Week 11: Top Performers
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The regular season is over and the playoffs are set to begin. Here are the Top Performers from Week 11: Cash Aragon, Los Lunas: Led a balanced rushing attack by the Tigers in a 54-0 win over Clovis in a…
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Continue ReadingThe regular season is over and the playoffs are set to begin. Here are the Top Performers from Week 11:
Cash Aragon, Los Lunas: Led a balanced rushing attack by the Tigers in a 54-0 win over Clovis in a district championship game with 99 yard rushing on 8 carries. Four ball carriers had 48+ yards for Los Lunas.
Ashton Aranda Ashton Aranda 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Lovington | 2023 State NM , Lovington: One of the state’s top dual threat quarterbacks threw for 165 yards, ran for 73 yards and accounted for 2 TD in Lovington’s 20-14 district-clinching road win at Portales. The Wildcats started 0-6 but went 4-0 in the district and is a top four seed for the playoffs.
Marcus Armijo Marcus Armijo 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Socorro | 2023 State NM , Socorro: The Warriors have steamrolled most of their opponents this season and Armijo is a key part of that. He rushed for 196 yards on 21 carries and threw for 129 yards to lead a 29-0 victory over Cobre in a district championship game.
Juan Badillo Juan Badillo 5'8" | 150 lbs | QB NMMI | 2023 State NM , NMMI: Badillo had 189 yards rushing and 3 TD on 16 carries in NMMI’s 54-16 win over Tucumcari.
Diego Baeza Diego Baeza 5'5" | 160 lbs | RB Hobbs | 2023 State NM , Hobbs: With the Eagles needing a victory to secure a top four seed in the 6A playoffs, Baeza rushed for 144 yards and 3 TD on 14 carries in a 42-7 win over Carlsbad as the Eagles finished 2nd in the district behind Centennial.
Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: The junior quarterback had a fantastic season for the Mustangs after transferring from Cleveland in June. In his final game, Brody threw for 191 yards and ran for 113 yards on 11 carries. However, the Mustange didn’t get a berth in the 6A playoffs, so Brody’s season is over. He’ll be a serious contender for the 2023 New Mexico Heisman.
Josh Calhoon, Estancia: Calhoon (133 rushing yards on 10 carries) and Ja’Brae Boyer Ja’Brae Boyer 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Estancia | 2023 State NM (139 rushing yuads on 3 carries) pounded Capitan on the ground in Estancia’s 54- 0 win.
Daan Cano, Gadsden: Just a sophomore, Cano had 14 tackles for Gadsden in a 29-12 loss at Deming in a district championship game. Cano has been one of the top defenders in Class 5A this season with 109 tackles.
Manny Chavez, Portales: Chavez continued his sensational sophomore season with 17 tackles in the district championship game loss to Lovington. Chavez has 8 games of 11+ tackles this season, and 116 tackles overall. Portales, the 5th seed, hosts St. Pius X on Fri. night.
Santiago Chavez, Moriarty: Moriarty’s offense in its district championship game at Taos went through Chavez, who had 136 rushing yards on 22 carries. Moriarty, though, scored just 7 points in a 28-7 loss to the Tigers.
Mason Espinda-McChriston Mason Espinda-McChriston 6'2" | 175 lbs | ATH Bernalillo | 2024 State NM -McChriston, Bernalillo: Espinda made plays on both sides of the ball in a hard-fought loss to Albuq. Academy. He caught 6 passes for 91 yards and had two interceptions for 80 yards in returns.
Nye Estrada, Artesia: Estrada tossed three TD passes, all to Devyn Fierro Devyn Fierro RB Artesia | 2023 State NM , as Artesia blanked Mayfield, 35-0, and earned the #1 seed for the Class 5A playoffs.
Angel Gutierrez, Santa Teresa: Along with Christian Torres, Gutierrez was outstanding running the football against local rival Chaparral in a 48-0 victory. Gutierrez had 116 yards rushing and 2 Td while Torres had 115 yards and 1 TD in a two-headed ground assault.
Peyton Harrison Peyton Harrison 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola: The Cougars LB made 11 tackles in Cibola’s 40-34 OT loss to Sandia. Harrison is one of the players that must step up in the playoffs for Cibola, the No. 8 seed. They host Los Lunas in the first round.
Daniel Hernandez Daniel Hernandez QB Centennial | 2024 State NM , Centennial: The Hawks completed an unbeaten run through the district with an emotional 35-14 win over Las Cruces as Hernandez rushed for 3 TD in the first half when Centennial accumulated 185 rushing yards.
Reuben Holguin, Silver: In a game dominated by the defenses, Holguin had 11 tackles and 3 TFL for Silver, which won the district title and secured the No. 1 seed for the 4A playoffs.
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson 5'9" | 135 lbs | WR West Mesa | 2023 State NM , West Mesa: The Mustangs didn’t make the 6A playoffs but Johnson, a senior, went out with a flourish by catching 2 passes for 100 yards and 1 TD (77-yard catch and run) as West Mesa beat Eldorado, 34-8.
Landen Martinez, Albuq. Academy: Martinez has filled in nicely for the injured Cole Conway Cole Conway 6'3" | 230 lbs | RB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM . In a 27-24 win over Bernalillo, Martinez rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries. Martinez and the Chargers will face Bernalillo again in the 1st round of the playoffs Friday afternoon.
Zaeden McPherson, Hobbs: 13 tackles in the Eagles’ win over Carlsbad.
Elijah Melancon, Eunice: Threw for 316 yards and 3 TD on 24-of-36 passing (66.7 completion percentage) in the Cardinals’ wild 36-35 loss to Texico.
Julian Muñoz, Capital: The Jaguars ripped rival Santa Fe, 42-6, as Munoz threw for 3 TD and ran for 2 more as Capital built a 35-0 first-half lead. Capital finished am encouraging 5-5 in their first season in Class 6A but didn’t get a berth into the playoffs.
Teke Nieto Teke Nieto 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB Los Alamos | 2023 State NM , Los Alamos: The Hilltoppers are the No. 7 seed in the 5A playoffs largely because of the production of Nieto, who had 126 yards rushing on just 6 carries in a big district win over Del Norte.
Josh Perry Josh Perry 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland: Perry, one of the top running backs in the state, rushed for 185 yards and 3 TD as Cleveland rallied for a 35-14 district-clinching win over crosstown rival Rio Rancho to keep the City of Vision Trophy.
Eliot Pasket-Bell, Volcano Vista: Pasket-Bell has developed into a special quarterback this season for the Hawks and he was outstanding again in a 50-0 win over Atrisco Heritage. He completed 17-of-25 passes for 269 yards and 5 TD. Volcano Vista squares off with Atrisco Heritage again Fri. night in the first round of the 6A playoffs.
Mason Posa, La Cueva: Our Player of the Week did everything for La Cueva in its win over Farmington with 5 Tackles, 2 sacks, 3 TFL, forced fumble, interception, punt return for TD and 69-yard punt.
Cooper Pritchett Cooper Pritchett 5'10" | 150 lbs | LB Ruidoso | 2023 State NM , Ruidoso: Pritchett threw for a season high 247 yards and 3 TD, and added 10 tackles on defense, as the Warriors beat Dexter, 43-6, and earned the No. 2 seed in the Class 3A playoffs. Pritchett has 10+ tackles in his last 3 games.
Jack Purdy, Espanola Valley: The Sundevils just fell short of the 4A playoffs but Purdy made sure they finished the year with a win as he rushed for 158 yards and 3 TD in a 50-7 win over rival Pojoaque Valley.
Ian Sanchez Ian Sanchez 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: Caught 2 TD passes for La Cueva in the win over Farmington. QB Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM had 4 TD passes, half to Sanchez.
Kenyon Singleton Kenyon Singleton 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Hobbs | 2023 State NM , Hobbs: The Hobbs defense held Carlsbad to 7 points in the win as Singleton collected a season-high 18 tackles. It was the 7th time this season Singleton had 11+ tackles. Singleton finished the regular season with 124 tackles.
Ryan Stovall Ryan Stovall 6'2" | 195 lbs | LB Alamogordo | 2023 State NM , Alamogordo: In a defensive slugfest – and a must win for the Tigers – Stovall stood out with 12 tackles in Alamogordo’s 7-3 victory over Organ Mountain.
Brandon Trevino, Eunice: 13 tackles in the 1-point loss to Texico while Luis Gomez Luis Gomez 6'2" | 160 lbs | DB Eunice | 2025 State NM had 12 tackles.