September 10, 2012

Kyle Henderson
NMPreps.com Publisher

Each week NMPreps.com will select Players of the Week and publish the award winners each Monday. Coaches and fans are urged to send in weekly top performers after Friday night's game to nmpreps@yahoo.com. This will greatly insure that we select the correct player for each award.

WEEK ONE: TEAM OF THE WEEK		OVERALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The Taos Tigers, what the Taos Tigers? Yes, the Taos Tigers beat the Hope Christian Huskies this weekend in Taos, New Mexico 19-14 for the state's first real big upset of the 2012 season. The Tigers are now 2-0 on the season (beating Bernalillo 21-14) in week one and now with a monster win over Hope Christian the Tigers jumped to #5 in the NMPreps.com Class 3A Rankings. Taos takes on Laguna Acoma in week three.		Michael Rose - La Cueva Clearly one of the hottest players in the state to start the 2012 season is the Senior Running Back at La Cueva. Last weekend against Valley in a thrilling 27-26 victory Rose who was the Metro State Farm Player of the Week in week one against Cleveland, reeled off another impressive performance against Valley. He ran for 237-yards, three rushing touchdowns, and returned a punt 50-yards for a score. In two games Rose has ran for 428-yards and totaled eight touchdowns.
SMALL SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE WEEK		NORTHERN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Austin Jones - Laguna Acoma The Laguna Acoma Skyhawks rolled past Santa Fe Indian in week two thanks to a fantastic weekend performance from one of the more underrated receivers in the State of New Mexico. Jones at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds scored five total touchdowns helping boost his player ranking stock with NMPreps.com. Jones is also one of the most dangerous three point shooters come the hoops season.		Kason Wilkinson - Piedra Vista The 5-foot-10, 247 pound linebacker out of Piedra Vista had a monster week two against Grants helping the Piedra Vista Panthers reach the 2-0 mark for the first time since 2006. Wilkinson who put up solid numbers at the NMPreps Elite Combine back in July of 2012 recorded two interceptions, 10 tackles, and made a ton of key tackles against Grants' top flight running back Timothy white. The Piedra Panthers will host Durango, Colorado in week three.
METRO AREA PLAYER OF THE WEEK		SOUTHWEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ullisses Astorga - Rio Rancho The Rio Rancho Rams continue to hammer teams in the first two weeks of the season. Last week against Gadsden the Rams rolled to a 54-2 win over the Panthers. Senior Running Back Ulisses Astorga had a monster game and has been selected by NMPreps.com the Metro Area State Farm Player of the Week. He ran for 205-yards and three touchdowns and also returned a kick-off for a touchdown totaling four touchdowns. The week Rio Rancho plays in the NMPreps.com Game of the Week against Goddard.		Zach Binger - Socorro One of the state's top kickers resides in Class 3A and is Binger a senior at Socorro. In a loss last weekend against Ruidoso 19-10, Binger balled out with a big defensive performance. Binger recorded two interceptions and hit a 30+ field goal against Ruidoso. The Warriros are now 1-1 after beating West Las Vegas in week one. Binger is also a top student athlete in the classroom and has been playing quarterback this year for Socorro under New Head Coach Damian Ocampo. Socorro takes on Raton this week agaisnt the 0-2 Tigers.
SOUTHEAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK		Video: Week Two Game Recaps
Cody French - Goddard All of Goddard's skill players graduated or at least seemed to from their dangerous 2011 squad, however they rebuild like a machine and in week two which was their first game of the season the blasted Aztec 63-0 in a no-contest rematch of the 2011 4A State Title Game. On the night, it was Cody French for Goddard out of the Class of 2014 who ran for over 100-yards and scored three touchdowns. French's brother was a gamer from Goddard a few years back and it looks like the bloodline runs football deep. The Rockets take on Rio Rancho in the NMPreps.com Game of the Week.		We Covered Three Games In Week Two. Rio Rancho dominated Gadsden 54-2, you can view those game highlights here. Las Cruces and Eldorado played just one quarter of football because of a lightning cancelation. View those highlights here. On Saturday, the St. Michael's Horsemen topped 4A St. Michael's 28-12. View those highlights here.

?Here is our exclusvie NMPreps.com Statewide Recap for Week Two

Must See: Pre-Season All-State Selections Here | Top 200 Prospect Rankings

Message Board: ?Poll: Most Surprising Week Two Score | WK2 Official Thread | Cleve., Mayfield, Aztec 0-6

Week Two Recap

Each Saturday during the prep football season we recap the State's Marquee Match-Ups that took place Friday night. Please submit top performers here | nmpreps@yahoo.com

Rio Rancho 54, Gadsden 2

The Rio Rancho Rams (2-0) squared of against the Gadsden Panthers (1-1) Friday night and The Rio Rancho Rams ran away with the victory behind the legs of Ulises Astorga who ran for 200 yards rushing and also returned a Kick for 95 yards and proved to be just to much offense for the Panthers to handle. Easton Bruere threw for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns to help cap off a lopsided affair. The Panthers drop to 1-1 and looked outclassed all night long. Gadsden faces EP Eastwood in week 3. Rio Rancho will prepare to take on a very salty Goddard Rockets team (1-0) in week 3. Premium Highlights Here

Los Lunas 20, Alamogordo 0

The Los Lunas Tigers moved to 2-0 on the season with a 20-0 victory over Alamogordo Friday Night. After a 30 minute lightning delay the Los Lunas Tigers got on the board with a Chris Wisneski touchdown keeper to make it 6-0. The Tigers then added a 7-yard Jalen Chavez touchdown run and scored their final touchdown of the game when Isaac Parra scored from a few-yard out on a touchdown run to put the game at 20-0. For Alamogordo Edward Schlensig had nine-tackels in the game and an interception. The Alamogordo Tigers take on West Mesa in week three. The Los Lunas Tigers will take on the Del Norte Knights in week three.

Clovis 67, Highland 12

Coach Eric Roanhaus picks up his 312 career victory son Friday as his Clovis Wildcats improve to (2-0) on the season, with a victory over Highland Hornets who are now (0-2) to start the year. Offensively the Clovis Wildcats would look to Junior Runningback Kamal Cass, who rushed for 202 yards on 31 carries. Clovis looks to continue their winning ways against a tough Manzano team in week 3, while Highland looks to rebound against a very tough La Cueva Bears football team.

Belen 48, Del Norte 7

The Belen Eagles move to (2-0) on the year after getting a win against a much younger Del Norte Knights team on Friday Night. The Del Norte Knights fall to (1-1) on the season. Offensively the Knights were lead By runningback Darly Wiggins who ha the only touchdown on the night for the Knights. Belen was lead by Nick Kurtz and crew and have a tough opponent in the Moriarty Pintos. Del Norte will look to get back in to the winning column against Los Lunas in week 3.

Taos 19, Hope Christian 14

The Taos Tigers (2-0) faced off against the Hope Christian Huskies (1-1) on Friday and shocked the Huskies with a hard fought victory and was a back and fourth battle throughout the night. In the end Taos quarterback Kevin McCarty was the difference and in the end gave the Tigers a 19-14 lead after a play action bootleg turned into the final touchdown of the game. The Tigers look to play Laguna Acoma in week 3. The Hope Christian Huskies look to rebound against a very tough opponent in Silver.

Onate 20, EP Socorro 13

The Knights won in dramatic fashion Thursday Night at the Field of Dreams in Las Cruces against the now 1-1 EP Socorro Bulldogs. Onate Quarterback Curtis Hynes found Mario Pacheco in the end-zone with only seconds left to give the Knights a six point much needed week two win under second year head coach Caleb Hull. Hynes threw for over 100-yards on the night and included two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the first came when he hit Kevin Benda four a 25-yard score and the second as we mentioned was an 8-yard touchdown with just seconds left. The Knights also received big production form running back Isaiah Fielder who ran for close to 100-yards and scored a 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The Knights are now 1-1 and will take on the Cleveland Storm, the defending Class 5A state champ in week three.

St. Michael's 28, St. Pius X 12
The St. Michael's Horsemen (2-0) squared of against the St. Pius X Sartans (1-1) Saturday night and The Horsemen were led offensively by the enormous offensive line headlined by Griffen Barth and Andres Blea to win 28-12 beating the Sartans for the second year in a row. Also contributing was Cory Serna who had a good day at the helm of his St. Mike's offense and Salomon Martinez who had a good day on offense and defense Scoring three total touchdowns, two on offensive and on the defensive side after Martinez took an interception to the house. Premium Video Highlights Here

Sandia 20, Cibola 13
The Sandia Matadors now 2-0 on the season gave the Cibola Cougars every chance to win a Saturday afternoon match up, but somehow managed to hold on to a 20-13 thrilling ending. Cibola had the football with under a minute left and could not convert a fourth down with 20 seconds left. Sandia trailed the Cougars 6-3 at the half and then took the lead when Cibola Cougar Quarterback Derek Martinez threw an interception to Sandia's Aaron Smith who returned the interception to the one-yard line. Sandia would punch it in one play later for the eventual game winning touchdown. Sandia is now 2-0 on the season while the Cougars fall to 0-2.

Las Cruces vs. Eldorado - Canceled
The 5A Game of the Week between #1 Ranked Las Cruces and Eldorado was canceled and will not be rescheduled. Friday Night at the Field of Dreams after the Dawgs led 13-7, a lightning storm that lasted more than two hours made officials make a tough call to cancel the game. APS would not allow for the Eagles to stay the night for a potential rescheduled game that would of taken place on Saturday and since the game had not gone past the mid-way mark each coaches had no other option but to accept a no-game. The game will not be rescheduled and Eldorado along with Las Cruces will have nine-game seasons. It's as basically as if the game never even took place. Premium Video Highlights Here

Goddard 63, Aztec 0
The Goddard Rockets literally pounded the Aztec Tigers in a no-contest rematch of the 2011 Class 4A State Title Game Friday Night in the Rocket's opener of the 2012 season. Aztec who had lost to Los Lunas 50-28 in week one gave up 63 points to Goddard in just two quarters. For the Rockets it was Junior Cody French who ran for 121-yards and three touchdowns off just eight carries. Also contributing was Dean McDaniel and Anthony Orenelas who each scored on the night. Goddard Linebacker Fabian Soto returned an interception for a touchdown and Josh Quiroz returned a fumble for a touchdown. Goddard is now 1-0 and will take on Rio Rancho in week three.

La Cueva 27, Valley 26
The La Cueva Bears battled it out with the Valley Vikings to improve to (2-0) on the season in a hard-fought battle that came down to the wire and ultimately a single play, the two point conversion on behalf of Valley to try and take a 28-27 lead to win the game. However the La Cueva defense stepped up to the plate and made a big stop at the goal line to help La Cueva improve to 2-0 on the season. Offensively the Bears were lead by Senior Running-back Michael Rose who had 31 carries for 237 yards rushing. The Valley Vikings drop to (1-1) on the season but proved that they have what it takes to play with any team they have on their schedule, and that they can count on Junior Quarterback Bo Coleman to lead them in times of adversity as he threw for 229 passing yards on the evening.

Carlsbad 16, Del Rio, Texas 10
The Carlsbad Cavemen beat a very good Del Rio, Texas team Friday Night 16-10 thanks to a great defensive effort from the Cavemen Defense. Senior Linebackers like Zeke Leyva, Bobby Mallett, Ethan Holguin, and Caleb Vannetter came thru big after quarterback Rodney Holcomb went down with a high ankle sprain. The latest update we have received on Holcomb is that the ankle should be back to normal in week or so. Holcomb threw a touchdown and ran for a touchdown Friday Night bringing his two game touchdown count to four. The Cavemen now 2-0 on the season head to Las Cruces next weekend to take on the 0-2 Mayfield Trojans.

Artesia 57, Hobbs 13
The Artesia Bulldogs now 2-0 on the season have posted up more than 100 points in their first two games of the season. Friday Night against Hobbs at Watson Memorial, the Hobbs Eagles had no answer for Junior Artesia Quarterback Trevor Eulenbach as the lefty threw two touchdown passes and ran for another to help the Bulldogs build a 21-0 lead from the get go. Eulenbach found Weston Leonard for a 14-yard tochdown, then called his own number for a 10-yard touchdown run, before hitting Leonard again for a 25-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs led 34-13 at the half and added more points with a Zeke Montoya touchdown run and a Drew Houghtaling to Deion Wesson touchdown pass. The Bulldogs are now 2-0 on the year and will take on Valencia in week three. The Hobbs Eagles continue to struggle on the season losing their first two games (L 34-33 to Gadsden in week one) and will take on Roswell in week three.

EP Franklin 38, Mayfield 9
It's been a while since Mayfield took one on the chin like this one, we had a few text updates come into NMPreps last night, saying that EP Franklin gave them their worst loss since the 1995 season. The Trojans now 0-2 were never in this game after the Cougars went up 14-0 early in the first. Franklin Running Back Vince Garcia had a field day against the Trojans rushing for 116-yards in the just the first half, while Cougar Quarterback Cameron Candelaria threw for 172-yards and two touchdowns as well. Mayfield finally got on the board late in the game thanks to some rising underclassmen and a touchdown run from David Stookey. The Trojans now 0-2 dropping two in a row to El Paso, Texas' best teams will take on Carlsbad again in week three. Mayfield's offense is averaging 366-yards per game. Poll: Time to panic for the Mayfield Trojans?

El Paso Chapin 29, Cleveland 22 (OT)
On Friday Night the El Paso Chapin Huskies outlasted the Cleveland Storm (0-2) in overtime even though reports have said that the Cleveland Storm had 6-7 chances at winning the game in overtime, due to Chapin penalties. The Storm look to get a win in week 3 against Onate in Las Cruces.

Atrisco Heritage 47, Gallup 0
The Atrisco Heritage Jaguars improve to (2-0) on the season as they faced off against the (0-2) Gallup Bengals. The Jaguars were lead offensively by Nate Good and Ricky Alvidrez who both had over 100 yard of offense as the Jags accumulated more then 330 yards rushing on the night.
Atrisco will take in Centennial in week 3 while Gallup looks to match up with Bernalillo.

Farmington 28, Los Alamos 0
The Farmington Scorpions are now 2-0 and have outscored the competition in two games 70-0. Friday Night their stingy defense again posted a shutout this time the opponent was Los Alamos. The Scorpions offensive attack for the second week in a row came from Essiel Carrasco at running back who ran for 225-yards and two touchdowns.

Moriarty 26, Miyaura 14
The Morarity Pintos (2-0) remain undefeated with a hard fought win over the Miyamura Patriots on Friday, the Patriots drop to (0-2) on the season and were held in check by a tough Moriarty defense all night long. Offensively the Pintos were lead by Chris Lucero who had 3 rushing td's on the night. The Morarity defense held Miyamura to negative -30 yards in the second half to give the Pintos the win. The Pintos match up with Deming in a good week 3 matchup while Miyamura looks to a hurting week 3 opponent in the Aztec Tigers.

Piedra Vista 49, Grants 25
The Piedra Vista Panthers were expected by our staff at NMPreps.com to be one of the most improved teams in the 2012 season and off to a 2-0 start, it looks as though we were right on the money as the Panthers earned a solid win Friday Night in Grants. The Panthers were led by Junior Quarterback Isaiah Valdez who threw two touchdowns and ran for two addition touchdowns bring his touchdown count to four total on the night. Piedra Vista now 2-0 takes on Durango, Colorado in week three who is coming off a 30-0 win over Kirtland Central.

Santa Fe 49, Albuquerque 13
The Santa Fe Demons rolled past Albuquerque Friday Night thanks to some big offense from the Demon's rushing attack. The Demons were led by Jordan Booth-Homer and Anthony Abeyta who racked up more than 400-yards of offense alone. Abetya ran for 262-yards with three touchdowns, while Booth-Homer added 151-yards on the night.

Centennial 42, EP Chapin 12
The Centennial Hawks are now 1-1 and have finally won their first game in school history with a 30 point win over the El Paso Chapin Huskies. The win came Thursday Night thanks to big efforts from Junior Quarterback Quevin Redding and Running Back Daniel Conklin. Centennial will play their first non-jv team in week three against Atrisco Heritage in Albuquerque, in week one the Atrisco Heritage Jaguars beat up on the Eldorado Eagles in a hard fought 15-14 upset shocker.

Roswell 33, Bernalillo 22
The Roswell Coyotes now 1-1 on the season got big play production from a variety of players amassing more than 400-yards of offense on the night. According to various reports, the Coyotes were flagged more than 15 times for more than 100-yards in penalties.

Tularosa 12, Dexter 7
The Tularosa Wildcats survived a scare from Dexter Friday Night in a key 2A match up. The key play of the night came when Tularosa Quarterback Jared Rocha found Brett Saenz for a first half touchdown pass. The Wildcats are now 2-0 on the year, while Dexter drops to 0-2 on the season.

Hagerman 43, Loving 6
The Hagerman Bobcats one of the surprise teams of the 2012 season have posted over 80 points in the first two games this year.

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Kyle Henderson is the Owner and Lead Prep Football Writer for NMPreps.com. He can be reached at nmpreps@yahoo.com, and you can click here to follow him on Twitter.

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