What We Learned in New Mexico High School Football Week 7: Milestones and Upsets
The Week 7 slate of New Mexico high school football was pure chaos wrapped in chile heat, mercy-rule blowouts, milestone wins, historic firsts, and enough big plays to fill a weekend.
Five Key Storylines from Week 7
No Hunting — Elks Roam Free
Pojoaque Valley’s win over Robertson was one for the ages. The Elks had never beaten the Cardinals (not once in 29 years)until quarterback Joshua Gonzales took a two-point conversion to the edge and into school history for a 32-31 overtime win. Add in the return of running back Jonah Villegas and two long touchdowns to Joaquin Baca, and you’ve got the feel-good story of the season in District 2-3A.
No Rain, All Dawgs — Las Cruces Still Untouchable
The Las Cruces Bulldawgs are on a different level. Daniel Amaro ran for five touchdowns in a mercy-rule 56-6 thrashing of Clovis, marking yet another week where the top-ranked team looked untouchable. The Dawgs have now rolled through Cleveland, Volcano Vista, and Rio Rancho, three of the state’s biggest,with a playoff edge sharper than ever.
The Rivero Runs Through It
Lovington’s Elijah Rivero had himself a night-or, more accurately, a record-breaking night. The junior scored multiple touchdowns and broke two school records in the process, becoming Lovington’s all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yards. He now sits three scores shy of the career receiving TD mark. The Wildcats’ 50-6 rout of Mayfield was all Rivero, all night.
From Lightning to Thunder — Goddard Survives, Deming Strikes Back
The Goddard Rockets escaped a thriller at the Wool Bowl, but the story was as much about Deming’s young stars as it was about Goddard’s balance. Freshman Joan Ramirez caught two long touchdown bombs from Max Allison, and both looked like future stars in the making. Still, Goddard’s veteran group, led by Brady Gibbs and quarterbacks Nate Vasquez and Izaiah Montoya, made just enough plays to hold on 40-33 in a high-octane battle.
Shock at Academy — Sartans’ Perfect Run Ends
For St. Pius X, Saturday was heartbreak in slow motion. A 21-0 lead evaporated as Albuquerque Academy stormed back behind quarterback William Braun, who threw four second-half touchdowns, two to Gage Conway, including the game-winner with just over a minute to play. Conway sealed it with a 40-yard pick-six moments later. It was chaos, it was loud, and it was the upset that shook Class 4A.
Ten Rapid-Fire Highlights from Across the State
Dawgs Roll: Las Cruces’ Daniel Amaro scored five rushing touchdowns before halftime in a 56-6 mercy-rule over Clovis.
Storm Warning: Jordan Hatch threw four TD passes as Cleveland dismantled Farmington 49-3 — and it wasn’t even halftime.
The Centennial Surge: Dailen Ramirez ran wild for four touchdowns, powering Centennial past Alamogordo 42-32 to stay perfect in district.
Close Encounter of the Win Kind: Roswell head coach Jeff Lynn hit win No. 100 on Friday night, another chapter in a stellar career that already includes three state championships, two New Mexico NMPreps Coach of the Year awards and multiple other accolades.
Bear Tracks: La Cueva’s Brandon Back earned his 100th career win as the Bears clawed past Eldorado 26-7 in a classic rivalry tilt.
Coyotes Keep Climbing: Luke Lynn tossed for 216 yards, ran for two more touchdowns, and led Roswell past Gadsden 42-21.
Elks Unleashed: Pojoaque Valley’s comeback for the ages — a 32-31 overtime stunner over Robertson — snapped a 29-year drought.
Cavemen Crush: Carlsbad’s Marley Muñoz threw two touchdown bombs and ran for two more in a 35-7 win over Organ Mountain.
Mustang Breakout: West Mesa’s Victor Aguilar Jr. ran for three touchdowns as the Mustangs galloped to a 55-14 win over Atrisco Heritage.
Horsemen Stampede: Kamal Stith accounted for seven touchdowns — five passing, two rushing — as St. Michael’s stomped Hope Christian 47-8.
Tiger’s Blood: Los Lunas erupted for 24 fourth-quarter points to rally past Albuquerque High 38-24 and stay undefeated in district play.
Five New Mexicans
ALL-SICK AWARD: Elijah Melancon, Eunice
Four touchdowns and a move into second place all-time in New Mexico’s career passing touchdown list. Melancon keeps the 2A spotlight burning bright in Eunice’s 56-6 rout of Loving.
GREEN CHILE RELLENO AWARD (Hottest Offense): Las Cruces Bulldawgs
You can’t get any hotter than five Amaro TDs in a half. The Dawgs’ 56-6 win was so spicy it triggered the mercy rule by the third quarter.
STUFFED SOPAPILLA DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Joaquin Bolanos, Roswell
Ten tackles and three tackles for loss in a district-defining win over Gadsden. Bolanos stuffed everything that moved.
ALLSUPS UPSET OF THE NIGHT: Albuquerque Academy over St. Pius X
It doesn’t get more “grab a burrito and watch chaos” than this. The Chargers rallied from 21-0 down to hand the No. 2 Sartans their first loss of 2025, sealed with a pick-six in the final seconds.
TAMALE OF THE NIGHT (The Spiciest Finish): Pojoaque Valley’s Overtime Walk-Off
That two-point sweep by Joshua Gonzales wasn’t just bold — it was caliente. The Elks cooked up their first-ever win over Robertson with guts, grit, and green chile grit.