New Mexico

Washington State 2024 Opponent Scouting Report: New Mexico

Published

2 hours ago

August 17, 2024

Washington State 2024 Opponent Scouting Report: New Mexico

The Cougs will make a late-season swing through Albuquerque.

Who/When/Where: New Mexico will host Washington State on November 16 as both teams will be looking to make a strong push in the closing weeks of the regular season. The Lobos were nothing to write home about in 2023 but with a new (and experienced) coach leading the way, this fall might bring different fortunes. The Cougars should be favored but will need avoid a big letdown on the road.

Offensive Players to Watch: Caleb Medford (WR), Devon Dampier (QB), Entire OL

Defensive Players to Watch: Christian Ellis (S), Kyler Drake (DL), Dimitri Johnson (LB)

The Lobos offense underwent a major overhaul this offseason and a major part of that was the offensive line. All five projected starters for this year are expected to be incoming transfers after essentially all of last year’s bunch left. Tackles McKenzie Agnello (#66) and Baraka Beckett (#56) came in from Texas A&M-Commerce and Campbell respectively. Guards Wallace Unamba (#76) and Richard Pearce (#78) found their way to UNM from FAU and East Carolina while center Juwaun Singletary (#55) is an ex-Tiger of Grambling State.

There’s a lot of questions surrounding that new-look front right now but, by this juncture of the season, everyone should have some familiarity with each other. The Cougars D line might not be able to exploit inexperience from that group in Week 12. If the line is gelling by mid-November and they’re able to protect quarterback Devon Dampier (#4), then the Lobos might have a chance.

Dampier, a sophomore, is pegged to be the starter this year in place of the dual-threat Dylan Hopkins who graduated after last season. Dampier appeared in nine games as a backup last fall, throwing six touchdowns and no interceptions. He will rely on both his legs and arm to make plays for the Lobos. Dampier can zip passes into tight windows with precision but also knows when to call is own number. He rushed for four scores and 328 yards in 2023. If he indeed gets the nod this year, WSU’s defense will have its hands full with containment.

Washington State 2024 Opponent Scouting Report: San Diego State

When Dampier throws, odds are he’ll look to junior pass-catcher Caleb Medford (#12). Medford was tops on the team last year with 551 receiving yards (30 catches) and a pair of touchdowns. He and fellow receiver Ryan Davis (#18) were threats on the outside for New Mexico a season ago and look to be again. Medford is speedy and adjusts to throws will on the run making him a tough cover. Davis, too, is a viable target that has solid hands and nifty footwork. Both will be key assignments for WSU’s DBs.

On the ground, the UNM offense took another big hit with the departure of last year’s star back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Now it will be Andrew Henry (#2) that gets the rock after running behind Croskey-Merritt. Henry piled up 350 yards and three TDs last year. His mix of great downfield vision and cutback ability makes him difficult to tackle. Henry has shown he’s a viable pass-catching option as well.

When the Cougars are in possession, their primary focus should fall on safety Christian Ellis (#8). Ellis is the playmaker of the secondary, coming in off a sophomore season that saw him knock down four passes and log 59 tackles. His speed allows him to hone in the ball carrier and he covers distance with the best of them. Ellis can get behind the line when asked to on blitzes and go deep downfield stride for stride with receivers as well.

Linebacker Dimitri Johnson (#22) and edge rusher Kyler Drake (#45) will handle business over the middle and up front. Both seniors were key pieces of the UNM defense last year. Johnson was responsible for 48 stops and was a master in turning the ball over, recovering two fumbles and forcing another. He’ll use his hands to punch at the ball when he’s in position to and is great at wrapping up when tackling. Drake, who authored 3.5 sacks and six TFLs last year, is a stonewalling defender, specifically in the run game.

Final Analysis: This is a very winnable road game for the Cougars and with the contest coming as late as it does in the year, depth might be a major issue for a New Mexico group that’ll be trying to find its chemistry this season, especially if injuries are in play. That being said this is not a group that Washington State should take lightly. There’s enough returning experience, especially on defense, for the Lobos that might make them sneaky competitive in a lot of games this fall. If WSU’s defense can get through that revamped line to keep Dampier in check and the offense can avoid a letdown against a defense it should have the upper hand on, you’ve got to like the Cougs’ chances.

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New Mexico

Ranking: New Mexico middle schools with the best teachers

Published

9 hours ago

August 17, 2024

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Ranking: New Mexico middle schools with the best teachers

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New Mexico

New details released in hit-and-run crash that killed APD officer

Published

17 hours ago

August 17, 2024

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New details released in hit-and-run crash that killed APD officer

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office released new details in a hit-and-run crash that killed an off duty Albuquerque police officer.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office released new details in a hit-and-run crash that killed an off duty Albuquerque police officer.

Police say Bianca Quintana was killed in a crash Wednesday near Coors and Chapulin. The car fled the scene.

On Friday, BCSO says the vehicle involved is a newer model Volkswagen, though the model and color are currently unknown.

They are asking anyone in the area with video footage from Coors Boulevard, south of Rio Bravo, to review their surveillance systems and report any findings that may aid in the investigation.

Those with information are encouraged to call Deputy Throgmorton at 505-496-5722 or Deputy Otero at 505-755-1768. Folks can also provide information anonymously through CrimeStoppers at 505-843-7867.

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New Mexico

Real estate heirs list one of America’s largest ranches for $142M after patriarch’s death

Published

24 hours ago

August 16, 2024

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Real estate heirs list one of America’s largest ranches for 2M after patriarch’s death

The family behind home-building titan D.R. Horton is putting one of America’s largest ranches on the market for a staggering $142 million.

The Great Western Ranch, a colossal 500,000-acre spread in New Mexico, is now up for grabs — offering more space than the entire city of Houston, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The move comes just months after the death of D.R. Horton’s founder, Donald Ray Horton, and signals the family’s readiness to part with their rural empire. The ranch is near Quemado, close to the Arizona border — roughly 150 miles west of Albuquerque.

This sprawling estate isn’t just a random plot of land — it’s a fortress of cowboy heritage and prime real estate.

The Hortons, known for their massive home-building empire, pieced together the ranch by snapping up three adjacent properties over the last decade.

The first chunk alone, 293,000 acres, set them back $59 million in 2014.

It’s an operational cattle ranch with about 1,900 cow-calf pairs currently roaming the land. A buyer can even pick up around 900 cows as part of the deal.

The Great Western is a treasure trove of history and natural beauty, too.

There are Native American archaeological sites scattered across the ranch, including ancient stone dwellings, petroglyphs, and countless pottery shards, Jeff Buerger of Hall and Hall, the listing agent, told the Journal. (As it stands, the offering is located near Navajo nation, as well as the famed Acoma Pueblo.)

And when the sun sets, the night sky is nothing short of a celestial show. “You feel like you’re on another planet when you look at the stars,” Buerger told the outlet.

The property also comes loaded with eight homes, including a guest lodge and a ranch manager’s house, plus all the fixings you need for serious ranching — wells, barns, corrals and even an equipment shop.

The ranch is also a hunting paradise, leased to Black Mountain Outfitters for trophy hunting.

Living on the Great Western Ranch is like stepping into a different world, according to Jason Saulan, who oversees the Horton family’s ranch portfolio.

“I don’t know what the opposite of claustrophobia is, but that’s the feeling you get,” Saulan told the outlet, recalling his time living on the property. “We lived up on top of a hill, and we could see 28 miles to St. John, Ariz.”

D.R. Horton has been America’s biggest home builder by sales volume since 2002, and the Horton legacy is rooted deep in the South. Founded in 1978 by Donald Ray Horton, the company has built homes for millions, but it’s clear their heart was also in the vast open spaces of the American West.

With its combination of large-scale beef production and trophy hunting, Buerger says, the Horton family’s New Mexico ranch is rare.

Last year, a smaller ranch in New Mexico occupying 16,700 acres sold for $44 million. But with this deal, the Horton family is aiming to set a new high score in the ranching game.

And while 500,000 acres is a massive amount land, the title for the largest ranch in the United States goes to the King Ranch in South Texas, which spans a jaw-dropping 825,000 acres.

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