Class 6A: One Key Player To Know On Every Team (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The start of the 2026 New Mexico high school football season is only a few days away. In Part 2 of a series, here is one key player to know for eight Class 6A teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hobbs, [player_tooltip player_id='1605057' first='Junior' last='Medrano']</strong>: In the wake of Hobs seeing two potentially key players transfer to nearby programs, the Eagles need Medrano top come up big again just as he did last season when he passed for 1,811 yards and 22 TD while rushing for nearly 1,500 yards and 16 TD to join the prestigious 1,000-1,000 club. Despite the personnel losses, Hobbs still has enough talent to challenge for the District 6A-2 title and make a deep run in the Class 6A playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jrmedranohera/status/1999658486507143178","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jrmedranohera/status/1999658486507143178 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>La Cueva: [player_tooltip player_id='1613367' first='Cash' last='Brewer']</strong>. La Cueva offensively has an experienced senior quarterback, a solid ground game and a deep receiving corps. The key could be Brewer, a 6-foot-2 rising junior with elite athleticism. Opposing defenses must account for him in their game plans, which isn't something you say about many tight ends in New Mexico. Brewer's social media post says it all: “Sophomore year was cool, but junior year is going to be on another level!” He's right.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cashbrewer2028/status/2087946601830429156","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cashbrewer2028/status/2087946601830429156 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Las Cruces: [player_tooltip player_id='2182154' first='Aldo' last='Gallegos']</strong>: Whenever a blue blood program like Las Cruces transitions to a new quarterback, you take notice. Gallegos is replacing a distinguished three-year starter. He's also a dual threat QB, so designed quarterbacks runs are back in the playbook. But Gallegos has a good arm, as well. The Las Cruces offense will look different – both in personal and playcalling – but the Bulldawgs hope it will be just as productive as last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Aldo_football/status/2063340229730464029","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Aldo_football/status/2063340229730464029 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Organ Mountain: [player_tooltip player_id='1680055' first='Zeke' last='Weir']</strong>. Weir isn't just the most intriguing player on Organ Mountain, he's arguably one of the most intriguing in the entire state. His athleticism is elite++. He has good speed and great hands. If you want to see for yourself, go watch his film from last season's early season win over Deming when Weir hauled in a Hail Mary pass by leaping over a Deming defender in the final seconds for the win. Bethel College in Kansas offered on Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ZekeWeir14/status/1992119857597633021","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ZekeWeir14/status/1992119857597633021 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rio Rancho: [player_tooltip player_id='1606137' first='Noah' last='Lovato']</strong>. The Rams lost one of their elite defensive ends in the transfer market, but the 6-foot-4 Lovato is still there to help generate an effective pass rush. Last season he amassed 59 tackles, 18.0 TFL, 12.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Lovato, also an elite hoops player, knows how to wreak havoc in opposing backfield. He'll be counted upon to keep doing that in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/noah_lovato_8/status/2063843715379011986","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/noah_lovato_8/status/2063843715379011986 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sandia: [player_tooltip player_id='1155132' first='Aiden' last='Maldonado']</strong>. The Matadors were already seemingly on the rise when they added three talented offensive transfers from Atrisco Heritage. We know Sandia will score plenty of points. Now it's up to the Matadors defense to keep up. That's where Maldonado comes in. He'll be the heart and soul of the Sandia defense. He was spectacular during camping season, earning offers from New Mexico Highlands and Western New Mexico. His lateral mobility is impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Aidenmaldonado_/status/2061153639444656205","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Aidenmaldonado_/status/2061153639444656205 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Volcano Vista: [player_tooltip player_id='2114576' first='Jude' last='Gonzales']</strong>. When Volcano Vista's No. 1 RB transferred to Cleveland, Gonzales ascended to the top spot on the depth chart. He's a promising sophomore with good size (6-0, 175 pounds) and instincts. He had 37 carries as a freshman in 2025. He proved himself early and got more carries as the season went along. Emerging as one of the top running backs in the Albuquerque Metro Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Jude5Gonzales/status/1990535942885814707","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jude5Gonzales/status/1990535942885814707 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Mesa: [player_tooltip player_id='1684430' first='Jericho' last='Brody']</strong>. As soon as we saw the 6-foot-2 Brody drop back and throw darts at the UNM 7x7 Tournament in June, we knew he was gearing up for a special junior season. He was thrown into the fire last season as a sophomore, but responded well, improving every week and becoming more efficient as the season went along. Poised for a big year. And he has a fleet of talented receivers to get there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JerichoBrody1/status/2082277066888946168","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JerichoBrody1/status/2082277066888946168 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>    </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->