Week 3: Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 3 of the New Mexico High School Football season is complete. Here are some of the weekend's top performers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138072' first='Michael' last='Ash'], Bernalillo</strong>: The senior DL dominated the trenches by establishing a new state single game record for tackles with 27 in the Spartans' win over Del Norte.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Omar Argott, Hobbs</strong>: Hobbs overwhelmed Roswell, 51-7, at the Wool Bowl as Argott threw for 296 yards and 4 TD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137862' first='Aidan' last='Armenta'], La Cueva</strong>: Armenta threw for 262 yards in the thrilling last-second win over Centennial and made several clutch late throws on the Bears' final two drives as La Cueva rallied from a 21-14 deficit with 2 TD in the final 5 minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rylee Bleicher, Albuq. Academy</strong>: The senior caught&nbsp; TD pass and intercepted two passes on defense to help spark the Chargers' 35-0 win over Hope Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jack Bumgardner, Santa Teresa</strong>: Rushed for 167 yards and 2 TD in the Desert Warriors' 52-39 win at Lovington. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137861' first='Aden' last='Chavez'], Cibola</strong>: The state‘s No. 1 2023 prospect led a comeback from an early 21-0 deficit by completing 26-of-33 passes for 386 yards and 3 TD. With Chavez back, the Cougars are a threat to make a deep run in the 6A playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Josh Calhoon, Estancia</strong>: 125 rushing yards and 1 TD on a workhorse 39 carries in a loss to Socorro. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Paxton Culpepper, Portales</strong>: The Rams' QB has led Portales to a 3-0 start. Friday, he threw for 306 yards and 4 TD in an impressive 55-30 win over West Las Vegas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275478' first='Devin' last='Diaz'], Portales</strong>: Led a strong Portales defensive effort in a win over West Las Vegas with 8.5 tackles, 2 TFL and 2 INT. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1001437' first='Demusico' last='Edsitty'], Kirtland Central</strong>: 143 rushing yards on 14 carries in Kirtland Central's 36-6 win over Thoreau.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nye Estrada, Artesia</strong>: The Bulldogs QB spread the ball around to his receivers en route to throwing for 189 yards and 3 TD in a 44-0 win over Belen at the Bulldog Bowl.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274791' first='Trel' last='Griego'], Farmington</strong>: The Scorpions traveled to Los Lunas and pulled out a 26-11 win over the [player_tooltip player_id='137885' first='Paul' last='Cieremans']- less Tigers. Griego threw for 3 TD and ran for 1 TD in the big road win. Farmington came into the game with an 0-2 record. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jesse James Gonzalez, Robertson</strong>: In defensive struggle against Santa Rosa, Gonzalez stood out on the offensive side with 122 rushing yards on 27 carries. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales'], Volcano Vista</strong>: The Hawks made the long trip to Carlsbad and triumphantly rode home to Albuquerque with a 32-19 victory. Gonzales had 114 yards and 1 TD rushing and caught 3 passes for 38 yards. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138091' first='Ace' last='Gonzalez'], Robertson</strong>: Led the Cardinals' strong defensive effort at Santa Rosa with 14 tackles from his LB position. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208691' first='Mikah' last='Gutierrez'], Centennial</strong>: Emerging as the early favorite for the 2022 New Mexico Heisman award, Gutierrez rushed for close to 200 yard and 2 TD in the Hawks' heartbreaking 28-21 loss to La Cueva.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Angel Hernandez, Santa Teresa</strong>: The Desert Warriors went to Lovington and beat the defending 4A champions, 52-39. Hernandez rushed for 236 yards on 23 carries, over 50 percent of his team's 420-yard rushing total. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275207' first='Dean' last='Marquez'], Atrisco Heritage</strong>: The Jaguars piled up 576 yards in total offense in a 54-33 win over Eldorado, scoring 40 points in the second half. Marquez threw for 369 yards and 5 TD in Atrisco's first win over Eldorado in a decade.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bryle Matthews, Kirtland Central</strong>: Kirtland Central unleased a devastating rushing attack in a 36-6 win over Thoreau. Matthews rushed for 135 yards and 1 TD on 16 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138058' first='Tristen' last='McNeal'], Aztec</strong>: Returned a kickoff 80 yards for a TD as the Tigers won a low-scoring game at Fred Cook Memorial Stadium in Aztec. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Melancon, Eunice</strong>: The Cardinals QB completed 13-of-20 passes for 2023 yards and 5 TD to key a 33-12 win over Ropes (TX).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Latavious Morris, Atrisco Heritage</strong>: Morris is emerging as one of the top young receivers in the state. He had 8 receptions for 126 yards in the win over Eldorado.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Camon Ochoa, Lovington</strong>: Ochoa broke out with 183 rushing yards in Lovington's loss to Santa Teresa. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275430' first='Brandon' last='Olivas'], Eldorado:</strong> In a shootout loss to Atrisco Heritage, Olivas passed for nearly 300 yards and 3 TD.    </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138204' first='Josh' last='Perry'], Cleveland</strong>: The Storm traveled to Amarillo (TX) and won, 47-30, over Amarillo High s Perry rushed for 177 yards and 2 TD on 25 carries. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274705' first='Marquise' last='Renfro'], Atrisco Herit</strong>age: Renfro rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries in the 54-33 win over Eldorado.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137884' first='A.J.' last='Rivera'], Albuq. Academy</strong>: The Chargers QB threw for 2 TD and ran for 1 TD in AA's shutout win over Hope Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Myuh Robertson, La Cueva</strong>: Replacing the injured [player_tooltip player_id='269525' first='Gabriel' last='Buie'], Robertson rushed for 66 yards and 2 TD in La Cueva's exciting win over Centennial.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Patrick Rodriguez, West Las Vegas</strong>: Just a sophomore, Rodriguez rushed for 148 yards on 21 carries in WLV's loss to Portales. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138061' first='Kaden' last='Sago'], Ruidoso</strong>: He was the offensive star in Ruidoso's 42-0 victory over Chaparral with 161 rushing yards + 2 TD on 12 carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Schrueder, Piedra Vista</strong>: Schrueder excelled on both sides of the ball as PV edged Durango (CO) in a weather-delayed game in Farmington.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jesse Seitzinger, Bloomfield</strong>: The Bobcats rolled over Grants, 43-0, as Seitzinger rushed for 92 yards and 2 TD</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137923' first='Malachi' last='Thymes'], Sandia</strong>: If we named the breakout stars of the 2022 season, Thymes would be near or at the top of the list. Thursday, he rushed for 214 yards and 3 TD on 27 carries, enhancing his status as a workhorse running back. He has scored 13 TD in 3 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139523' first='Nic' last='Trujillo'], Cleveland</strong>: The New Mexico commitment caught 7 passes for 107 yards in the Storm's huge road win over Amarillo (TX) High. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='269534' first='Ethan' last='Vanlandingham'], Hobbs</strong>: The Eagles offense erupted for 51 points in a big road win at Roswell with Vanlandingham catching 4 passes for 130 yards. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='138053' first='Cayden' last='Walton'], Raton</strong>: Walton moved closer to the 6,000 career rushing mark with 215 yards on just 9 carries against Trinidad (CO). Raton retains the Coal Bucket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/D3v_03/status/1566687495676432389","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/D3v_03/status/1566687495676432389 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KellanGehres23/status/1566525683374837760","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KellanGehres23/status/1566525683374837760 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ArnoldM44916550/status/1566534875695534083","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ArnoldM44916550/status/1566534875695534083 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BrandonOlivasQB/status/1566496796112588800","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BrandonOlivasQB/status/1566496796112588800 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BrodyWhitaker2/status/1566509462017302528","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BrodyWhitaker2/status/1566509462017302528 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->