4A Team Rankings: District 3 (Southern District)
NMPreps will continue to release team rankings for each classification in New Mexico. We are less than two months away from the first game and we get you started. In 4A we will release by district and then with ranking all 18-teams in the classification.
Projected Order of Finish
1.) Lovington (last season: 4-1 overall)
The Lovington Wildcats are returning as the 4A Bowl State Champions, a 37-19 win over Bloomfield High School. Head coach Anthony Gonzales continues to rebuild this once power into one of the top programs in 4A football again. Looking forward to the 2021 season the Wildcats have some holes to fill with a great group going out. Those positions will be at quarterback, running back, and also some upfront. Key pieces returning will a three-headed monster at receiver in Isaac Hinson (2021), Adam Aguilera (2021), and Tayten Hillard (2021).
2.) Portales (last season: 4-1 overall)
The Portales Rams arguably the second-best team in 4A football last season behind Lovington. The Rams went 4-1 overall and 16-2 over the two last two seasons; in 2019 they won the last official state championship in this classification. It's no doubt that head coach Jaime Ramirez is at the top of the list of top head coaches in the state and classification. He will have to again replace some weapons and this time that includes do-all quarterback Baylor Diaz. Diaz was one of the top-ranked mobile quarterbacks in New Mexico last season. Braydon Mignard (2021), Brandon Blidi (2021), and Hagen Rains (2021) all return and create a seriously tough defense for the Rams.
3.) Ruidoso (last season: 1-4 overall)
The Ruidoso Warriors and head coach Kief Johnson are looking to an improved Fall 2021 season after going 1-4 last season. When I say improved it looks at the record but the Warriors played a difficult slate of games with all three district teams being tough last season along with adding Alamogordo to the list. The Warriors like the other teams in the district will have a new quarterback under center and the Warriors, who run the ball, have some options. Top running back Braxton Hall (2021) along with Griffin Hooker (2021) return after getting some touches during the Spring. Kago Sandoval (2022) and Mike Sandoval (2021) return on offense as well providing them with some nice options.
4.) Silver (last season: 2-1 overall)
The Colts had some weapons last season and they really showed how good they were in the final game of the season. The Colts beat Kirtland Central in the bowl game, 40-7 in a game of what could have been a special season at Silver. Now they must replace a handful of those key pieces including Walker Wenzel a do-all quarterback that will play at WNMU. Returning, the Colts turn to some youth in Aidan Granado (2023) who rushed for 84-yards (4.4 ypc) and 95 receiving yards playing behind some really good talent. Owen Hooper (2022), and Mason Lockett (2022) along with Walter Woodward (2023) form a sound defense that could become the strength of this season's team.
Related
District 4-4A (Central District) Preview
NMPreps will continue to release team rankings for each classification in New Mexico. We are less than two months away from the first game and we get you started. In 4A we will release by district and then with ranking all 18-teams in the classification.
Projected Order of Finish
1.) Lovington (last season: 4-1 overall)
The Lovington Wildcats are returning as the 4A Bowl State Champions, a 37-19 win over Bloomfield High School. Head coach Anthony Gonzales continues to rebuild this once power into one of the top programs in 4A football again. Looking forward to the 2021 season the Wildcats have some holes to fill with a great group going out. Those positions will be at quarterback, running back, and also some upfront. Key pieces returning will a three-headed monster at receiver in Isaac Hinson (2021), Adam Aguilera (2021), and Tayten Hillard (2021).
2.) Portales (last season: 4-1 overall)
The Portales Rams arguably the second-best team in 4A football last season behind Lovington. The Rams went 4-1 overall and 16-2 over the two last two seasons; in 2019 they won the last official state championship in this classification. It's no doubt that head coach Jaime Ramirez is at the top of the list of top head coaches in the state and classification. He will have to again replace some weapons and this time that includes do-all quarterback Baylor Diaz. Diaz was one of the top-ranked mobile quarterbacks in New Mexico last season. Braydon Mignard (2021), Brandon Blidi (2021), and Hagen Rains (2021) all return and create a seriously tough defense for the Rams.
3.) Ruidoso (last season: 1-4 overall)
The Ruidoso Warriors and head coach Kief Johnson are looking to an improved Fall 2021 season after going 1-4 last season. When I say improved it looks at the record but the Warriors played a difficult slate of games with all three district teams being tough last season along with adding Alamogordo to the list. The Warriors like the other teams in the district will have a new quarterback under center and the Warriors, who run the ball, have some options. Top running back Braxton Hall (2021) along with Griffin Hooker (2021) return after getting some touches during the Spring. Kago Sandoval (2022) and Mike Sandoval (2021) return on offense as well providing them with some nice options.
4.) Silver (last season: 2-1 overall)
The Colts had some weapons last season and they really showed how good they were in the final game of the season. The Colts beat Kirtland Central in the bowl game, 40-7 in a game of what could have been a special season at Silver. Now they must replace a handful of those key pieces including Walker Wenzel a do-all quarterback that will play at WNMU. Returning, the Colts turn to some youth in Aidan Granado (2023) who rushed for 84-yards (4.4 ypc) and 95 receiving yards playing behind some really good talent. Owen Hooper (2022), and Mason Lockett (2022) along with Walter Woodward (2023) form a sound defense that could become the strength of this season's team.
Related
District 4-4A (Central District) Preview
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