Top Breakthrough Players To Know Entering Week 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're through four weeks of the 2025 New Mexico High School football season. Believe it or not, we're approaching the halfway point of the regular season. Here are nine Breakthrough Players:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manual Chavarria, Bloomfield</strong>: The guy they fondly call ‘Peanut' is off to a terrific start for the Bobcats in his first – and only – season as the starting quarterback. According to MaxPreps, he leads the state in passing yardage with 1,211 and TD passes with 18. He's tossed just 3 interceptions for an impressive 6-to-1 ratio. He's averaging about 303 passing yards per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854299' first='David' last='Chavez'], Santa Rosa</strong>: Who leads the state in tackles? Chavez with 65. He's averaging over 16 tackles per game for the unbeaten Lions, who have allowed just 35 points in 4 games and look like a legitimate Class 2A title contender. Chavez has also rushed for 342 yards, making him an elite two-way player. Santa Rosa hosts West Las Vegas on Friday in an intriguing 3A/2A cross-classification matchup. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Duncan, Piedra Vista</strong>: The Panthers are off to an encouraging 3-1 start with the only loss being to cross-border rival Durango (CO). Duncan has become a major contributor on the Piedra Vista defense with 26 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks and 4 QB hurries. Becoming a solid playmaker. We'll find out about Piedra Vista when they travel to Volcano Vista on Oct. 2. After that, they face Rio Rancho and Cleveland for a three-game gauntlet. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600122' first='David' last='Gaytan'], Jal</strong>: Gayton is the anchor of the Jal defense with 56 tackles in the first four games. He also has 9 QB hurries, an average of more than 2 per game, so he's wreaking a lot of havoc in opposing backfields. Jal faces Texico on Oct. 3 in a key District 2A-3 clash.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604744' first='Jordan' last='Herrera'], Los Alamos</strong>: Hidden in the northern New Mexico mountains, Herrera emerged last season as an elite running back, but he's broken through this season and become one of the top running backs in the entire state. Through 4 weeks, he leads the state in rushing with 765 yards (191.2 yards er game) and 15 touchdowns. He's already rushed for 230+ yards twice and is averaging 8.8 yards per carry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">112 yards rushing 1 TD<br>26 yards receiving 1 catch <br>4-0 ✅<a href="https://t.co/rzn2k0Gld5">https://t.co/rzn2k0Gld5</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1604744' first='Jordan' last='Herrera'] (@JordanHerrera27) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanHerrera27/status/1968133438604710100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605057' first='Junior' last='Medrano'], Hobbs</strong>: Medrano has exploded onto the scene as one of the top dual threat quarterbacks in the state. Through 4 games, he has passed for 637 yards and rushed for 508 yards, so he's well on his way towards joining the prestigious 1,000-1,000 club. Against Roswell two weeks ago, he threw for 240 yards, ran for 223 yards and accounted for 3 TD. Medrano and the Hobbs offense gets a big test in Week 5 when the Eagles travel to the Field of Dreams to face Las Cruces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greyson Meek, Eunice</strong>: Although prolific QB [player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon'] grabs most of the attention, Eunice has plenty of offensive talent around him. Meek excels running the ball (373 yards on 50 carries), catching the ball (12 receptions for 204 yards) and playing defense (team-high 49 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks). He's emerged as an elite two-way player. Meek and Eunice make the long trip to Santa Fe Saturday for a fascinating matchup against St. Michael's. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854308' first='Isaiah' last='Ortega'], Grants</strong>: Who leads the state in interceptions? Ortega with 5. Ortega is also averaging 25.0 yards per reception (team high 15 for 375 yards) with 5 TD catches. He's an outstanding two-way player. Powered by an experienced roster, Grants is off to a 3-1 start with upcoming games against Kirtland Central and Aztec. The Pirates have become a favorite to win District 4A-1 and make a deep run in the playoffs. The Oct. 31 game at Bloomfield could be a winner-take-all district championship game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605033' first='Dailen' last='Ramirez'], Centennial</strong>: If you haven't seen it, go watch the video of Ramirez's game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against Rio Rancho last Friday. That's what Ramirez, a junior, has been doing all season for the Hawks. He's taken full advantage of his opportunity as Centennial's No. 1 RB. He's currently the third leading rusher in the state with 651 yards and 7 TD in 4 games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH THIS LAST SECOND WIN: Centennial running back [player_tooltip player_id='1605033' first='Dailen' last='Ramirez'] had three scores, including the game winner with eight seconds left as the Hawks beat the Rio Rancho Rams 42-39. Centennial is at Carlsbad this week. <a href="https://twitter.com/Cen10Hawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cen10Hawks</a> <a href="https://t.co/tLx2iemH3x">pic.twitter.com/tLx2iemH3x</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1966855624215654758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">[player_tooltip player_id='854308' first='Isaiah' last='Ortega'] <br>C/o 26 <br>WR/DB<br>6'0<br>165lbs<br>9 receptions <br>221 yards <br>3 tds<br>3 ints <br>6 pbus<br>17 total tackles <br>NCAA id: 2302780769<a href="https://t.co/1Fl70g973R">https://t.co/1Fl70g973R</a><a href="https://twitter.com/GHSCoachBrown?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GHSCoachBrown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coachfb40Cole?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coachfb40Cole</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jersey11trues?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jersey11trues</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachD_Delgado?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachD_Delgado</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachmccraw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachmccraw</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='854308' first='Isaiah' last='Ortega'] (@isaiahortega_1) <a href="https://twitter.com/isaiahortega_1/status/1966516644861063416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My junior season highlights <a href="https://t.co/SQpT8nhUvN">https://t.co/SQpT8nhUvN</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1600122' first='David' last='Gaytan'] (@David_Gaytan52) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Gaytan52/status/1886128536844415095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>      </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->