MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions celebrates Manzano High School

The 13th Annual MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard passed through New Mexico on Thursday, Feb. 22 to recognize Manzano (Albuquerque, N.M.) High School and its football team for winning a state championship and earning a high national ranking.

Having upended La Cueva 14-7 in the NMAA Class 6A state championship contest, the 13-0 Monarchs claimed their first state football title and finished the season ranked No. 179 in MaxPreps' National Rankings! Just one of 50 football programs being honored on the 2017-18 MaxPreps Tour of Champions, the Monarchs also defeated La Cueva 28-21 during the regular season.

Manzano's high school band, the cheerleaders and the dance team all instilled some good old school spirit into the student body as it filed into the gymnasium. Then, to kick off the program, a member of the city council came forward to recognize the Monarch football team on its outstanding 2017 football season. MaxPreps representative Ray Dungee took the microphone and congratulated the team for its latest gridiron success.

After emphasizing how special 2017 was for Manzano football, and informing the Monarch crowd of the high national ranking, Dungee turned the celebration over to Sergeant Roberto Romero of the New Mexico Army National Guard. SGT Romero then presented the Army National Guard national ranking trophy to head coach Chad Adcox and the Monarchs as the rowdy crowd cheered loudly.

The trophy consists of a Minuteman statue symbolizing discipline, hard work, dedication and commitment to a cause culminating in victory, shared traits of the Army National Guard and a state championship football team. Adcox was truly honored to receive the award along side the Monarchs. Manzano football also received a nationally ranked rafter banner to hang in the gymnasium as a reminder of Manzano's first state football title.

Congratulations to Coach Adcox and the Manzano football team on a great season and for being highly ranked in the nation! Click here to view the Manzano TOC photo gallery and for more information about the Football TOC, please visit the MaxPreps Tour of Champions site.