Peerman's Power Rankings: 5 best things in New Mexico sports this week (Sept. 8)

Welcome to Peerman’s Power Rankings (PPR), the 5 athletes, teams and story lines that have Journal sports editor Lucas Peerman’s attention this week. Have a suggestion, complaint or compliment? Email lpeerman@abqjournal.com or find me on X, @LucasPeerman.

5. Hope Christian girls soccer

Hope is the three-time 3A state champion, so maybe it’s no surprise the Huskies have the best girls soccer team in the city, proving so by defeating La Cueva to claim the metro title Friday. However ... this was supposed to be somewhat of a rebuilding year as Hope (6-0) starts seven players who are either freshmen or eighth-graders. The Huskies are proof great programs don’t rebuild, they reload.

4. Stealing the show

Zac Veen, the Isotopes’ outfielder with a big bat and an even bigger grin, gave fans yet another thing to smile about Saturday as he completed a straight steal of home Saturday at the Tacoma Rainiers. The steal, with two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, gave Albuquerque a 5-2 lead, which would be the final score. It’s only the second straight steal of home in Isotopes history (Eric Reed on June 20, 2007 was the first). Speaking of steals, ahead of Sunday’s series finale in Tacoma, the team needed just two swipes to break the franchise record and outfielder Greg Jones was only five steals from setting the team’s individual record. The Isotopes will be back in Albuquerque on Tuesday for their final home series of the season.

3. Zaiden Davis

If it ain’t broke, why fix it? Centennial found success against 5A powerhouse Artesia on Saturday by getting senior quarterback Zaiden Davis in space to run the ball. He first plunged into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown. Then, Davis found paydirt running from 18 yards out. Then again from 58 yards out. Next, the Hawks’ signal caller called his own number and scrambled 43 yards for the score. He did so once more from 62 yards away. And, he recorded his sixth running touchdown of the day from 70 yards out, finishing with 383 yards on the ground in a 70-39 romp over the Bulldogs. It’s without question the prep football performance of the year, so far. Davis is committed to New Mexico State but not as a quarterback or running back or anywhere on offense, for that matter. The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder is slated to be a linebacker for the Aggies.

2. Aymane El Haddaoui

A Moroccan sprinter with a wrist impairment, El Haddaoui captured gold and a bronze at the 2024 Paralympics. The New Mexico Junior College student athlete set a world record (46.65 seconds) in winning the T46/T47 men’s 400 meters on Saturday in Paris and captured bronze in the T47 men’s 100 meters. A two-time All-American last year in Hobbs, El Haddaoui will ostensibly return stateside soon to began his sophomore campaign, wherein he’ll help the Thunderbirds try to repeat as national junior college track and field champions.

1. Bryan Candanosa

Candanosa’s Labor Day 2024 may end up in the record books as one of the greatest days in New Mexico sports history. A bevy of horse races took place Monday at the Downs of Albuquerque after summer fires and flooding wiped out the usual Labor Day weekend slate of races at Ruidoso Downs. Candanosa, a jockey, rode Aguila Rapida to victory in the $200,000 All American Juvenile, then rode Jess Good Wine to a win in the $250,000 All American Gold, followed by another victory, atop Dashing Tre in the $1.07 million All American Derby. Next was the featured race of the day, the $3 million All American Futurity. And, you guessed it, Candonosa won that, too, riding Hezgothelook Z to the winner’s circle. But wait, there’s more. With the All-American Futurity win, Candanosa and Hezgothelook Z claimed the Quarter Horse Triple Crown, winning the three most prestigious quarter horse races of the year, a feat that had only been accomplished once before (in 1981). But wait, there’s more. Following the Juvenile, Candanosa proposed to his partner, Shianne Andrew, whom he met two years ago at Ruidoso Downs. She said yes. Fun fact: According to jockey stats on Equibase, Candanosa has recorded a win, place or show in 48 percent of his nearly 300 rides this year and has more than $5 million in winnings just in 2024. Quite the day, quite the résumé.

Honorable mention

La Cueva boys soccer improved to 5-0 with a hard-fought win over St. Pius, a victory that came down to PKs, on Friday to capture the metro title … Roswell football beat Hobbs and Lovington football beat Carlsbad, two big wins for 5A programs over 6A squads. The Coyotes and Wildcats meet Friday in a highly anticipated showdown in Lovington … Lordsburg football has outscored its opponents 244-108 in three games this year; and yes, 8-Man football is wild. … UNM volleyball is now 5-1 on the year after winning three matches to prevail in a tournament hosted by Houston Christian over the weekend. … Is there a state other than New Mexico that even comes close to the prominence of its state flag at sporting events? It just doesn’t seem to be a thing residents of other states do. But put a New Mexican in the crowd at a stadium or arena out of state and you can be assured the Red and Yellow Zia will make an appearance. And PPR loves every flag that flies. Keep representing the Land of Enchantment.