MidValleySports.Com

Nogales Senior Orlando Zamora has rushed for 1,412 yards as the Nobles head into the playoffs. (Photo by Nathaniel Marquez).

By MVS Staff

Nogales senior running back Orlando Zamora delivered one of the most memorable seasons in recent school history, leading the Nobles to their first Montview League title since 2018 behind a relentless rushing attack and a dominant offensive line that controlled games from start to finish.

Zamora wrapped up the regular season with 1,412 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, and an outstanding 10.5 yards per carry, ranking 36th in California, 9th in the Southern Section, and first in the SGV according to MaxPreps. Nationally, he stands at No. 387 among high school rushers.

The senior back opened the season with explosive performances, including a 194-yard effort against California and back-to-back 184-yard games versus Lake Mead Christian Academy and Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary. He later rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns in the league-clinching win over Ontario — a victory that sealed Nogales’ first championship in seven years.

Zamora’s journey this season carried deeper meaning. In the fourth week of the year, he lost his grandmother, with whom he shared an especially close bond. Despite the heartbreak, he continued to play with determination and poise, dedicating his performances to her memory.

“She was one of my biggest supporters,” Zamora said. “Every game after that was for her.”

While his numbers stand out, Zamora is quick to credit his teammates up front.

“Our O-line is the heart of everything we do,” he said. “Those guys show up every day ready to work. None of this happens without them.”

The offensive front was anchored by a standout junior tackle who has drawn multiple Division I offers and taken visits to Vanderbilt and Kansas, with trips to Tennessee and Texas Tech planned before the year ends. The group also featured senior leaders Von Petrovich, Hector Archundia, Sebastian Mendez Gonzalez, and junior Gael Puga — a disciplined, physical unit that consistently set the tone in the trenches.

Offensive Coordinator Kevin Encinas echoed that sentiment, highlighting the chemistry that developed between Zamora and his linemen.
“Orlando has come a long way. I look at him like a son. I’d do anything for him. I’m so proud of the Man he has become,” Encinas said

Together, Zamora and his linemen helped redefine Nogales football — bringing back a standard of physicality, discipline, and pride that the program has long been built on.

With the postseason ahead, the Nobles enter as one of the top rushing offenses in Southern California — powered by a senior who ran with purpose and a line that refused to be outworked.

The Nobles open the CIF playoffs Friday night at Bellflower in a Division 12 contest.