Two Wildcats picked for first team 5A All-State

Players and coaches for the Clovis football team said having two players named to the Class 5A All-State team was a testament to the team mentality that led to a state championship game berth.

Seniors Phillip Williams and Jason Burns were named to first-team all-state. Three other Wildcats made second team and one made honorable mention.

“We couldn’t have gotten there without everybody else,” said Burns, who was chosen all-state at defensive end. “That just shows everybody that we were a good team and it wasn’t about individual players.”

Burns led the team with over 105 tackles and five sacks.

“Jason was our big hitter,” Clovis coach Darren Kelley said. “He held our defense together. He was great in the open field and taking on tackles.”

Williams rushed for 1,860 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.

“He basically was our offense,” Kelley said. “He basically carried us through the Mayfield game and some other games.”

Offensive lineman John Fails, kicker Travis Reid and defensive back Jacob Jones were second-team all state while defensive lineman Juan Guttierrez earned honorable mention honors.

Reid hit four of six field goals and made 22 of 26 extra points. Jones had two interceptions and made at least 27 tackles.

Kelley said he was satisfied with the individual recognition the team got.

“I think we did as well as we could,” Kelley said. “Albuquerque is just a lot of votes. We did pretty good for having what we had.”

State champion La Cueva had seven while Highland, Las Cruces and Rio Rancho each had three.