As football kickoff inches closer around the country, MaxPreps forecasts the top five teams in the state of New Mexico for the 2009 season.
1. Eldorado
The Eagles could “ride, boldly ride”, to paraphrase Edgar Allan Poe, to the top of the pack in New Mexico this year, leaving every other team in the state “in search of Eldorado.” The Eagles only have a couple of returning starters on offense from a team that went 12-1 last year, but they are both good ones. Gary Maestas (5-10, 185) is a senior running back while Willie Pounds (6-4, 290) is a junior offensive lineman. Both were all-state first team selections last year and are ranked among the top 10 players in the state this year. Maestas rushed for 1,296 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. Returning quarterback Armin Day (6-0, 190) also ranks among the best in the state after throwing for 1,892 yards and 29 touchdowns last year.
2. Goddard
The Rockets went 12-1 last year and knocked off Aztec in a 4A championship game barnburner 49-45. Quarterback David Vega engineered the thrilling win, throwing for 213 yards in the game. He returns for his senior season and is regarded by some ranking services as one of the top three quarterbacks in the state. Goddard also returns one of the most highly-recruited linemen in the state in 6-5, 245-pound Chris Clees. The Rockets return six starters on offense and five on defense. The linebacking corps should be solid with all three starters, Gregory Ramirez, Said Fuentes and Idriese Lyttle, all returning. The offensive line will also be experienced with juniors Conner Thompson and Dustin Levario joining Clees as returning starters in that unit.
3. Manzano
The Monarchs return a total of 14 starters from last year’s 8-4 team, including six on offense and eight on defense. Manzano should be particularly adept on offense, where Tyler Krueger (6-2, 160) returns for his senior season at quarterback. Krueger threw for a reported 1,537 yards and 23 touchdowns last year. He’ll have a pair of solid targets in senior wide receiver Jayson Serda (5-11, 180) and senior athlete Jordan Llamas (6-1, 185). Llamas led the team in rushing last year with 925 yards and 13 scores. Serda, meanwhile, was the team’s top defender at defensive back last year with 61 tackles. Manzano’s high-powered offense led the league in scoring last year with 415 points, however the defense allowed 321, resulting in a number of high-scoring shootouts.
4. La Cueva
The Bears could be an offensive juggernaut this year thanks to the return of eight starters and one of the top juniors in the state in running back Ronnie Daniels. As a sophomore, Daniels was second team all-state at running back and honorable mention as a special teams player. Jordan Wade also returns at quarterback while Marcus Baca will help Daniels carry the load in the backfield. If that weren’t enough, the Bears have an outstanding transfer in quarterback Mieko Locksley, who could share time with Wade. On defense, La Cueva has one of the state’s best defensive linemen in Danny Drum.
5. Mayfield
With Las Cruces losing a ton of talent off of last year’s 5A state championship team, Mayfield could take over as the top team in the city this year. State champions in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Mayfield went 9-3 last year but was only seven points away from an 11-1 season. The Trojans have just three starters back on offense and defense, but they are good ones. Junior defensive lineman Matthew Rammondo (6-5, 260) is one of the top defensive linemen in the state while Andrew Anthony (6-3, 245) is one of the top offensive linemen. Wyatt Tharp joins Rammondo on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker. Austin Hooker returns to run the offense at quarterback.
