2A FOOTBALL
#1 Jal Panthers (10-2 overall, 3-0 district; State Runner Up): Will this year be the year? The last state championship for the Panthers came in 1999, a 26-0 win over Loving. After an impressive district championship last season the Panthers fell a game short to their long-standing rival Eunice in the championship game. The attractive pick is Jal with the duo in the backfield of Alexavier Carreon (2023) and Jacob Lujan (2023). The duo rushed for over 3,200 yards and 52 rushing touchdowns during the 2021 season. The defense also features a 2024 duo in Jesus Carreon and Brandon Houston, both of which had over 50-total tackles last season.
#2 Eunice Cardinals (9-3 overall, 2-1 district; State Champion): The Cardinals are looking to add their fifth title in a row, officially. After going 9-3 overall last season and defeating district rival Jal in the title game the Cardinals look to replace some key pieces. Those pieces include all-state quarterback Conagher Pierce which threw for 2,586-yards last season. 1,132-yard rusher Micah Tippett is also gone to graduation. The big name to know for the Cardinals offense will be Ashton Thompson a 2024 WR that led the team in receiving yards with 717 along with 12 receiving TD's. On defense keep on Brandon Trevino (2023/LB), Jonathan Cabellero (2023/LB), and Kevin Garcia (2023/DB). The Cardinals lose plenty to graduation but this is a program that continues to reload instead of rebuild.
#3 Tularosa Wildcats (7-1 overall, 3-0 district; Semifinals): The Wildcats went a perfect 6-0 during the regular season (COVID cancelled games). The Wildcats also won a playoff game before falling to eventual champ Euince in the semifinals. Transition this season as they usher in new head coach Mike Felicetti who replaces Lawrence Craine. The Wildcats lose plenty from last season that includes four all-state players along with stud athlete Colton Gililland. Keep an eye on 6-4 2023 defensive tackle Justin Porter, DB Kani Mathis (2024), and DB Dillon Salazar (2024) to carry the Wildcats into the 2022 season. Two LB's to watch will be Michael Wood (2025) and Isaiah Reyes (2024) to anchor a talented defense. The Wildcats will have some transition with a new head coach, loss of some talented seniors, but the future is bright with prospects.
#4 Texico Wolverines (5-5 overall, 2-0 district; Semifinals) The Wolverines will move into the 2022 season under a talented quarterback in Cade Figg. Figg along with a relatively young roster last season should guide the Wolverines as we enter the 2022 season. The Wolverines won four of the last five games of the season including a 53-35 win in the first round of the state playoffs, vs Capitan. The difficult part for the Wolverines will be playing the newly formed district 4 with the likes of Eunice, Hagerman, Jal, and Loving.
#5 Estancia Bears (5-5 overall, 3-0 district; 1st Round): Run game, dominating the time of possession, and limiting the mistakes. The Estancia Bears are in position to make another run at a title being six years removed from their back-to-back championships (2015 & 2014). The Bears return one of the top players in the class with 6-foot-2, dual-threat quarterback Ja'Brae Boyer (2023) returning under center. Boyer had 891-rushing yards and 17-rushing touchdowns for the Bears last season that includes a 366-yard rushing night along with a 239-rushing night. The defense looks to 2024 player Seth Dunlap who led the defense in tackles with 49. The Bears move into a new district with Capitan, Mescalero Apache, and Tularosa. They will have the opportunity to prove their ranking with an opening night date with the Texico Wolverines on August 19th.
#6 Santa Rosa Lions (4-5 overall, 1-1 district; No playoffs): Let's consider this a soft landing spot for the Lions at this point. After missing the 2021 playoffs and finishing under .500 the Lions could be ready for a strong push back in 2022. The Lions return running back Andres Madrid (2023) who went for 1,370-yards and 15-touchdowns last season. Madrid also added 115 receiving yards and 28-total tackles for the defense. Nicolas Chavez (2024/LB) also returns to the defense after leading the team in total tackles with 68 last season. The Lions schedule will be tough with the non-district slate; they face the following in non-district (in this order) -- Dexter, Robertson, Tularosa, Tucumcari, Hagerman, and Estancia. They should finish at the top of their new district with McCurdy, Laguna-Acoma and Escalante.
#7 Hagerman Bobcats (4-4 overall, 1-2 district; 1st Round): The Hagerman Bobcats will have to battle in the powerful district 3-2A each season with the likes of Eunice and now a talented Jal program. Yes the Bobcats lost their key players to graduation last season but look out for two names - Adam Baeza (OL/2023) and Romelo Salazar (DE/2024). Salazar, a 6-foot-1 defensive end, could have a breakout season. Hagerman will feature a new head coach and have plenty of way to go before an opening night showdown with 8th ranked Capitan Tigers.
#8 Capitan Tigers (7-3 overall, 2-1 district; 1st Round): The Capitan Tigers are an interesting bunch as they had a successful run during the 2021 season but could be set up for step back this season. Gone are their two studs from last season in Gabe Hayes and Dylan Herring.
#9 Escalante Lobos (4-4 overall, 2-1 district; no playoffs): We can break the classification into three tiers -- the favorites to win it all, the in-between group (5-9), and the outside the top-9. Escalante is the final team in this in-between group. They lost their best player to graduation and will rely on 2024 prospects Trey Archuleta (RB/LB) and Luka Torrez (WR/DB), both of which gained some experience last season and stood out enough to be the go-to prospects this preseason.
#10 Loving Falcons (1-9 overall, 0-3 district; no playoffs): Much will stay the same in 2A football this season in terms of records, so will be the Loving Falcons record. They are likely to struggle through a difficult schedule of the top teams in the class. Not all is lost though as they have two 2024 prospects returning after earning valuable experience last season. Kaleb Rodriguez passed for 962-yards and 8-touchdowns last season. Drew Welletto rushed for 609-yards and 4 touchdowns.
#11 McCurdy Bobcats (2-6 overall, 1-2 district; no playoffs): The Bobcats returned to the football last fall after missing three years of games. After struggling through 5-straight losses the Bobcats found success with a 64-52 win on the final night over Laguna-Acoma. Some names to keep an eye on Markus Martinez (2023), Casey Nevarez (2023), Jolen Montoya (2023) along with 2025 Jeremaya Roybal.
#12 Laguna-Acoma Hawks (1-7 overall, 0-3 district; no playoffs): The bad news for the Hawks: wins will be hard to come by in a small 13-team classification. The good news for the Hawks: They return over 25 players from the 31 man roster in 2021. 6-foot-2 junior Kendrick Brown is a solid option at TE and LB for the Hawks.
#13 Mescalero Apache Chiefs (0-8 overall, 0-3 district; no playoffs): The Chiefs struggled through a winless season in 2021 and will have to fill holes. Alexander Fangman (2025/WR) and Darius Wheeler (2024/WR-DB) will look to as the guys to carry them forward. Mason Jenkins (2023/OL) will return on the offensive line.
