potential if he stays healthy. Rushed for a team-leading 639 yards and averaged 6.7 yards per carry as a sophomore in 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong>: Dailen Ramirez (Centennial), Romeo Jones (Organ Mountain), [player_tooltip player_id='1139144' first='Bryce' last='Parra'] (Artesia), David Dumas (Hatch Valley), [player_tooltip player_id='1155082' first='Raul' last='Lopez'] (Chaparral), [player_tooltip player_id='1272747' first='Jaxon' last='Alba'] (Las Cruces), [player_tooltip player_id='1267035' first='Tru' last='Camejo'] (Ruidoso), [player_tooltip player_id='1594206' first='Isaac' last='Martinez'] (Deming), [player_tooltip player_id='1357130' first='Juan' last='Rios'] (Gadsden), Konstantino Scopelitis (NMMI), [player_tooltip player_id='1672745' first='Juan' last='Urquizo'] (Chaparral), Xavier Ochoa (Mayfield), Slade Segovia (Portales); Urijah Arrey (Silver), [player_tooltip player_id='1826113' first='Cody' last='Cooper'] (Silver).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my highlight - <a href="https://t.co/B5uZCA9RSn">https://t.co/B5uZCA9RSn</a><br><br>2024 Regular Season Highlights🏈<br>- 21 Total tds-<br>-134 carries, 1066 rushing yards-<br>-271 receiving yds-<br>-377 special teams yds-<br>-1,714 all purpose yds-<br>⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/mjlopezdawgs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mjlopezdawgs</a>⁩ ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/renetorres05?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@renetorres05</a>⁩</p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1137388' first='Daniel' last='Amaro'] (@AmaroDaniel22) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmaroDaniel22/status/1858946910767202719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/Iv8hOF830Q">https://t.co/Iv8hOF830Q</a><br><br>•82 carries,889 yds,10td's(10.2yds per carry)<br><br>•52 solo tackles<br><br>•5 sacks<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/CoachKelleyLee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachKelleyLee</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/osoukup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@osoukup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SS_CoachMonson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SS_CoachMonson</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='854287' first='Garet' last='Gonzalez'] (@garet_gonzalez) <a href="https://twitter.com/garet_gonzalez/status/1910755068166754455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">End of sophomore football season!!!<br>All purpose yards:915/ Td:6 /<br>Rush:639 / Rec:134 / Kr:142<a href="https://twitter.com/UTEPCoachCJones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UTEPCoachCJones</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JGonzalesJr10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JGonzalesJr10</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UTEPFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UTEPFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TexasstateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TexasstateFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TexasTechFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TexasTechFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HobbsEaglesFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HobbsEaglesFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FootWorkUnit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FootWorkUnit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachWhiteDB1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachWhiteDB1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SHSIndianFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SHSIndianFB</a> <br><br>Check out my highlights!<a href="https://t.co/E9Qze9EOtW">https://t.co/E9Qze9EOtW</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1604984' first='Shamus' last='Wright'] Jr. (@BDshamus1) <a href="https://twitter.com/BDshamus1/status/1866701794660978827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->