Super Sophomores: Early 2028 Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through 3 weeks of action, plenty of sophomore are making a big impact on their respective teams. Here are five of the biggest contributors:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo'], Highland</strong>: Before the season, Highland was hoping somebody would step up and replace Amiri Mumba at running back. They may have found their guy in Anchondo, who's on pace for a 1,000-yard rushing season for the Hornets. Anchondo has 346 rushing yards (TWO games of 140+ rushing yards) and 3 TD on 42 carries. Excellent speed allows him to get to the perimeter quickly ahead of defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613409' first='Mason' last='Fikany'], Ruidoso</strong>: Fikany's dynamic skills have been on display in the first three weeks. He already has 626 all-purpose yards in 3 games. He runs (322 rushing yards and 4 TD on 40 carries), he catches the football (12 receptions and 2 TD for 212 yards) and he returns kicks for the Warriors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ezequiel Garcia, Eunice</strong>: Eunice's passing offense is prolific with a senior next level QB and several talented receivers. Garcia has 13 receptions for 263 yards and 3 TD in the first three games. He's averaging over 20 yards per reception, so he can stretch opposing defenses. Garcia and Eunice go to 3A power St. Michael's on Sept. 20 for one of the best cross-classification games of the 2025 season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613490' first='Evan' last='Nanez'], Cleveland</strong>: Has there been a better ore more exciting sophomore to watch in the entire state so far this season? Probably not. Nanez may hold the distinction of being the top sophomore in football AND basketball in New Mexico. Just offered by New Mexico State in hoops. In 3 games, he has 18 receptions for 341 yards and 5 TD plus 3 TD rushing. That's 8 TD in all, an average of nearly 3 per game. This week, we'll get to see Nanez go up against the Las Cruces secondary. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Edward Tapia, Pojoaque Valley</strong>: Tapia isn't the biggest guy on the field, but he know how to play football. In Pojoaque Valley's first three games, he's made 35 tackles, most of any sophomore in the state, with 6.0 TFL and 1 sack. He collected 17.0 tackles against Hot Springs. Even Dick Butkus would admire that number. Saturday, Tapia and the Elks defenses faces the talented Dexter offense. That will be a fun matchup to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Week 3 Highlights: 135 yards on 6 catches with 4 touchdowns and a two-point conversion in a win. #2028 <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/coach_crow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_crow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Eck?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Eck</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ColinLockett15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ColinLockett15</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNMLoboFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNMLoboFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NMStateFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMStateFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ASUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ASUFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CalFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CalFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CowboyFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CowboyFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UTEPFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UTEPFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/wiDJx9plg7">pic.twitter.com/wiDJx9plg7</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1613490' first='Evan' last='Nanez'] (@EvanNanez5245) <a href="https://twitter.com/EvanNanez5245/status/1964728632779424039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1613703' first='Aiden' last='Gonzales'], Volcano Vista</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vaughn Romney, Las Cruces</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1684435' first='Terry' last='Maes'], Cibola</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacob Soto, Las Cruces</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Deion Torres, Gadsden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1613664' first='Santos' last='Martinez'], Robertson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1684430' first='Jericho' last='Brody'], West Mesa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1826113' first='Cody' last='Cooper'], Silver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tristan Garcia, Gallup</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jesse Ornelas, Eunice</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1613656' first='Andres' last='Acosta'], Highland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1613430' first='Zaiden' last='Baker'], Hot Springs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1613618' first='Juan' last='Carlos Landeros'], Albuquerque High</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1613352' first='Broden' last='Price'], Manzano</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1825989' first='Max' last='Marcum'], Volcano Vista</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andru Lozano, Portales</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1827285' first='Arion' last='Lopez'], Loving</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carlos Medina, Centennial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ty Gonzalez, Silver</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gerardo Estrada, Centennial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Week 1‼️<br><br>20-12 win VS Manzano HS<br><br>141 rushing yds<br>2 touchdowns <br>12 carries<br><br>Only played 2 quarters<a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HHS_HornetsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HHS_HornetsFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/jfqL63evp3">https://t.co/jfqL63evp3</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1688720' first='William' last='Anchondo'] (@will_anchondo10) <a href="https://twitter.com/will_anchondo10/status/1959788247904899204?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->