Serving the High Plains

Strong, Burns earn all-state football honors

Logan inside linebacker Park Strong and defensive end Brock Burns each earned first-team honors when all-state selections in eight-man football were announced over the weekend by the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.

That wasn't the only honor for Strong and Burns.

Strong, a senior, also was a second-team pick as a running back and as a placekicker.

Burns, a junior, was a second-team selection as a punter, as well.

Other Longhorn players to receive all-state recognition were:

- Izaiah Kneitz, second-team slot and second-team defensive secondary;

- Payson Nials, second-team outside linebacker and honorable mention inside linebacker;

- Skyler Deluca, honorable mention defensive lineman and honorable mention offensive lineman;

The Longhorns finished 6-5 and qualified for the playoffs, where they lost in the opening round to district foe Melrose.

State champion Fort Sumner-House filled a total of 12 all-state selections. Runner-up Lordsburg had 10.