MaxPreps 2014 New Mexico preseason football Fab 5

1. Las Cruces
2013 finish: 12-1, 5A state champion
Head coach: Jim Miller
Team preview

The Bulldawgs have won the last two Class 5A state titles with a pair of 12-1 records. The Bulldogs return five offensive and three defensive starters and will reload quickly. Junior quarterback Kameron Miller (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) - son of head coach Jim Miller -  is coming off a brilliant sophomore season when he passed for 1,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, while running for 893 yards and five touchdowns. He is even stronger this year with the addition of 15 pounds. Senior wide receiver Isaiah McIntyre (6-0, 180) used his 4.5 speed in the 40 to catch 24 passes for 521 yards and nine touchdowns. Another senior receiver, Aeneas Reynolds (5-7, 160), should have a big year after being injured most of last season.

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2. Mayfield (Las Cruces)
2013 finish: 11-2
Head coach: Michael Bradley
Team preview

The Trojans are a close No. 2 with five offensive and six defensive starters back from an 11-2 Class 5A state runner-up team. In the Year of the Quarterback, the Trojans also have a superb signal caller in Kavika Johnson (6-2, 195), who ran for 1,649 yards and 14 touchdowns and passed for 1,046 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. Both lines will be anchored by standout two-way senior tackles Cameron Mills (6-2, 270) and Dominik Trujillo (6-2, 250). Great things also are expected from speedy senior wide receiver Isaac Figueroa (6-3, 190), who was injured most of last season.

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3. Cleveland (Rio Rancho)
2013 finish: 10-2
Head coach: Heath Ridenour
Team preview

The Storm come from another football-oriented city and returns four offensive and two defensive starters from a 10-2 team. Though stacked with juniors, the Storm hope to cause their share of havoc when the state tourney rolls around. Junior speedster Gabe Ortega (6-1, 175) led the state with five kickoff returns for touchdowns and paced his team in interceptions and will be playing quarterback for the first time. He will be throwing to another junior, Marcus Williams (6-4, 205), who led the Storm in receptions and touchdowns (11) as a sophomore. Junior line standouts include two-way players Henry Hattis (6-6, 275), who holds a scholarship offer from the University of New Mexico, and Demetry Rodriguez (6-1, 295).

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4. Rio Rancho
2013 finish: 7-5
Head coach: David Howes
Team preview

The Rams must battle for supremacy in their own city, but have good experience with six starters returning on both sides of the ball. The Rams have their own star at the quarterback position with 6-3, 200-pound senior Easton Bruere, who passed for 3,100 yards and 31 touchdowns last year while adding 551 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. He has a great target, Brady Patterson, a 6-1, 170-pound senior who made 43 catches for 612 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Senior linebacker Anthony Nolan (6-1, 180) made 141 tackles last year.

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5. La Cueva (Albuquerque)
2013 finish: 3-7
Head coach: Brandon Back
Team preview

The Bears expect to bounce back from a sub-par 3-7 campaign which saw many inexperienced players break into the varsity level. However, the Bears are loaded with six offensive and nine defensive returning starters itching to turn things around this year. Senior Mitch Cantwell (6-1, 225) is the key returnee after leading the balanced Bears in rushing (724 yards and eight touchdowns) and tackles (47 solos and 60 assists). Senior quarterback Beau Kujath (5-11, 180) should improve upon last year's totals of 978 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air. Last year's nose guard and No. 2 quarterback, Luke Dekker  (6-3, 245), has added 65 pounds and will take over at center.