Spring Schedule Breakdown: The 10 Most Intriguing Games

We still don’t know if the schools within the Albuquerque Public School District will play football this spring, but most of the rest of the state is moving forward. In fact, 29 games are scheduled for March 5-6. So, we’re a week from high school football. NMAA released the schedule on Wednesday. Most teams will play three games with a possible fourth game in early April. The NMAA is keeping the weekend of April 2-3 open as "bowl weekend." Here are the 10 most intriguing games of the spring: Clovis at Cleveland (March 13): The spring’s ‘Clash of the Titans’ takes place at the Storm’s home field in Rio Rancho and pits arguably the state’s top two teams against each other. Sure, Clovis QB Chance Harris Chance Harris 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Clovis | 2021 State NM decided to enroll early at Colorado State, but some of the best football talent in the state will still be on display in this one, including no less than four players who have signed with the New Mexico Lobos. So, if you’re a UNM fan and want a glimpse of the future, pay close attention to this game. Rio Rancho at Cleveland (March 26): The last time these two teams squared off was the 2019 Class 6A championship game in December. Right now, this is the best rivalry in the state and it doesn’t matter where they play. The epicenter of New Mexico high school football has largely shifted north from Las Cruces to the Albuquerque region in large part because of these two programs. The talent level on the field will be impressive on both sides of the ball. Centennial at Las Cruces (March 26): Even though Mayfield has moved to Class 5A, Las Cruces-Mayfield is probably still the No. 1 rivalry in southern New Mexico. But in terms of talent and drama, the talented Hawks will give the Bulldawgs all they want and more at the Field of Dreams. Two future Eastern New Mexico teammates square off at quarterback: Centennial’s Karsten Rueckner Karsten Rueckner 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Centennial | 2021 State NM and Las Cruces’ Marcos Lopez Marcos Lopez 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Las Cruces | 2021 State NM . Goddard at Roswell (March 26): If Albuquerque/Rio Rancho is the new epicenter for Class 6A, Roswell holds the same distinction in Class 5A with the Coyotes capturing the last two blue trophies. Goddard claims the state’s best 2021 offensive linemen in Larry Luna Larry Luna 6'5" | OL Goddard | 2021 State NM , who has signed with New Mexico along with one of the best defensive ends in Fernando Rubio Fernando Rubio 6'2" | DL Goddard | 2021 State NM and defensive backs in Nathaniel Stone Nathaniel Stone 6'2" | DB Goddard | 2021 State NM . St. Pius X vs. Grants (March 13): Top of the list for the most underrated matchup of the spring. They may be in Class 4A, both teams have multiple players headed to play college football. Grants QB Brandon Furbee Brandon Furbee 6'3" | QB Farmington | 2022 State NM is one of the top 2022 prospects in the state. St. Pius X lineman Aaron Deller Aaron Deller 6'3" | OL St. Pius X | 2021 State NM will play his college football at St. Ambrose University in Iowa. Goddard at Artesia (March 13): You have one very good reason to pay attention to this game: the matchup between Artesia WR Braxton McDonald Braxton McDonald 5'10" | WR Artesia | 2021 State NM and Goddard’s Stone will be one of the best 1-on-1 matchups you’ll see this spring. Elite talent vs. elite talent. Stone has signed with ENMU. McDonald has a PWO offer from New Mexico State. Let’s get ready to rumble! Centennial vs. Cleveland (March 20 at Socorro): In addition to being a battle between two premier Class 6A programs, what makes this game particularly interesting is that it’s going to be played at a neutral site: Socorro High School. If they desire even more attention, move the game 50 miles west and play it at the Very Large Array on the Plains of San Agustin. Capital at Santa Fe (March 26): Capital High running back Luke Padilla Luke Padilla 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Capital | 2021 State NM (Fort Lewis College signee) trying to run against the rugged Demons defense led by senior linebacker Matthew Maestas Matthew Maestas 5'8" | LB Santa Fe | 2021 State NM will be worth the price of admission. Game of the Spring in northern New Mexico. Santa Fe has steadily improved since a nightmarish 30-plus game losing streak ended in 2018. This game will be a good litmus test for the Demons. Lovington at Hobbs (March 12): At first glance, you might think this Class 4A vs. Class 6A matchup would be a lopsided affair, but think again. Lovington has one of the best wide receiver duos in the state with Adam Aguilera Adam Aguilera 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM and Isaac Hinson Isaac Hinson 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM . They’ll be tested by a Hobbs defense led by two-sport star Roe Forrest Roe Forrest 6'3" | LB Hobbs | 2021 State NM , who is going to Odessa College to play baseball. Albuquerque Academy at Bernalillo (March 19): If these two teams aren’t on your radar, they should be. First, they are two of just a handful of schools in the Albuquerque region that are for the moment playing football. Second, both teams feature talented players destined to play at the next level. Best known of course is Bernalillo LB Ayden Madrid Ayden Madrid 5'11" | LB Bernalillo | 2021 State NM , who signed with Fort Lewis. Academy has some of the best young talent in the city with QB A.J. Rivera and WR Kellan Gehres.

So blessed to be playing. We are the only @LCPSnet team that gets to travel! #beachampion pic.x.com/dfGmlWiRfz
— Aaron Ocampo (@Angrybirdfb) February 25, 2021

The stage is set... Blessed enough to be playing football this spring. See you on the 13th, Grants! #SaintPiusXFootball #BeTheHammer #Yibambe pic.x.com/rkN3vHUqlL
— Phillip Archuleta (Coach Arch) (@CoachPMA) February 25, 2021

Varsity Bulldog Football Schedule

Artesia vs Carlsbad March 5th @ Carsbad @ 7:00 P.M
Artesia vs Goddard March 13th @ Artesia @ 1:00 P.M
Artesia vs Roswell March 19th @ Artesia @ 7:00 P.M
Artesia vs Hobbs March 26th @ Hobbs @ 7:00 P.M
— BulldogFootball 🏈🏆x32 (@artesiafootball) February 25, 2021