Week 2 in Review: Top Performers
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TOP PERFORMERS OF WEEK 2 Week 2 of the New Mexico High School football season was filled with plenty of outstanding individual performances. Here is the best of the best (Players listed in alphabetical order): Adam Aguilera Adam Aguilera 5'8"…
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Continue ReadingTOP PERFORMERS OF WEEK 2
Week 2 of the New Mexico High School football season was filled with plenty of outstanding individual performances. Here is the best of the best (Players listed in alphabetical order):
Adam Aguilera Adam Aguilera 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM , Lovington: Lovington’s high-powered passing attack was on full display in the Wildcats’ 31-25 victory over Roswell Friday night. Aguilera caught 9 passes for 226 yards and 1 TD and was a significant contributor on special teams.
Branden Castillo, Cibola: Castillo made two of the biggest plays in Cibola’s 33-21 victory over Las Cruces Friday night, first catching a short slant pass from QB Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM and outracing the Bulldawgs secondary to the end zone for a 77-yard scoring play. In the fourth quarter, he made a huge reception on third down to give Cibola a key first down.
Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola: A week after the Cibola offense struggled against La Cueva, Chavez led a rejuvenated Cougars’ offense by throwing for three first-half TDs as Cibola stunned Las Cruces by taking a 19-0 halftime lead. His second TD pass came on a well-executed slant pattern to Castillo.
Paul Cieremans Paul Cieremans 5'10" | 195 lbs | QB Los Lunas | 2023 State NM , Los Lunas: The Tigers’ offense is off to torrid start behind the junior Cieremans. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in Las Cruces’ 50-0 mercy rule win over Alamogordo. Cieremans accounted for 332 yards in offense. Overall, Los Lunas totaled 468 yards in total offense, 304 rushing and 164 passing.
Lucas Coriz Lucas Coriz 6'2" | QB St. Michael's | 2022 State NM , St. Michael’s: Coriz rushed for 53 yards and threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns in St. Mike’s dominating 60-8 win over cross-town rival Capital.
Kieran Cordova, Volcano Vista: A vital part of Volcano Vista’s aerial assault against Manzano Saturday, Cordova caught seven passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, including an 89-yarder in the second quarter when the Hawks put 28 points on the scoreboard for a commanding 35-6 halftime lead.
Lucious Dickson, Cleveland: Dickson hasn’t received a lot of publicity, but he rushed for 92 yards and two second quarter TDs in Cleveland’s 35-32 victory over El Paso (TX) Franklin.
Dominic Esparza Dominic Esparza 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB St. Piux | 2022 State NM , St. Pius X: With St. Pius leading 21-14, Esparza extended the Sartans’ lead by taking the second half kickoff 80 yards for a TD. He returned another kick for a TD as well.
Dominic Esquibel, Pojoaque Valley: If New Mexico has somebody who deserves to be described as an overnight sensation, Esquibel, who returned to Pojoaque from Colorado earlier this year and is now dominating defenses with his powerful 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame, is the guy. Friday, he ran roughshod over the Santa Fe Indian defense for 351 rushing yards and six touchdowns as Pojoaque Valley crushed the Braves, 64-12.
Elias Franco Elias Franco 5'11" | 185 lbs | QB Eldorado | 2022 State NM , Eldorado: The face of Eldorado’s epic OT victory at Mayfield. The Eagles never led in regulation but managed to tie the score at 21-21 late in the fourth quarter on Franco’s TD pass. On Eldorado‘s first play from scrimmage in OT, Franco scored on a 10-yard run. Those proved to be the winning points as Eldorado intercepted a pass to seal the dramatic road win.
Landon Frost, Aztec: Frost threw for three TDs and ran for another in Aztec’s 26-6 victory over cross-state rival Montezuma-Cortez (Co.).
Brandon Furbee Brandon Furbee 6'3" | QB Farmington | 2022 State NM , Farmington: The Scorpions’ offense was again firing on all cylinders against Belen with Furbee leading the way. He threw three first half TD passes as Farmington took a commanding halftime lead. The Scorpions have scored 95 points in their first two games. Don’t expect them to slow down anytime soon.
Josh Gerardo Josh Gerardo 6'1" | QB Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM , Volcano Vista: Nobody had a better weekend than Gerardo, who completed 20-of-29 passes for 443 yards and six TDs against an overmatched Manzano secondary. Five of his six TD passes were longer than 28 yards.
Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM , Albuq. Academy: Caught two TD passes and returned a punt for a TD as the Academy routed Tucumcari at home.
Tayten Hilliard Tayten Hilliard 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM , Lovington: Hilliard did it all in Lovington’s win over Roswell: 4 receptions for 67 yds and 2 TDs, 19 tackles on defense (10 solo tackles, 9 assists), 1 INT, 2 PBU, 6 kickoff returns for 247 yards, 3 punts for 120 yards (1 inside the 20) and 1 PAT.
Isaac Hinson Isaac Hinson 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM , Lovington: Hinson again showed he is one of the top two-way players in the state against Roswell: 7 catches for 103 yards and 2 TDs, 13 tackles (8 solos, 5 assists), 3 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 INT. He played 175 snaps in the game and was off the field for just 10 plays.
James Jenkins James Jenkins 6'0" | WR Hope Christian | 2022 State NM , Hope Christian: Accounted for three touchdowns in Hope’s loss to Bloomfield by throwing for a TD, running for a TD and catching a TD.
Ian Lopez Ian Lopez QB Centennial | 2022 State NM , Centennial: The Hawks’ QB showed off his dual threat skills in Centennial’s 43-13 victory over West Mesa Saturday at the Field of Dreams. Lopez raced 89 yards for a TD on the Hawks’ first play from scrimmage before throwing a 50-yard TD to Isaiah Abeyta Isaiah Abeyta 5'10" | 155 lbs | WR Centennial | 2023 State NM midway through the second quarter.
Daymon Lujan Daymon Lujan 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB St. Michael's | 2022 State NM , St. Michael’s: Rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns on just 4 carries against Capital.
Martell Mora Martell Mora 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Santa Fe High | 2022 State NM , Santa Fe: Mora set the tone early in Santa Fe’s storm-shortened 27-13 win at Moriarty with a 52-yard TD run on the second snap of the game. Overall, Mora rushed for 232 yards and scored four touchdowns, one on a 65-yard catch-and-run.
Javyn Morales Javyn Morales 5'10" | 155 lbs | RB Goddard | 2023 State NM , Goddard: Morales made several big plays in Goddard’s victory over Carlsbad, including a kickoff return for a TD and interception on defense.
Kevin Orona, Mayfield: The Trojans CB had a Pick-6 in Mayfield’s OT loss to Eldorado.
Elliot Paskett-Bell, Volcano Vista: Six receptions for 129 yards and three TDs in the Hawk’s 63-20 rout of Manzano Saturday afternoon.
Drew Perez, Bloomfield: Perez was one of the stars of Bloomfield’s hard-fought victory over Hope Christian with a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD and a 70-yard TD catch from QB Ryan Sharpe.
Devin Rice, Rio Rancho: Until Friday night, most people probably had never heard of Rice. But then he went out and along with Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM , unleashed a powerful rushing attack against La Cueva. But he excelled catching the football too. Rice caught a 33-yard TD and a 6-yard TD from QB Dominick Priddy before capping his night with an electrifying 90-yard TD run.
A.J. Rivera A.J. Rivera 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM , Albuq. Academy: The Academy’s talented junior QB threw four TD passes and ran for another as the Chargers blew out Tucumcari at home. Academy has now outscored its first two opponents, 101-0. Both games ended before halftime.
Patrick Shay Patrick Shay 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Farmington | 2022 State NM , Farmington: Caught three TD passes (30, 15 and 62 yards) in the first half of Farmington’s emphatic 53-13 victory over Belen. His third TD reception was an immediate response to a fumble recovery for a TD by Belen.
Ryan Sharpe, Bloomfield: Few quarterbacks in the state had a better weekend than Sharpe, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more in Bloomfield’s win at Hope Christian. He was also a key figure in arguably the gutsiest play call of Week 2 when he faked a punt on 4th and 16 with the Bobcats backed up inside their 20-yard line. Sharpe completed the pass for the first down. Sharpe’s heroics allowed Bloomfield to escape with the road win despite committing six turnovers.
Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM , Ro Rancho: Vigil showed why he’s a Division I prospect and the top RB in the state by piecing together another big night offensively. Vigil scored three touchdowns (run of 11 and 8 yards; 23-yard pass) and played a major role in Rio Rancho averaging 7.15 yards per rush against a La Cueva defense that looked impenetrable a week earlier against Cibola.
Evan Wysong Evan Wysong 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland: Wysong continues to excel as the Storm quarterback, rushing 16 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns in Cleveland’s win over El Paso Franklin. He also completed 11-of-19 passes for 179 yards AND he was a perfect 5-5 on PATs. George Blanda-esque. Overall, Wysong amassed 302 all-purpose yards in three quarters of action.
Marco Ybarra Marco Ybarra 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB St. Pius X | 2022 State NM , St. Pius X: Ybarra started and closed out the game strong with a 66-yard TD run on the Sartans’ opening drive against Kirtland Central and then a 5-yard TD run late to seal the victory. He added a 47-yard TD run in the third quarter and a 20-yarder.
Check out my highlight – https://t.co/FpLUBuHXmj
Week 1 and 2 highlights‼️ @CoachBBlackmon @CoachDWarehime @CHSStormFB @AF_Football @NavyFB— Evan Wysong (@WysongEvan) August 31, 2021
Game 2 highlights vs Las Cruces – https://t.co/v2uUK00bZV
@cibolafootball @CoachRodWill— Brayden Mummert (@BraydenMummert) August 30, 2021
ICYMI
Dominic Esparza goes 84 yards for a kickoff return TD@SartanX with a big 41-34 win over Kirtland Central Saturday@KOB4 @Sartan_football @NMGameDay pic.twitter.com/VrHrQSFFcB
— Brandon Ortega (@Brandega) August 29, 2021
Week 2 Highlights: Game ended at half, 3 TDs, 229 all purpose yards ‼️ Check out my highlight – https://t.co/jeynO2L49Q @Rude_WUBearcats @CoachGonzUNM @jeffthomas4 @IsaacKKParker @JoeBushman5 @CoachChrisBall, @PrepRedzoneNM
— Kellan “KG” Gehres (@KellanGehres23) August 30, 2021
What a day for St. Pius X's Marco Ybarra! 🏈💪🏽
4 TD, 150+ yards AND gives a shoutout to Mom on TV…you gotta love it! 😂
Sartans (1-1) pick up their first win of the season, 41-34 over Kirtland Central.@Sartan_football @marcoayb pic.twitter.com/JDaDPuRBvC
— Bethany Miller (@BethanyMillerTV) August 29, 2021