The Fantastic Forty: Top Performers in Week 8
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Week 8 of the 2023 New Mexico High Schol Football season is in the books. Here’s our list of the week’s top performers (in alphabetical order), something we’re calling the Fantastic Forty: Bubba Anderson, Carlsbad: Anderson had 7 tackles and…
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Continue ReadingWeek 8 of the 2023 New Mexico High Schol Football season is in the books. Here’s our list of the week’s top performers (in alphabetical order), something we’re calling the Fantastic Forty:
Bubba Anderson, Carlsbad: Anderson had 7 tackles and a 39-yard interception return in Carlsbad’s district victory over Organ Mountain.
Jesus Barraza Jesus Barraza 6'4" | 215 lbs | RB Centennial | 2024 State NM , Centennial: The senior RB rushed for 145 yards on 20 carries, including a 61-yard scamper for a TD, as Centennial knocked off Hobbs, 28-7, at Field of Dreams.
Lucas Basile Lucas Basile LB Hot Springs | 2026 State NM , Hot Springs: Just a sophomore, Basile had 11 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery in Hot Springs’ victory over Mescalero Apache.
Julian Butkivich Julian Butkivich QB Valley | 2025 AZ , Valley: Valley (4-3) stuck mostly with their ground game against Manzano with 37 rushing attempts, but when they threw the ball Butkivich was usually on target. He completed 13-of-16 passes for 293 yards and 4 TD as the Viking amassed 634 yards in total offense against the Monarchs.
Joaquin Candelaria, St. Pius X: Filling in at running back, Candelaria had 158yards rushing and 2 TD in the Sartans’ 24-14 victory over Moriarty.
Nicolas Chavez Nicolas Chavez 5'9" | 150 lbs | RB Santa Rosa | 2024 State NM , Santa Rosa: The senior RB continues to post impressive numbers for the Lions. Chavez rushed for 142 yards and 2 TD in a mercy-rule win over McCurdy. Chavez now has 1,466 rushing yards and 22 TD on 127 carries with two regular season games remaining.
Jared Chico, Santa Rosa: The Lions’ LB had 10 tackles as the Santa Rosa defense shut down McCurdy in a 62-12 victory.
Tristan Davis Tristan Davis 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Hobbs | 2025 State NM , Hobbs: The junior LB had a season high 16 tackles (10 solo) in the Eagles’ loss at Centennial. Davis has 10+ tackles in three games this season and 68 overall along with 8.0 TFL, 3 sacks and 4 QB hurries.
Emi De la Torre, Los Lunas: The junior RB averaged 15.8 yards per carry (his highest of the season) and scored 2 TD to spark Los Lunas past Albuquerque High.
Jykub Gage Jykub Gage 5'10" | 140 lbs | RB Santa Rosa | 2024 State NM , Santa Rosa: The Lions’ QB accounted for 167 total yards (115 rushing) in their big win over McCurdy.
Kevin Garcia Kevin Garcia 5'7" | 140 lbs | RB Eunice | 2024 State NM , Eunice: The Cardinals improved to 6-2 overall with a 53-0 victory over Hagerman as Garcia rushed for 157 yards and 2 TD, averaging 22.4 yards per carry. Eunice is 2-0 in district, setting up a showdown with Jal in Week 9.
Alijah Gonzales Alijah Gonzales 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: After rushing for 150+ yards and 3 TD against Cibola, Gonzales now has 1,300+ rushing yards on the season with two regular season and at least one playoff game remaining on Volcano Vista’s schedule.
Landon Griego Landon Griego 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Atrisco Heritage Academy | 2025 State NM , Atrisco Heritage: Passed for 227 yards and 2 TD in the Jaguars’ loss at Rio Rancho.
Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM , Farmington: Griego was sensational in the first half of Farmington’s surprising 49-7 rout of West Mesa, completing 18 of 21 passes for 196 yards and 2 TD and ran for two more TD as the Scorpions built an insurmountable 35-0 halftime lead. Griego added two more passing TD in the second half.
Daniel Hernandez Daniel Hernandez QB Centennial | 2024 State NM , Centennial: Hernandez is one of the best dual threat QBs in the state as he proved it again against Hobbs with 127 yards rushing on 14 carries and 95 yards throwing on 9-of-15 passing.
Andres Lazos Andres Lazos 5'4" | 125 lbs | RB Grants | 2025 State NM , Grants: Lazos rushed for 140+ yards for the fourth straight game as Grants edged Taos, 28-27, in a huge road win for the Pirates. Lazos had 211 yards and 3 TD on 22 carries. He added 75 yards in kick returns. Lazos now has 1,072 rushing yards on the season as Grants won its third straight game.
Ray Long Ray Long 5'8" | 155 lbs | RB Thoreau | 2024 State NM , Thoreau: Long rushed for 111 yards and 1 TD in Thoreau’s 37-0 victory over Newcomb.
Alex Lopez Alex Lopez 5'9" | 160 lbs | QB Highland | 2025 State NM , Highland: Lopez had a complete game for the Hornets in their win over Pojoaque Valley as he finished with 35 yards passing, 65 yards rushing, 45 yards receiving, 5 tackles and 2 TFL.
Charles Lopez-Burton Charles Lopez-Burton 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Valley | 2024 State NM , Valley: The Vikings moved over the .500 mark (4-3) with a 62-42 victory over Manzano. Lopez-Burton carried a workhorse 31 times for 306 yards and 3 TD against the Monarchs. It’s the second time this season Lopez-Burton had 300+ yards rushing. He surpassed 1,000 rushing yards.
Hunter Maldonado Hunter Maldonado 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB Sandia | 2024 State NM , Sandia: Supporting a defense that forced four turnovers, Maldonado rushed for 124 of his 151 yards in the second half as the Matadors stayed hot with a 33-14 victory over Eldorado.
Gage Marquez Gage Marquez 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB Los Lunas | 2025 State NM , Los Lunas: Marquez had 11 tackles and 2 QB Hurries in the Tigers’ lopsided win over Albuquerque High.
Ulysses Mendoza Ulysses Mendoza RB Carlsbad | 2024 State NM , Carlsbad: Mendoza accounted for more than half of Carlsbad’s offensive output in a 29-10 win over Organ Mountain by rushing for 154 yards and 3 TD on 23 carries. It was his fourth game of 150+ rushing yards this season.
Amiri Mumba Amiri Mumba 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Highland | 2025 State NM , Highland: Mumba rushed for 151 yards on a workhorse 29 carries as Highlands traveled to northern New Mexico and beat Pojoaque Valley, 28-6.
Josh Nieto Josh Nieto WR Manzano | 2024 State NM , Manzano: Nieto was magnificent against Valley with 14 receptions for 244 yards and 3 TD.
Josiah Mitchell Josiah Mitchell 6'0" | 155 lbs | WR Eldorado | 2024 State NM , Eldorado: 10 receptions for 123 yards and 1 TD in the Eagles’ loss to Sandia.
Brandon Olivas Brandon Olivas 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Eldorado | 2024 State NM , Eldorado: Olivas threw for 185 yards and completed 17-of-27 passes in the Eagles’ loss to Sandia.
CJ Perea CJ Perea 5'10" | QB West Las Vegas | 2025 State NM , West Las Vegas; The Dons are 2-0 in the district after beating Raton, 33-21, at home. Perea threw for 215 yards and 1 TD on 15-of-22 passing. Perea has thrown for 1,635 yards and 14 TD in 8 games. He is approaching 6,000 career passing yards.
Drew Perez Drew Perez 5'9" | 140 lbs | DB BLoomfield | 2024 State NM , Bloomfield: Perez caught 3 TD passes in Bloomfield’s 28-0 victory Saturday at Silver, including one with 9 seconds left in the first half when he grabbed a pass from QB Blake Spencer Blake Spencer 5'11" | 155 lbs | QB Bloomfield | 2025 State NM (255 passing yards + 4 TD passes + 84 rushing yards) in the middle of the end zone. Perez finished with a season high 10 receptions for 107 yards.
Wade Plummer, Thoreau: Listed at 6-foot-2, 271 pounds, Plumer made 14 tackles from his defensive tackle spot for the Hawks.
Rayce Ramirez Rayce Ramirez 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM , Rio Rancho: Ramrirez sparked the Rio Rancho offense in a 37-14 victory over Atrisco Heritage with 182 yards on a workhorse 26 carries.
Marquise Renfro Marquise Renfro 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM , Atrisco Heritage: Caught 5 passes for 130 yards in Atrisco’s loss to Rio Rancho.
Kaleb Rodriguez Kaleb Rodriguez 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Loving | 2024 State NM , Loving: Completed 17-of-28 passes for 187 yards and 1 TD in Loving’s loss to Jal.
John Royal John Royal LB Clovis | 2026 State NM , Clovis: Although overshadowed by Jett Stone Jett Stone 5'8" | DB Clovis | 2024 State NM , the sophomore Royal enjoyed a fantastic game against Santa Fe with 104 rushing yards on 16 carries.
John Sierra John Sierra 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Centennial | 2024 State NM , Centennial: The Hawks’ defensive leader had 9 tackles and an athletic interception in Centennial’s win over Hobbs.
Jett Stone Jett Stone 5'8" | DB Clovis | 2024 State NM , Clovis: Our Player of the Week accounted for eight touchdowns in three different way in the Wildcats’ 62-42 victory over Santa Fe. Stone rushed for 6 TD, passed for a TD and caught a TD pass.
Niko Trujillo, Cobre: Rushed for 2 TD and returned a kickoff for a TD as Cobre edged Tularosa, 27-26, in one of the best games of Week 8.
Daniel Valdez, Valley: Valdez had a season high 12 tackles and 3 TFL in Valley’s win over Manzano.
Kian Vander Wilt Kian Vander Wilt 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: Vander Wilt, a next level prospect, had a season high 10 tackles (9 solo) and a forced fumble in the Hawks’ lopsided win over Cibola.
James Vautier James Vautier QB Manzano | 2025 State NM , Manzano: Vautier threw for 216 yards and 3 TD on 26-of-46 passing for the Monarchs against Valley.
Daniel Villegas Daniel Villegas 5'8" | RB Valencia | 2024 State NM , Valencia: Villegas rushed for 100+ yards and scored 5 TD in the Jaguars’ 52-0 victory over Rio Grande.