Week 6 Preview: Top Players To Watch & Top POTY Candidates
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Week 6 of the New Mexico High School football season got underway Thursday night with a high-scoring affair in Las Vegas and continues Friday night with dozens of games throughout the state. Here is our list of the players to…
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Continue ReadingWeek 6 of the New Mexico High School football season got underway Thursday night with a high-scoring affair in Las Vegas and continues Friday night with dozens of games throughout the state. Here is our list of the players to watch in Week 6 and our Top 10 Player of the Year candidates:
PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR WEEK 6:
Julian Cobos Julian Cobos 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Santa Teresa | 2022 State NM , Santa Teresa: Cobos has been outstanding at quarterback for the Desert Warriors this season even though he’s playing football for the first time since middle school. He has rushed for 100+ yards in four of Santa Teresa’s 5 games this season and has 723 rushing yards for the season.
Jonathan Fuentes Jonathan Fuentes 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Carlsbad | 2022 State NM , Carlsbad: The Cavemen take on powerful Rio Rancho Friday night at a neutral location: ENMU Stadium in Portales. We know Rio Rancho will score points, so it’s up to Carlsbad to keep up. That’s where Fuentes and the Cavemen passing attack comes in.
Dominic Esparza Dominic Esparza 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB St. Piux | 2022 State NM , St. Pius X: WE know RB Marco Ybarra Marco Ybarra 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB St. Pius X | 2022 State NM is the top dog for the St. Pius X offense, but Esparza has been pretty good on both sides of the ball playing Ed McMahon to Ybarra’s Johnny Carson.
Emilio Mora, Los Lunas: Dual threat QB Paul Cieremans Paul Cieremans 5'10" | 195 lbs | QB Los Lunas | 2023 State NM is the central figure in the Los Lunas attack, but Mora is one of the guys that makes the Tigers’ passing attack so good. He has 17 receptions for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns, all team highs.
Calvin Cox Calvin Cox 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Mayfield | 2022 State NM , Mayfield: The Trojans head to the Wool Bowl for a Class 5A showdown with Roswell, which looks to have turned the corner with last week’s win over Carlsbad. Cox ignites the Mayfield running game along with Jose Montoya Jose Montoya 5'8" | RB Mayfield | 2022 State NM .
Blake Spencer, Bloomfield: The Bobcats will make the long journey to Valencia without starting QB Ryan Sharpe, who suffered a strained ACL last week and could miss the next few games. Spencer, only a freshman, filled in admirably last week and relied on Bloomfield’s strong ground game.
Zakk Thomas Zakk Thomas 5'10" | RB Kirtland Central | 2022 State NM , Kirtland Central: If the Broncos are going to end their two-game losing streak against Grants Friday, Thomas must step up. When he brings his A-game, he’s one of the top ball carriers in the state.
Jacob Ramsted, Piedra Vista: It’s the Panthers turn to take on Durango (Co.), the reigning Class 3A champions in Colorado. Farmington beat them 35-17 last week, while Aztec was blanked. Ramsted and Caleb Sanchez form a strong RB tandem.
Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM , La Cueva: The Bears have won three straight since losing to Rio Rancho by the mercy rule in Week 2. Armenta is established as one of the top 2023 quarterbacks in the state.
Milo Acosta Milo Acosta 6'0" | QB Clovis | 2022 State NM , Clovis: Whenever a team is in an offensive funk, you look to the quarterback to get them out of it. Acosta has thrown for 532 yards and is the Wildcats’ second leading rusher. If Clovis is going to win its first game of the season, Acosta will lead them there.
Kaden Valdez Kaden Valdez 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM , Volcano Vista: Valdez was a sensation in the spring with 22 receptions in just three games. But injuries have limited him to just one game in the fall. He had 6 receptions for 55 yards. The hawks need him if they’re going to make a 6A playoff push.
Andres Aguirre, Albuquerque: If the Bulldogs are going to beat Volcano Vista in their district opener, Aguirre must gain valuable yards on the ground, allowing Albuquerque to play keep-a-way from the Hawk’s explosive passing game.
Jacob Pino, Bernalillo: The Spartans are 4-1 but coming off a 7-6 loss to Moriarty after averaging 40+ points per game in their first 4 games. With huge matchups against Albuquerque Academy and St. Pius X looming in early October, Bernalillo must regain its offensive footing, and Pino must show the way.
St. Michael’s starting QB: The Horsemen have used four different quarterbacks since the dynamic Lucas Coriz Lucas Coriz 6'2" | QB St. Michael's | 2022 State NM suffered a season-ending knee injury against rival Santa Fe a few weeks ago. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, St. Michael’s will start Zachary Martinez or Jacob Katko Jacob Katko 5'11" | 160 lbs | QB St. Michael's | 2023 State NM against Socorro in a huge Class 3A battle Saturday afternoon in Santa Fe.
Goddard’s No. 2 RB: Javyn Morales Javyn Morales 5'10" | 155 lbs | RB Goddard | 2023 State NM , the Rockets’ top playmaker and arguably the fastest player in the state, is doubtful for Friday night’s game at Los Lunas due to an injury suffered early in the second half last week. Who will carry the run game workload for Goddard? Hector Salvarrey, John Silva or Adrian Solis Adrian Solis 5'6" | 165 lbs | QB Goddard | 2023 State NM are the top candidates.
TOP 10 PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES: Think of the New Mexico Player of the Year award as the Land of Enchantment’s version of the Heisman Trophy. That means the award will most likely go to an offensive skill position player, notably a quarterback. Keeping that in mind, here are our Top 10 POTY candidates entering Week 6:
Martell Mora Martell Mora 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Santa Fe High | 2022 State NM , Santa Fe
Evan Wysong Evan Wysong 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland
Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM , Rio Rancho
Ian Lopez Ian Lopez QB Centennial | 2022 State NM , Centennial
Paul Cieremans Paul Cieremans 5'10" | 195 lbs | QB Los Lunas | 2023 State NM , Los Lunas
Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola
Javyn Morales Javyn Morales 5'10" | 155 lbs | RB Goddard | 2023 State NM , Goddard
Adam Aguilera Adam Aguilera 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM , Lovington
Brandon Furbee Brandon Furbee 6'3" | QB Farmington | 2022 State NM , Farmington
Marco Ybarra Marco Ybarra 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB St. Pius X | 2022 State NM , St. Pius X.
Half season Highlights
648 passing yards 8 touchdowns
592 rushing yards 9 touchdowns @PrepRedzoneNM @CoachDWarehime @JR_Sandlin https://t.co/qrTyDK9XjW— Paul Cieremans (@CieremansPaul) September 24, 2021