Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun JAL —Jal High School’s 2022 valedictorian is Stanton Richard — but he didn’t even know he was in the running until last year. Even so, Richard — a life-long resident of Jal — has worked hard his whole high school career to get to where he’s at today. “I didn’t learn I was in the running for this …

The seventh-seeded Jal football team visits second-seeded Santa Rosa Friday night in the quarterfinals of Class 2A playoffs. The winner of the game will face the winner of Fort Sumner/House and Newcomb in the semifinal. This is the first meeting between the two squads of the season. Jal (5-5, 2-1) defeated Loving 62-8 to reach the quarterfinals. The Panthers will …