NMPreps: 2021 6-Man Football Preseason Preview & Predictions

NMPreps.com's quick preview and prediction for the 2021 (2020) New Mexico high school football season. Today, we look at 6-man football with a mixture of new teams to the classification down from 8-man.

2019 RECORDS

• Springer/Maxwell 9-1 *State Champ
• Elida 9-1 *State Runner Up
• Animas 6-3
• Hondo Valley 6-4
• Ramah 6-4 (8-man last season)
• Mountainair 5-4 (8-man last season)
• Vaughn/Corona 4-5
• Carrizozo 4-6
• Dora 3-5 (8-man last season)
• Gateway Christian 2-6 (8-man last season)
• Lake Arthur 2-6
• Floyd 1-5
• Tse’ Yi’ Gai 0-6 (8-man last season)
• Northwest 0-6 (8-man last season)
• Reserve 0-5 (8-man last season)
• Jemez Valley 0-0 (8-man last season)
• Foothill 0-0 (8-man last season)
• Roy/Mosquero 0-0
• Clovis Christian 0-0

2021 DISTRICT PLACEMENT
I
Foothill
Jemez Valley
Northwest
Ramah
Roy/Mosquero
Springer/Maxwell
Tse'Yi'Gai

II
Clovis Christian
Dora
Elida
Floyd
Gateway Christian
Lake Arthur

III
Animas
Carrizozo
Hondo Valley
Mountainair
Reserve
Vaughn/Corona

TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH

Teagan Burton, 2021 (Elida High School)
-1,160-passing yards and 26 touchdowns.

Chilly Hernandez, 2022 (Animas High School)
-406 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns.

Omar Castillo, 2022 (Animas High School)
-370 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns.

Diego Maestas, 2021 (Springer/Maxwell School)


TOP FIVE EARLY RANKINGS

No. 1 Elida High School
Scoop: The Elida Tigers were the 1-seed last season and didn't lose a game until the state championship game, a 29-26 loss to champ Springer/Maxwell. The Tigers return quarterback Teagan Burton and although they graduate plenty that surrounded him, they welcome back some experienced youth.

No. 2 Animas High School
Scoop: The Panthers gave eventual state champion Springer/Maxwell everything they could handle in the semifinals last season, falling 40-36. They graduate their all-state quarterback but return a duo in Omar Castillo (QB) and Chilly Hernandez (RB) that could be the best duo in the classification this season.

No. 3 Mountainair High School
Scoop: The drop in classification will immediately make the Mustangs a favorite to win it all this season. Not because of the drop but with the return of their entire roster outside of running back Francisco Zamora. Yes, Zamaora was very good in the backfield last season but the likes of Cade Brazil (2021), Dylan Greene (2021) and Adrian Luna (2022) create some excitement moving forward.

No. 4 Hondo Valley High School
Scoop: The Eagles reached the semifinals last season but bring plenty of excitement as they return everyone this season. Tommy Lucero (WR) and Fabian Prudencio (QB) could carry them forward this season.

No. 5 Springer/Maxwell School
Scoop: The Red Devils won their first state championship last season and the goal is to repeat. The bad news is they graduate a very good class and will be filling many holes. The good news is they return Diego Maestas (WR) who had a really solid showing in the state championship game.

How do you rank each team in each district? You can find teams in the new district here: Link

What do you think?

Who would make the playoffs right now? Who are the top-8 teams in each classification?

Former Illinois and NMSU coach passed away

What have been some good ones that you’ve attended during this four month stretch? What are some takeaways?

Should it still be considered the 2020 season? Spring 2021 season but still the 2020 champ? What about the Fall 2021 season?

How many sports did you play in high school? What did you play?

Will it be this winter or pushed to the Spring?

Would you play a senior on JV?

National Wing Day... Place, type of wing, sauce..

Asked to play later in 2020 or 2021 according to the journal

Favorite memory or memory in general about two-a-days when you played/coached.

Four people (players, coaches, schools, administrators, etc) who stick out as the four most known when it refers to New Mexico sports.

Not sure of the odds...

What are you taking?

Any guesses on what the new Redskins name will be?

How are they done effectively? How much of either do you do out of season and in-season? Watch film together or in units?

Eunice is looking for week 2 and week 4 opponents for spring 2021 season. Please contact head coach Greg Jackson at (575)942-0218.

FINALIST CANDIDATES

Adam Lucero, 2012, Aztec High School
NMPreps New Mexico Mr. Football Winner. 3,243 yards and 36 touchdowns during state championship year. Signed with ENMU.

Cole Gautsche, 2011, Cleveland High School
NMPreps New Mexico Mr. Football Winner. 2,700 total yards and 40 touchdowns leading the Storm to the title. Signed with UNM.

Easton Breure, 2014, Rio Rancho High School
NMPreps New Mexico Mr. Football Winner. 4,597 passing yards and 49 touchdowns.

Gabe Ortega, 2015, Cleveland High School
NMPreps New Mexico Mr. Football Winner. 3,398 yards and 34 touchdowns. Signed with UNM.

Gavin Hardison, 2017, Hobbs High School
NMPreps New Mexico Mr. Football Winner. Passed for 5,347-yards and 59 touchdowns during the 2017 season. Signed with NMMI

Jacob Jameson, 2010, Lovington High School
NMPreps New Mexico Mr. Football Winner. 3,624-yards and 60 touchdowns.

Kameron Miller, 2015, Las Cruces High School
Passed for 2,200 yards and 17 touchdowns. Also, rushed for 1,542 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Mason Caperton, 2019, Eunice High School
Three time state champion. Had 9,856 career passing yards and 129 career TDs. 3,487 yards during his senior season.

Taylor Null, 2017, Artesia High School
Passed for 3,792-yards and 52 touchdowns his senior season. Signed with UTPB.

Zach Gentry, 2014, Eldorado High School
Michigan commit was regarded as one of the best ever. 3,000 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns. Also rushed for 1,057-yards and 22 touchdowns.

HIGH HONORABLE MENTION

Bo Coleman, 2013, Valley High School
Brandon Branch, 2010, Albuquerque Academy
Bryscon King, 2010, Aztec High School
Casey Perez, 2020, Lovington High School
Clay Houghtaling, 2020, Artesia High School
Dalton Bowles, 2018, Goddard High School
Drew Ortiz, St Pius X School
Dustin Walton, 2010, Raton High School
Gage Guardiola, 2019, Ruidoso High School
Jude Segura, 2019, Fort Sumner High School
John Balizan, 2020, West Las Vegas High School
Justin Houghtaling, 2015, Artesia High School
Kyle Hooper, 2016, Alamogordo High School
Marcus Steele, 2019, Cibola High School
Nick Gaerlan, 2019, Los Lunas High School
Tyler Sorensen, 2014, Navajo Prep School

Favorite trading card you had or have still.

Will some players that have already signed D-1 scholarships going to play in the Spring?

Post Here.

Does it happen in Orlando? Should it?

How many more players opt to not play?

NEW MEXICO ALL-DECADE RUNNING BACK (2010-2019) - Ronnie Daniels

Winner: Ronnie Daniels, La Cueva High School (Albuquerque, NM)

Daniels, will always be remembered for what he did on the field for the La Cueva Bears during his career. The 2010 graduate enrolled and played one season at Texas Tech University but collected a handful of offers. Following up on a 2,261-yard, 34-touchdown and winning New Mexico Mr. Football as a junior in 2009 Daniels blew those numbers away. In 2010 he rushed for 3,024-yards, 42 touchdowns and broke a record with 7,068-career yards. He once scored 7-touchdowns (vs Manzano) and 351-yards (vs Mayfield) in single games.


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NMPreps.com's list of the top running backs during the 2010-2019 decade. The premium members on NMPreps.com will vote on who deserves the titles as the Top Running Back of the Decade.

CANDIDATES

2016 Ezekiel Tapia, Estancia HS - 12 games played, 271 carries, 2745 yds, 10.1 ypc, 41 tds. Rushed for 1,323-yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior.

2010 Ronnie Daniels, La Cueva HS - Rushed for 3,024 yards and 42 touchdowns his senior season. Went to play at Texas Tech University.

2017 Josh Foley, Rio Rancho HS - Rushed for 1,872-yards, 350-receiving yards, and 35 total touchdowns. Won the 2016 Mr. Football award. Went to play at New Mexico State University.

2013 JJ Granados, Las Cruces HS - Rushed for 2,069-yards and 40 touchdowns. Won the 2013 New Mexico Mr. Football.

2017 Isaac Vance, Mayfield HS - Rushed for 2,206-yards and 31 touchdowns his senior season. Went to play at Kent State University.

2011 David Anaya - Rushed for 2,232-yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior and 2,269-yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior for the Goddard Rockets. Signed and played for the University of New Mexico.

2013 Kamal Cass, Clovis HS - Led the state in rushing with 2,081-yards and 26 touchdowns in 2013. He rushed for 2,457-yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior in 2012. Became an All-American at Eastern New Mexico University.

2019 Dorian Lewis, Cleveland HS - Rushed for over 1,500-yards and 26 touchdowns along with 500 receiving yards and 9-touchdowns. Rushed for another 1,500-yards in 2018. Was the 2019 Mr. Football.

2018 Diego Casillas, Belen HS - Led the state in rushing yards as a senior with 2,047-yards and 20-touchdowns. Rushed for 2,679 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2017 as a junior.

2015 O'Maury Samuels, Los Lunas HS - 1,400-yards as a senior with 14 touchdowns and 1,458-yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior. Rushed for 1,397-yards and 14-touchdowns as a sophomore. Signed with the University of Michigan.


HONORABLE MENTION

2013 Romel Jordan, Cleveland HS - Rushed for 1,600-yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior in 2013. Went to play at the University of New Mexico.

2011 Zane Walker, Loving HS - Rushed for 1,800-yards (1st in state) and 27 touchdowns as a senior. Rushed for 1,400 yards (5th in state) and 21 touchdowns as a junior in 2010.

2016 Micah Gray, Clovis HS - 1,684-yards and 29 touchdowns in 2016 for the Wildcats. Went to University of New Mexico.

2016 Sail Trujillo, Hatch Valley HS - Rushed for 2,104 yards for the Bears and 30-touchdowns.

2019 Isaiah Johnson, Grants HS - Rushed for 2,088-yards and 34-touchdowns as a senior for the Pirates.

2015 Adam Lujan Estancia HS - Rushed for 2,113-yards and 36-touchdowns.

2014 David McGee, Laguna-Acoma HS - Rushed for 1,969-yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior. Went to New Mexico Highlands University.

2011 Noah Brown, Valencia HS - Rushed for 1,715-yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior. Went to New Mexico State University.

2010 Eric Galindo, Carlsbad HS - Rushed for 1,655-yards and 20-touchdowns in 2010.

2018 Jonathan Garcia, Taos HS - Rushed for 1,939-yards and 19 touchdowns.