Texico players earn NMHSCA all-state honors

ALBUQUERQUE — Eight Texico High football players claimed a total of 10 spots on the Class 2A All-State team, released Tuesday by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

The selections included four first-team honors, two taken by Brayden Bender, four second-team selections and a pair of honorable mentions.

Bender was honored on the first team at slot receiver and inside linebacker, and was joined on the team by Grant Jenkins at offensive line and Cade Collins at running back.

Max Villareal garnered second-team spots at receiver and secondary, along with Reyes Hernandez in the secondary at Oscar Estrada at center.

Honorable mentions were Cade Figg at quarterback and Kayden Queener at tight end.

All-state athletes are chosen by through a process that includes nominations by head coaches, ranking of nominations through a coach's ballot and a final selection committee chosen by the association’s board of directors.

The association has named six of the seven all-state teams, with the eight-man selections still unreleased.