Realignment, reclassification approved for 2022 & 2023 seasons
The NMAA Board of Directors has approved realignment for the 2022 and 2023 high school football seasons, and as expected the new district lineup contains a few surprises.
Four schools moved from Class 5A to Class 6A: Alamogordo, Capital, Farmington and Los Lunas.
As expected, Manzano, which won the 6A championship four years ago, dropped to Class 5A. Gadsden was classified into 5A after one season as an independent. Mayfield switched districts and will now be a part of a so-called four-team “super district” with three other prominent programs: Artesia, Roswell and Goddard.
Class 6A will have 21 teams and four districts for the next two seasons. Rio Grande will continue as an independent. Classes 5A ad 4A will both have 16 teams, with Shiprock going independent in 4A. Class 3A will have 22 teams. Ruidoso, Class 4A runner-up, moved to 3A.
CLASS 6A (21 Schools)
District 1: Cleveland, Rio Rancho, Cibola, Volcano Vista, Atrisco Heritage
District 2: La Cueva, Eldorado, Sandia, West Mesa, Farmington
District 3: Las Cruces, Centennial, Organ Mountain, Hobbs, Carlsbad, Alamogordo
District 4: Los Lunas, Clovis, Santa Fe, Capital, Albuquerque High
Independent: Rio Grande
CLASS 5A (16 Schools)
District 1: Belen, Highland, Miyamura, Piedra Vista
District 2: Del Norte, Los Alamos, Manzano, Valley
District 3: Chaparral, Deming, Gadsden, Santa Teresa
District 4: Artesia, Goddard, Mayfield, Roswell
CLASS 4A (16 Schools)
District 1: Aztec, Bloomfield, Gallup, Kirtland Central
District 2: Española Valley, Moriarty, Pojoaque Valley, Taos
District 3/5: Grants, Silver, St. Pius, Valencia
District 4/6: Albuquerque Academy, Bernalillo, Lovington, Portales
Independent: Shiprock
CLASS 3A (22 Schools)
District 1: Navajo Prep, Newcomb, Tohatchi, Zuni
District 2: Raton, Robertson, Santa Fe Indian, St. Michael’s, West Las Vegas
District 3: Cobre, Hatch Valley, Hot Springs, Socorro
District 4: Dexter, Hope Christian, NMMI, Ruidoso, Tucumcari
District 5: Cuba, Crownpoint, Thoreau, Wingate
CLASS 2A (13 Schools)
District 1/2/5: Escalante, Laguna-Acoma, McCurdy, Santa Rosa
District 3: Capitan, Estancia, Mescalero Apache, Tularosa
District 4: Eunice, Hagerman, Jal, Loving, Texico
Gadsden moves to District 3-5A. #PantherPride pic.twitter.com/zDbe5ZADXh
— Dino Facio Jr. (@CoachFacio) December 2, 2021