Four Rams earn NMHSCA all-state honors

Four members of Portales High’s 2024 football team have earned all-state recognition from the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

Named to the first team were senior Gideon Smith at tackle on offense and seniors Rigoberto Holguin in the line and Tommy Lopez at free safety. Meantime, senior Jaylon Newburn earned a second-team berth at defensive end.

Lopez was also selected to the Red squad for the NMHSCA large-school all-star football game, which was played on Dec. 7 at Artesia. The Green squad defeated the Red team in the game, which featured players from Classes 4-6A.

A number of Rams earned All-District 4-5A honors in football. Five players were named first team on both sides of the ball – Lopez at quarterback and free safety, senior Kaidyn Cordova at slotback and defensive back, Holguin at tackle and defensive end, Smith at tackle and linebacker.

Others chosen were senior Xavier Lujan at guard, senior Joel Lujan at punter, Newburn at defensive end and freshman Slade Segovia at linebacker.

On the second team, sophomore Tommy Salgado (wide receiver, outside linebacker) was a two-way selection, while others were senior center Angel Contreras, freshman guard Tripp Hamilton and Joel Lujan and Segovia at running back on offense, and Xavier Lujan at nose guard, junior Antonio Bonilla at outside linebacker and junior Klayt Hamilton at linebacker on defense.

The Rams finished the season 6-5 (4-2 district). They were ousted by Chaparral 10-0 in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs.