Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Rams dominate all-state list

Portales takes 12 of 24 first-team slots; area players take 44 positions.

As far as Class 4A football was concerned, the Portales Rams proved to be a dominant force, outscoring its three playoff foes 82-14 despite playing two of those games on the road.

That dominance was reflected in the New Mexico High School Coaches Association All-State team, which saw the Rams take 12 of Class 4A's 24 first-team spots.

In all, 44 all-state slots went to area football players on either the first team or second team in all seven classifications. The teams were released over the weekend by the association.

The NMHSCA has selected the teams sine the 2008 season. Teams are chosen via a vote of all head football coaches in the state, with athletes ranked from 1 to 10 at their respective positions.

The Rams had 14 selections overall, while state runnerup Texico received a dozen slots on the Class 2A team. Following its first semifinal appearance since 2009, Clovis had seven in Class 6A. Elida had seven of the slots in six-man, while eight-man champion Melrose had four slots.

A breakdown of area selections is listed below:

• Portales: Philip Blidi, Wromiah Gbassagee and Jalen Allen each received a first-team nod on both the offensive and defensive teams - Blidi on the offensive and defensive lines, Gbassagee at running back and the defensive line and Allen as wide receiver and defensive back.

Other Ram first-team selections include Fabien Olivas on offensive line, Kellan Hightower at receiver, Isiah Saiz at inside linebacker, Dason Davis at outside linebacker and defensive end, Jordan Garcia at defensive back and Owen Smith as kicker. Second-team slots went to Baylor Diaz at quarterback and Justin Paden at outside linebacker and defensive end.

• Clovis: Malik Phillips was a first-teamer at wide receiver and defensive back, while Jeston Webskowski was a first-team running back along with Cleveland's Dorian Lewis. Bryce Cabeldue was a first-team pick at offensive line.

Wildcats getting second-team nods were Johnny Jiminez at offensive line, Jaden Phillips at tight end and Cabeldue at defensive line.

• Texico: Robby Clauss received first-team nods as offensive lineman and as an outside linebacker/defensive end. He was joined on the offense by wide receiver Cade Collins and tight end Brayden Bender. On the first-team defense, Clauss was joined by Avonte Bumgardner at defensive line, Josh Myers at inside linebacker, Brennen Davis at outside linebacker/defensive end and Anders Nelson and Gabe Bailey at defensive back. The second team included Gabe Dickerman at quarterback, Julian Hernandez on the offensive line and Nelson at wide receiver.

• Melrose: The Buffaloes had three first-team selections with Tristan Sena at quarterback, Kaydan Cones at defensive lineman and Tate Sorgen at inside linebacker. Devon Bailey was a second-team pick at receiver.

• Elida: Will Haley was selected on the offense at running back and as outside linebacker/defensive end on defense. On offense, Haley was joined by Teagan Burton at quarterback, Logan Victor at offensive line and Johnny Woodruff at wide receiver. Defensive selections for the Tigers were Haley, Rylan Creighton at defensive lineman and Colton Ferguston at defensive back.

The six-man classification did not have a second-team.

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