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In the Caballeros鈥� 70-0 win over Nogales last Friday, Ruiz and Simmons combined for 15 rushing attempts for 219 yards and three touchdowns. Flowing Wells had eight rushing touchdowns as a team.

鈥淚t鈥檚 awesome to know the defense has to worry about more than just one of us,鈥� Simmons said. 鈥淭hey have no idea who鈥檚 getting the ball most of the time. We鈥檙e really a two-headed dragon back there.鈥�

The win for Flowing Wells ended a four-game skid, but the Caballeros (4-5) won鈥檛 make the Class 5A playoffs even with a win on Friday against Maricopa.

鈥淚t was kind of hard. Three straight losses, it put a toll on us,鈥� said Ruiz, who is named after actor Benicio Del Toro. 鈥淭he type of team we are, we never stop trying. All four quarters, all of us put effort in. Even during practice, we always put in our best effort, especially our scout team. They always give us a good look and get the offense going.鈥�

Since Simmons and Ruiz both rushed for over 100 yards and scored touchdowns, they are the Star鈥檚 co-high school football players of the week 鈥� a first since starting the series earlier in the season.

We caught up with them earlier this week. Here鈥檚 what they said:

How did it feel to end the four-game losing streak in dominant fashion against Nogales?

Simmons: 鈥淚t felt great because it was our homecoming and senior night, so it was awesome for me and Ben to succeed and get our seniors out there. They were able to run the ball the entire second half and do great, as well. It was a really amazing feeling.鈥�

Ruiz: 鈥淚t was great. We went back and forth every other drive and kept saying, 鈥楾his is our drive. We鈥檙e going to score here,鈥� and we ended up scoring on pretty much every drive. We did pretty good that game.鈥�

How did you start playing football?

Simmons: 鈥淚 started when I was 7 (years old), playing football in (大象APPYouth Football) league.鈥�

Ruiz: 鈥淛ust like Jayden, I started when I was young. I played in TYF 鈥� not with him, but I was in the same program when I was 5. I bounced around a couple of teams. I was with the Steelers first, then the 49ers, the Broncos and then I ended up on the Jaguars where we won three straight championships and went to nationals and got second place.鈥�

Did you always play running back?

Simmons: 鈥淣o, I started out as an offensive lineman. I dropped a couple of pounds, started putting in extra effort off the field in the weight room. Eventually, the coaches thought, 鈥楬mm, let鈥檚 see how this kid runs the ball.鈥� I ended up succeeding at it, and I just took it from there.鈥�

Who鈥檚 your favorite football player?

Simmons: 鈥淩ight now? I鈥檓 stuck between (Cleveland Browns running back) Nick Chubb and (Boise State running back) Ashton Jeanty. Watching (Jeanty) run is amazing, watching him break tackles and run for over 100 yards every single game.鈥�

What is your favorite football team?

Ruiz: 鈥淭he Carolina Panthers. We鈥檝e had a rough season so far. It鈥檚 hard being a fan. ... Cam Newton is actually my favorite player. I loved watching him play. He鈥檚 such a big guy, but he was so fast at the same time. It鈥檚 crazy to see a guy like that do what he did. He was good for so long. ... He has an odd sense of fashion.鈥�

What are your hobbies?

Simmons: 鈥淚 like to work out in the weight room and run track. Besides that, I spend a lot of time in the library reading and catching up on literature. ... Right now, I鈥檓 reading 鈥楾he Fear鈥� (by Natasha Preston), but it鈥檚 a book about a rumor. It鈥檚 a social media quote, unquote meme that鈥檚 spreading death and everyone thinks it鈥檚 a joke, but it鈥檚 reality. It鈥檚 a bunch of teens coping and dealing with that as it goes on. ... Ever since I was a kid, I got attached to reading.鈥�

Ruiz: 鈥淚n the offseason, I like to workout. I also run track. That鈥檚 another favorite sport of mine. ... The two of us, we鈥檙e the two fastest, so we compete every day.鈥�

What do you want to pursue when you鈥檙e done playing football?

Simmons: 鈥淚 definitely want to pursue nursing in college. I was exploring different options outside of high school, but the only thing that caught my attention was the medical field. I didn鈥檛 want to be a doctor, but I wanted to be something close, so that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 going to pursue. ... My dream school is the University of Michigan. It has nothing to do with the school, I just love the football team. ... They鈥檙e a winning program, and I definitely relate to that.鈥�

Flowing Wells won鈥檛 qualify for the playoffs, but both of you return next season as seniors. How does this season set you up for 2025?

Ruiz: 鈥淚鈥檝e learned a lot. This is actually my first year playing receiver. Last year, I was the backup quarterback and kicker. It鈥檚 also my first year playing safety. During the offseason, I learned a lot and got used to playing those positions. ... I think we can achieve a lot and do even better next year.鈥�

Simmons: 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a big learning experience because me and Ben have been on varsity since sophomore year. Since we鈥檝e been in high school, we鈥檝e gone 3-7 in both seasons. It鈥檚 been interesting to see the jump from this year to last year. We have a chance to make borderline history. It鈥檚 been a long time since our school has won five games in a season, so we鈥檙e going to try and do that this Friday.鈥�