Top 20 Players to Watch in the Semi-Finals
We are down to 18 teams in New Mexico High School football this season in 5 classifications (out of 7). We continue to list the top players to watch in the state each week and we continue that in this feature.
Four Quarterbacks
Nic Little, Sr, QB, Rio Rancho: Plenty of attention has been on running back Josh Foley for the Rams (and rightfully so) but maybe one of the best, not talked about, quarterbacks is NIc Little. Little has a BIG numbers with 1,662-passing yards, plus the stat line of a personal season best 253-passing yards came against Manzano on September 23rd who the Rams host in the semi-finals.
Payton Ball, Jr, QB, Las Cruces: We couldn't mention the top quarterbacks who are playing in the semi-finals without mentioning the junior who could find himself on the finalist candidates list for the NMPreps.com Mr. Football award. Ball, has 2,172-passing yards and 21-passing touchdowns this season. The Bulldawgs face the Cleveland Storm in the semi-finals, Ball had a personal season best the last time they played Cleveland with 303-passing yards.
Drew Ortiz, Sr, QB, St. Pius X: Unfortunately in 5A football stats are not provided by our quarterbacks ranked 1 and 2 from the classification but Ortiz is ranked number one. The dual threat quarterback has been great this season and has been reported to have a few games with over 5-touchdowns.
Shane Cooper Carson, Sr, QB, Hatch Valley: Carson the quarterback for the 5-seed Hatch Valley Bears in 4A football. The Bears are the defending champions in the classification, he has 1,507-passing yards along with 1,030-rushing yards on the season. He also has 34-total touchdowns (17 each rushing/passing). The Bears take on the 1-seed Robertson Cardinals in the semi-finals.
The Rest To Watch
Ezekiel Tapia, Sr, RB, Estancia - 2,194-rushing yards.
Josh Foley, Sr, RB, Rio Rancho - 1,549-rushing yards.
O'maury Samuels, Sr, RB, Los Lunas - 1,228-rushing yards.
Niko Papadopoulos, Sr, RB, Cleveland - 998-rushing yards.
Xavier Ivey-Saud, So, RB, Manzano - 868-rushing yards.
Junior Ramirez, Sr, QB, Portales - 1,273-passing yards.
Saul Trujillo, Jr, WR/RB, Hatch Valley - 2,046-rushing yards.
Price Bowen, Jr, QB, Capitan - 1,193-passing yards.
Jordan Byrd, Jr, RB, Manzano - 763-rushing yards.
Mason Caperton, Fr, QB, Eunice - 878-passing yards.
Juan Sosa, So, RB, Eunice - 1,028-rushing yards.
Stpehen Ellison, Jr, RB, Capitan - 980-rushing yards.
Darion Ontiveros, Sr, RB, Portales - 1,267-rushing yards.
Joseph Paul Griego, Sr, RB, Robertson - 1,101-rushing yards.
Defenders in the Semi-Finals
Connor Houdek, Sr, LB, Robertson - 127-tackles.
Isaac Jaramillo, Sr, MLB, Cleveland - 86-tackles.
Trevor Brohard, Sr, LB, Los Lunas - 167-tackles.
Diego Sanchez, So, TE, Los Lunas - 132-tackles.
Cade Manzanares, So, MLB, Roswell - 62-tackles, 8-sacks.
We are down to 18 teams in New Mexico High School football this season in 5 classifications (out of 7). We continue to list the top players to watch in the state each week and we continue that in this feature.
Four Quarterbacks
Nic Little, Sr, QB, Rio Rancho: Plenty of attention has been on running back Josh Foley for the Rams (and rightfully so) but maybe one of the best, not talked about, quarterbacks is NIc Little. Little has a BIG numbers with 1,662-passing yards, plus the stat line of a personal season best 253-passing yards came against Manzano on September 23rd who the Rams host in the semi-finals.
Payton Ball, Jr, QB, Las Cruces: We couldn't mention the top quarterbacks who are playing in the semi-finals without mentioning the junior who could find himself on the finalist candidates list for the NMPreps.com Mr. Football award. Ball, has 2,172-passing yards and 21-passing touchdowns this season. The Bulldawgs face the Cleveland Storm in the semi-finals, Ball had a personal season best the last time they played Cleveland with 303-passing yards.
Drew Ortiz, Sr, QB, St. Pius X: Unfortunately in 5A football stats are not provided by our quarterbacks ranked 1 and 2 from the classification but Ortiz is ranked number one. The dual threat quarterback has been great this season and has been reported to have a few games with over 5-touchdowns.
Shane Cooper Carson, Sr, QB, Hatch Valley: Carson the quarterback for the 5-seed Hatch Valley Bears in 4A football. The Bears are the defending champions in the classification, he has 1,507-passing yards along with 1,030-rushing yards on the season. He also has 34-total touchdowns (17 each rushing/passing). The Bears take on the 1-seed Robertson Cardinals in the semi-finals.
The Rest To Watch
Ezekiel Tapia, Sr, RB, Estancia - 2,194-rushing yards.
Josh Foley, Sr, RB, Rio Rancho - 1,549-rushing yards.
O'maury Samuels, Sr, RB, Los Lunas - 1,228-rushing yards.
Niko Papadopoulos, Sr, RB, Cleveland - 998-rushing yards.
Xavier Ivey-Saud, So, RB, Manzano - 868-rushing yards.
Junior Ramirez, Sr, QB, Portales - 1,273-passing yards.
Saul Trujillo, Jr, WR/RB, Hatch Valley - 2,046-rushing yards.
Price Bowen, Jr, QB, Capitan - 1,193-passing yards.
Jordan Byrd, Jr, RB, Manzano - 763-rushing yards.
Mason Caperton, Fr, QB, Eunice - 878-passing yards.
Juan Sosa, So, RB, Eunice - 1,028-rushing yards.
Stpehen Ellison, Jr, RB, Capitan - 980-rushing yards.
Darion Ontiveros, Sr, RB, Portales - 1,267-rushing yards.
Joseph Paul Griego, Sr, RB, Robertson - 1,101-rushing yards.
Defenders in the Semi-Finals
Connor Houdek, Sr, LB, Robertson - 127-tackles.
Isaac Jaramillo, Sr, MLB, Cleveland - 86-tackles.
Trevor Brohard, Sr, LB, Los Lunas - 167-tackles.
Diego Sanchez, So, TE, Los Lunas - 132-tackles.
Cade Manzanares, So, MLB, Roswell - 62-tackles, 8-sacks.
