Local standouts reap All-State football honors

Post-season honors are starting to come in for high school football in New Mexico, with 16 Valencia County players named All-State by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

In addition, many of the same players were named All-Metro.

Los Lunas Tigers

For a second straight year, Los Lunas (7-4) is well represented on the 6A All-State football team, with eight players on the honor squad. That is two more than in 2022.

“We are very proud of each and every one of the guys,” said coach Greg Henington. “Making All-State in any capacity is a huge honor.”

On the first team at slot is Fabian Trujillo, who led the Tigers in receptions and touchdowns. Dominic Trujillo in the secondary and Kaiden Reese as punter. Fabian and Dominic are twin brothers.

Lorenzo Ibarra is a second-team choice in the secondary, while honorable mention honors go to Ernie Gonzales, secondary, Gage Marques, linebacker, Jasiah Baca, center and Marcas Granger, offensive line.

All are seniors except Reese, who is a sophomore, and Granger and Marques, juniors.

Receiving recognition on the 6A All-Metro team are Fabian and Dominic Trujillo, Reese, Gonzales, Marques, Baca and receiver Ethan Olguin, senior.

Belen Eagles

Despite a disappointing 1-10 season, four Belen Eagles were selected to the 5A All-State football team, including one player at two positions.

That was no small feat considering 5A has some of the best teams in New Mexico, no matter the classification.

“I’m sure happy to see our kids get in,” said BHS coach Kevin Peña. “I hope it will give them some incentive for next year and show the hard work they put in paid off.”

Derian Rodriguez, a senior, was named to the second team as a runningback and was also honorable mention in the secondary. Rodriguez led BHS in touchdowns and interceptions.

Two other Eagles are also on the second team — receiver Logan Gonzalez, sophomore, and offensive lineman Vicente Shiflett, senior.

Damian Avila, junior, rounds out the BHS honorees as an honorable mention choice in the secondary.

Eagles named to the combined 1A-5A All-Metro team are Gonzalez, Shiflett, Avila and kicker Nehemiah Sanchez, sophomore.

Valencia Jaguars

Valencia coach LeDarrius Cage said it was “huge” for the Jaguars (4-7) to place four players on the 4A All-State squad.

“This is a reflection of how hard our guys worked this season,” Cage said, pointing out that he believes Robbie Jaramillo in 2018 was the only VHS player to make All-State in the past 10 years.

Daniel Villegas, a runningback, who was one of the most explosive players in the state before being injured, and Andrew Rightly, center, were chosen for second team.

Honorable mention picks were Isaiah Rodriguez, linebacker, and Tilden Brown, offensive lineman. All are seniors except Rodriguez, who is a junior.

“The goal is to have multiple players on the All-State team each year moving forward,” Cage said.

Named to the 1A-5A All-Metro team for VHS are Villegas, Rightly, tackle Cesar Marques, junior, and quarterback Aiden Harrington, junior.