Each week on NMPreps.com we select a North, Metro Area, Southwest, and Southeast Player of the Week. The Player of the week award is powered by First Financial Credit Union.
Pictured is Head Artesia Football Coach Cooper Henderson, the Bulldogs have won their last 18 of 20 football games.
Coach of the Week - Cooper Henderson, Artesia High School
The Artesia Bulldogs defeated the Alamogordo Tigers last weekend at the Bulldog Bowl 34-30 in what was considered one of the biggest high school football victories Friday Night. The Bulldogs playing without their starting quarterback for the second straight week were led by a great defensive effort and a sophomore at quarterback handed the Tiger's their first loss of the season. Cooper Henderson and the Artesia Bulldogs have now won their last 18 out of 20 games and continue to prove that they are not a one-man team, nor have they ever been.
Team of the Week - Manzano Monarchs
One of the hottest teams in Class 6A is the Manzano Monarchs who are now 4-3 on the season. Two weeks ago, the Monarchs defeated the Mayfield Trojans, last Saturday they were able to open district with an important 35-25 victory over Sandia. The Monarchs were led by Orland Perez at quarterback who threw for 100-yards, ran for 134-yards, and returned a kickoff 74-yards for a touchdown. Sophomore Jordan Byrd who holds an offer from New Mexico caught a touchdown and scored off a 47-yard touchdown run. Manzano is back in action this weekend against the Highland Hornets.
North Player of the Week - Dominic Montano, Escalante High School
The Escalante Lobos who have won their last 17 out of 18 games defeated the Ft. Sumner Foxes last Friday Night 42-25 moving to 6-1 on the season. Senior Quarterback Dominic Montano was 1-6 passing for 13-yards, but ran for an incredible 419-yards off 33 carries and scored 5 touchdowns. On the season Montano has thrown for 427-yards and rushed for 1,112-yards and 20 touchdowns.
Metro Area Player of the Week - Marcos Gonzales, West Mesa High School
West Mesa won a very important district game against Valley last Thursday Night defeating Valley 53-44. On the night it was Marcos Gonzales, a senior quarterback who reeled off one of the biggest dual threat performances of the season. Gonzales threw for 186-yards with 3 touchdowns, rushed for 176yards with 3 more touchdowns, and also returned an interception for a touchdown. On the season Gonzales has thrown for 721-yards and 9 touchdowns.
Southwest Player of the Week - Dante Lopez, Centennial High School
In a 56-19 win over Los Lunas, the Hawks moved to 6-0 on the season and 1-0 in district play. While there is a ton of key role players on Centennial, Dante Lopez a first year quarterback is having quite the year. Against the Tigers he was 9 for 10 passing for 150-yards and 5 touchdowns. On the season Lopez is 61-86-yards passing (71%) for 1,070-yards with 19 touchdowns and just 1 interception. The Hawks will take on 5-1 Chaparral in week 8.
Southeast Player of the Week - Cade Barnard, Melrose High School
6-foot-3, 200 pound Sophomore Cade Barnard is the next big time athlete out of Melrose. The 8-Man Football Power has produced numerous stat titles and is currently 7-0 this season heading into their marquee match up against undefeated Gateway Christian this Friday Night. During a 50-0 win against Springer, Barnard threw for 5 touchdowns, ran for 2 touchdowns, and had over 400-yards of total offense against the Red-Devils.
Pictured is Head Artesia Football Coach Cooper Henderson, the Bulldogs have won their last 18 of 20 football games.
Coach of the Week - Cooper Henderson, Artesia High School
The Artesia Bulldogs defeated the Alamogordo Tigers last weekend at the Bulldog Bowl 34-30 in what was considered one of the biggest high school football victories Friday Night. The Bulldogs playing without their starting quarterback for the second straight week were led by a great defensive effort and a sophomore at quarterback handed the Tiger's their first loss of the season. Cooper Henderson and the Artesia Bulldogs have now won their last 18 out of 20 games and continue to prove that they are not a one-man team, nor have they ever been.
Team of the Week - Manzano Monarchs
One of the hottest teams in Class 6A is the Manzano Monarchs who are now 4-3 on the season. Two weeks ago, the Monarchs defeated the Mayfield Trojans, last Saturday they were able to open district with an important 35-25 victory over Sandia. The Monarchs were led by Orland Perez at quarterback who threw for 100-yards, ran for 134-yards, and returned a kickoff 74-yards for a touchdown. Sophomore Jordan Byrd who holds an offer from New Mexico caught a touchdown and scored off a 47-yard touchdown run. Manzano is back in action this weekend against the Highland Hornets.
North Player of the Week - Dominic Montano, Escalante High School
The Escalante Lobos who have won their last 17 out of 18 games defeated the Ft. Sumner Foxes last Friday Night 42-25 moving to 6-1 on the season. Senior Quarterback Dominic Montano was 1-6 passing for 13-yards, but ran for an incredible 419-yards off 33 carries and scored 5 touchdowns. On the season Montano has thrown for 427-yards and rushed for 1,112-yards and 20 touchdowns.
Metro Area Player of the Week - Marcos Gonzales, West Mesa High School
West Mesa won a very important district game against Valley last Thursday Night defeating Valley 53-44. On the night it was Marcos Gonzales, a senior quarterback who reeled off one of the biggest dual threat performances of the season. Gonzales threw for 186-yards with 3 touchdowns, rushed for 176yards with 3 more touchdowns, and also returned an interception for a touchdown. On the season Gonzales has thrown for 721-yards and 9 touchdowns.
Southwest Player of the Week - Dante Lopez, Centennial High School
In a 56-19 win over Los Lunas, the Hawks moved to 6-0 on the season and 1-0 in district play. While there is a ton of key role players on Centennial, Dante Lopez a first year quarterback is having quite the year. Against the Tigers he was 9 for 10 passing for 150-yards and 5 touchdowns. On the season Lopez is 61-86-yards passing (71%) for 1,070-yards with 19 touchdowns and just 1 interception. The Hawks will take on 5-1 Chaparral in week 8.
Southeast Player of the Week - Cade Barnard, Melrose High School
6-foot-3, 200 pound Sophomore Cade Barnard is the next big time athlete out of Melrose. The 8-Man Football Power has produced numerous stat titles and is currently 7-0 this season heading into their marquee match up against undefeated Gateway Christian this Friday Night. During a 50-0 win against Springer, Barnard threw for 5 touchdowns, ran for 2 touchdowns, and had over 400-yards of total offense against the Red-Devils.
Last edited:
