5A FOOTBALL
NMPreps first take at the class 5A New Mexico high school football team rankings for the 2022 season. #nmpreps
(1) ROSWELL COYOTES
2021 Record: 5-6 overall. Picking between Goddard, Artesia, and Roswell for the top spot in the 5A preseason rankings was the toughest prediction of the preseason. Despite a 5-6 season, the Coyotes went 3-0 in district play in 2021, and have a roster built for a run the next two years. Head coach Jeff Lynn has built a power in the Coyotes program and with the likes of Bryce Sanchez (2024/RB), Josh Estrada (2024/WR), Eli Lynn (2024/TE), and Sebastian Mendoza (2023/WR) returning will create a high-powered offense. Mayfield also enters the district this season, a team the Coyotes beat 29-21 as part of their 5-2 finish to the season.
(2) GODDARD ROCKETS
2021 Record: 7-5 overall. With New Mexico Mr. Football contender and All-New Mexico running back Javyn Morales (2023) leading the way, the Rockets have their sights set on another run at a state championship. Morales suffered an injury last season and put a halt to a title run last season and with experience surrounding him the Rockets have a shot at making a deep run. Add in Adrian Solis (2023) and the Rockets have an offensive duo that could make noise. The Rockets went 7-5 last season and notched two playoff wins over Valley and district rival Roswell, who beat the Rockets two weeks earlier in the final district game. The new district will test the Rockets late and staying healthy through games against Artesia, Mayfield and Roswell will be trying right before the playoffs.
(3) ARTESIA BULLDOGS
2021 Record: 9-4 overall. The Artesia Bulldogs are coming off another season in which they played for a state championship. They fell short in the final game of the year but the program automatically becomes a favorite as we enter 5A football. What they lose: Nate Taylor and Jake Barrera on offense. Taylor under center and Barrera carrying the ball for the Bulldogs. The 2022 season will be a Payton & Peyton show, as Payton Deans had success at QB but also showed that he can carry the ball out of the backfield as well. Peyton Greathouse (2024) a name to become familiar with as one of the must-see receivers to watch coming into the 2022 campaign. This ranking could be high for Artesia standards but it appears that we will have a three way battle for the 5A title in 2022.
(4) MAYFIELD TROJANS
2021 Record: 7-5 overall. The Trojans moves from District 3 to District 4 with the likes of Artesia, Goddard, and Roswell; Three powers that have ruled Class 5A football. So what to expect from the Trojans football program as we enter the 2022 season? That seems to be the lead question as the Trojans will have plenty of vacancies left to fill due to graduation. More can be previewed on the players that have graduated than those that return for the Trojans this coming season. They will feature a new quarterback, RB, WR, and lose most of the line. So why a top-four ranking? Well, at the end of the day it is the Mayfield Trojans and although they will have a rebuild/reload, however you look at it, they will be near the top of the class. You can expect to see some changes on offense with additions to the staff. Anthony Carrillo (CB/2023), Omar Mejia (2023/OL) are a couple names that will look to guide a new depth chart.
(5) DEMING WILDCATS
2021 Record: 5-6 overall. Deming has rejuvenated energy headed into what could be a playoff win season. No, this is not a boom or bust type of season but the Wildcats do have some quality pieces returning that could propel them into a playoff win. Yes, we will start with the obvious that New Mexico Highlands University commit Joey Reza has graduated and the Wildcats will look to fill the running back spot. On offense, this shift to top prospect Fabian Reyna (2023) who had a quality season. Another can't miss stud for the Wildcats this coming season will be in the form of 6-foot-3 defensive end Ian Ortiz who returns after an all-state season. We are projecting the Wildcats to fall between the 4-6 spots come state playoffs.
(6) PIEDRA VISTA PANTHERS
2021 Record: 6-5 overall. All of the pieces are in place for the Piedra Vista Panthers to win the District 1-5A championship. The district is a new one for the next two-year block featuring Highland (Albuquerque), Belen, and Miyamura. Logan Howell (2023) returns at quarterback for the Panthers giving them an experienced leader that can run this offense. Jacob Ramsted (2023) also provides power to this run game and could have the Panthers earning a top-four seed come the playoffs. The Panthers have depth, experience, and the opportunity at being a 2-win team in the playoffs.
(7) MANZANO MONARCHS
2021 Record: 1-8 overall. Head coach Stephen Johnston will start his second season with the Monarchs with a bit of optimism. The Monarchs drop down in classification to 5A from 6A football and a year under his system. The biggest question mark will be replacing a handful of seniors from last years squad but promise sits in the 2024 class of players that gained experience. The Monarchs will play in the new 5A district featuring Del Norte, Los Alamos, and Valley. Demajaye Kindred (2024), Zachary Keen (2023), and John Williams (2024) are some early names to what is essentially a new roster of prospects this season. Williams had a solid season and will be one of the top DL's to watch in the district.
(8) VALLEY VIKINGS
2021 Record: 4-7 overall. New head coach Billy Cobos inherits a roster with intriguing talent that includes, Caeden Jojola a 2023 quarterback that threw for nearly 1,000-yards and rushed for another 500-yards; he totaled 20-touchdowns (12 passing). Ricky Henderson returns to the backfield after rushing for nearly 600-yards and 8-touchdowns. Jojola also returns a core of 2024 receivers in Just Vigil, Ezekiel Ramos, and Charles Lopez-Burton. Henderson and Vigil also lead an experienced defense that featured several 2024 and 2025 prospects that could guide the new era under coach Cobos. Valley will play in the newly formed district 2-5A with Manzano (Albuquerque), Del Norte (Albuquerque), and Los Alamos.
(9) BELEN EAGLES
2021 Record: 7-4 overall. After an 0-2 start to the season the Eagles won their final six games of the regular season along with winning their first round game of the state playoffs. Transition is the key word here for the Eagles as head coach Andrew McCraw took over at Clovis High School. The Eagles also graduate top defensive end Brody Jaquez who signed with Eastern New Mexico University. They also lose leading running back Sam Tibbs who totaled 740-yards and 8-touchdowns on the season. Looking ahead two talented names stick out in Diego Avila (2024) and Elijah Romero (2023), both could be a force in the backfield. They will play in a newly formed district 1-5A with Highland, Miyamura and Piedra Vista.
(10) LOS ALAMOS HILLTOPPERS
2021 Record: 5-6 overall. A powerful thing to have is an identity. The Hilltoppers are currently building that in Los Alamos under the direction of head coach Garett Williams. Although they will have a new quarterback under center in 2022 the Hilltoppers look to surround the team around some experience that made the playoffs in 2021. That experience will feature Teke Nieto (2023) a 6-1 running back/middle linebacker that is one of our top players to watch in 5A football this coming season. Nieto rushed for 607-yards with three touchdowns. He also totaled 298 receiving yards on offense along with 2 sacks and 109 total tackles on defense. Santiago Quintana (2024) will be another to watch this season after earning some experience last season as a sophomore -- he totaled for 66 total tackles on the year. The early indicators have the Hilltoppers battling for a district championship in the newly formed District 2-5A with Del Norte, Manzano, and Valley all of Albuquerque.
(11) SANTA TERESA DESERT WARRIORS
2021 Record: 9-3 overall. The Santa Teresa Desert Warriors have quietly built a winning program in southern New Mexico since 2017. The Warriors have finished over .500 each season and accumulated a 32-14 record. The Desert Warriors are also coming off a playoff win last season defeating Piedra Vista 21-0 in the first round. That's the great news surrounding the program. The bad news for ST fans will be the replacement of several key players from last season that includes dynamic ATH Julian Cobos. Both sides of the ball are affected by graduation and have several holes to fill. The schedule will have create some issues early as they open their season with Goddard (8.19), Mayfield (8.26) and Lovington (9.2). Early predictions have the Desert Warriors sitting around 4 or 5 wins. Running back and MLB Angel Hernandez (2023) has the most experience in the backfield with 386 rushing yards last season on 42-carries. He also reached the end zone 4-times last season. Hernandez is also the most experienced on defense, leading the returners in total tackles with 41.
(12) MIYAMURA PATRIOTS
2021 Record: 2-7 overall. The Miyamura Patriots are in need of a good season following a disappointing 2-7 record in 2021. That two-win record includes troubles with now former head coach John Roanhaus who was fired after an arrest. Interim head coach David Foley, who took over in October, has been given the reigns as the head coach heading into the 2022 season. The Patriots return some guys that could help guide them into the future with the likes of running back Chris Chavez (2023) along with a quality group for the 2025 class. Clayton Hall (2023) and Isaiah Martinez (2023) both return after sharing time under center for the Patriots last season.
(13) GADSDEN PANTHERS
2021 Record: 3-5 overall. The Panthers move down entering 5A football after being an independent 6A team in 2021. They will play in the newly formed district 3-5A with Chaparral, Deming, and Santa Teresa; they faced all three teams during 2021 going 1-2 overall. The Panthers will look to the leadership of 2023 quarterback Tomas Herrera who rushed for 1055-yards and passed for another 654. He had a total of 19-touchdowns, 12 of those being rushing touchdowns.
(14) HIGHLAND HORNETS
2021 Record: 3-8 overall, 1-3 district. Despite a tough start to the season, one that seen a limited amount of players to start the year the Hornets won 2 of the final three games. Highlights for the 2022 season will be a majority of the roster returning from last season. The Hornets were one of the more inexperienced rosters in the state and welcome back all but four seniors from last season. Four running backs after playing significant minutes -- includes Eliab Lopez (2023), Joziah Rodriguez (2024), Amiri Mumba (2025), and Alex Lopez (2025). The Hornets will still need to battle in a district that includes Belen, Miyamura, and Piedra Vista.
(15) DEL NORTE KNIGHTS
2021 Record: 1-8 overall, 0-4 district. Head coach Bruce Langston's second season started off with plenty of setbacks during the 2021 season. The Knights had players out along with a canceled opening game against Atrisco Heritage. Fast forward to the 2022 season and the Knights are hopeful for a return to a full roster, have adjusted their schedule to avoid some of the powers in Albuquerque and in the class. The team will have plenty of inexperience and will be somewhat of an unknown entering the season. Look for 2024 ATH Jojo Turtle-Morales to be on the early newcomers list by mid-season.
(16) CHAPARRAL LOBOS
2021 Record: 0-10 overall, 0-3 district. The Lobos will start in a similar position as we enter 2022 -- ranked at the bottom. This job is considered the most difficult job in 5A football (maybe all large enrollment schools). The Lobos failed to score last season being outscored 498 to 0. The good news for the Lobos is the fact that they only graduate two seniors from the 2021 team. More positive news for the Lobos is returning quarterback Eriberto Gutierrez who has some speed out of the option.
