Baker’s Dozen: Top 13 Games of Week 3
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Week 3 of the New Mexico High School Football season begins Thursday night with nearly a dozen games around the state, and continues with a full slate on Friday and Saturday. Just like Week 2, several high profile NM schools…
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Continue ReadingWeek 3 of the New Mexico High School Football season begins Thursday night with nearly a dozen games around the state, and continues with a full slate on Friday and Saturday. Just like Week 2, several high profile NM schools are facing opponents from Texas, including Cleveland (at Amarillo), Rio Rancho (hosts Eastlake, TX), Clovis (at Randall, TX) and Las Cruces (at El Paso Eastwood). Here are the Top 13 Game of Week 13:
GAME OF THE WEEK: Centennial at La Cueva (at Wilson Stadium)
This week’s Class 6A Game of the Year marks Centennial’s second trip to the Albuquerque Metro region in the first three weeks of the season. The Hawks certainly hope this trip is as successful as the first one when they toppled 6A reigning champions Cleveland, 38-35, at Thunderbolt Stadium in Week 1. These two teams are ranked No. 1 (Centennial) and No. 3 (La Cueva) in the latest Class 6A polls from the coaches and MaxPreps.
The La Cueva defense has one mission: Contain Centennial RB Mikah Gutierrez Mikah Gutierrez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2023 State NM , who has rushed for 180+ yards in each of the Hawks’ first two games. If the Bears can stop the run and force Centennial to become one-dimensional on offense, their chances of winning rise significantly. The Centennial defense will look to keep La Cueva’s prolific passing game led by QB Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM and WR Ian Sanchez Ian Sanchez 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2023 State NM in check.
Is this a possible 6A title game preview? Yes. But there’s still plenty of football left to be played after this weekend. Centennial is 2-0 for the first time since 2019. If they win this week, thy should be favored in every game the rest of the way. In fact, you could make the argument that the winner of this one has the early inside track to the No. 1 playoff seed. We do know this: Few teams have played more demanding schedules after Week 3 than either Centennial or La Cueva.
Hobbs at Roswell: Both offenses are scorching hot heading into this 6A/5A showdown at the Wool Bowl. Hobbs has scored 115 points in their first two games, 69 in last week’s victory over Artesia, and Roswell has scored 119 points. The Coyotes traveled to Santa Fe last week and mercy ruled the Demons, 50-0, in an impressive display on both sides of the ball. This could be a fun, high-scoring game.
Volcano Vista at Carlsbad: Volcano Vista QB Elliot Pasket-Bell, who’s off to a sensational start nd has led the Hawks to impressive victories over Las Cruces and West Mesa to begin the new season, contends the Volcano Vista offense is unstoppable when its clicking on all cylinders. Carlsbad bounced back nicely from the heartbreaking loss in the Week 1 Eddy County War to beat Goddard, 35-28, last week at the Wool Bowl. Dane Naylor Dane Naylor QB Carlsbad | 2023 State NM is a dynamic dual threat QB for the Cavemen.
Belen at Artesia: Belen’s season so far has been a tale of two weeks. The Eagles were blanked by rival Los Lunas in Week 1 before mercy-ruling Manzano last Thursday night. Speedy RB Diego Avila Diego Avila 5'6" | 160 lbs | RB Belen | 2024 State NM gashed the Monarchs defense for 133 yards and 3 TD on just 7 carries after being held to just 29 yards on 12 attempts by Los Lunas the previous week. Artesia doesn’t score 48 points and lose very often, so the Bulldogs’ defense will be looking to bounce back. They know the offense led by QB Payton Dean will score enough points.
Mayfield at Organ Mountain (Thur.): This Thursday night matchup will be played with a heavy heart. The biggest story relating to high school football in Las Cruces this week has been the devastating injury suffered by Organ Mountain RB Abraham Romero in last week’s win at Deming. Romero is now in a medically induced coma at a local hospital. All four booster clubs of Las Cruces’ major high school football teams have united to organize fundraising efforts for Romero and his family.
West Mesa at Cibola: Two of the top quarterbacks in Albuquerque highlight this tasty matchup Friday night at Community. Junior Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM is off to a promising start for the Mustangs in his first action as a starting QB after transferring from Cleveland last spring. Meanwhile, Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM , our #1 prospect for the 2023 class, saw his first action for Cibola last week after returning from Florida and threw for 359 yards and 3 TD against Valley. Considering all the offensive talent surrounding these quarterbacks, expect plenty of fireworks.
Goddard at Deming: Goddard, still without speedy running back Javyn Morales Javyn Morales 5'10" | 155 lbs | RB Goddard | 2023 State NM , has played a pair of close, hard-fought games in the first two weeks. Last week they fell short by a touchdown to Carlsbad. The Deming offense started strongly against Organ Mountain but sputtered thereafter. Elite DE Ian Ortiz Ian Ortiz 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Deming | 2023 State NM leads the defense.
Farmington at Los Lunas: two of Class 6A’s four newcomers battle in Los Lunas. Farmington is off to a disappointing start, surrendering 50+ points in losses to Piedra Vista and Durango (CO). The Tigers’ dynamic dual threat QB Paul Cieremens has played well in the first two weeks, leading Los Lunas to wins over Belen and Alamogordo. He’s on pace to again join the prestigious 1,000-1,000 quarterback club.
Portales at West Las Vegas: Who’s the No. 1 passing quarterback in New Mexico, according to MaxPreps? Meet West Las Vegas QB C.J. Perea, who has thrown for 632 yards and 4 TD in the Don’s first two games, victories over Escalante and Dexter. Portales is also 2-0 as a result of home wins over Highland and Ruidoso. This will be their first road game of the season. The Rams love to hand the ball off to Emmanuel Diahn (136 rushing yards).
Albuquerque High at Sandia (Thur.): Because they had bye in Week 2, this will be our first look at Albuquerque High since their impressive 22-20 road win at Organ Mountain in Week 1. Jabulani Cooper Jabulani Cooper 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Albuquerque | 2023 State NM is the Bulldogs player to watch. Sandia exploded offensively for 59 points in Week 1 but were held in check by Piedra Vista last weekend. RB Malachi Thymes Malachi Thymes 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Sandia | 2023 State NM is a TD run waiting to happen. You know the AHS coaches have broken down the PVHS-Sandia film in great detail to determine how the Panthers stymied the Matadors.
Atrisco Heritage at Eldorado (Sat.): Eldorado is winless after two games, making them a desperate football team, and sometimes those are the most dangerous teams to play. Atrisco Heritage’s WR quartet of Latavious Morris (15 receptions in first 2 games), Marquise Renfro Marquise Renfro 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM (10 receptions), Manny Sedillo and Diego Winnikoff Diego Winnikoff 6'2" | 155 lbs | WR Atrisco Heritage | 2023 State NM is as good as any in Albuquerque.
Santa Fe at St. Michael’s: Santa Fe snapped a long losing streak to St. Michael’s last season but the Demons defense has struggled in the first two games with 106 points allowed in less than eight quarters. They must find a way to limit a Horsemen offense led by QB Zach Martinez Zach Martinez 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB St. Michael's | 2023 State NM and 6-foot-5 TE Taven Lozada Taven Lozada 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE St. Michael's | 2023 State NM . St. Michael’s is 2-0 after rallying for a 28-24 win over Capital last week.
Santa Teresa at Lovington: Santa Teresa’s challenging early season schedule continues in earnest as they travel to the defending Class 4A champions. The Desert Warriors have battled Goddard and Mayfield but have scored just one TD in the first two games. They’ll have to find a way to score points if they want to keep up with Lovington’s potentially explosive offense. The Wildcats are another winless tem, although their two setbacks have come to 5A Roswell and a Texas school.
BEST OF THE REST
Hope Christian at Albuq. Academy: The Chargers possess plenty of talent on offense.
Valley at St. Pius X: Valley looks to get back on the winning track while the Sartans look for their first win.
Robertson at Santa Rosa: The defending Class 3A champions hit the road for the second straight week.
Capital at Los Alamos: How will Capital respond to the heartbreaking loss to St. Michael’s last week?
Silver at Cobre: Rivalry game.
Alamogordo at Gadsden: Alamogordo gave Los Lunas a battle last week.
Tularosa at Hatch Valley: HVHS RB Layton Gillis Layton Gillis 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Hatch Valley | 2023 State NM is a name you need to know.
Grants at Bloomfield: The Bloomfield offense has been firing on all cylinders through two weeks with 117 points scored.
OTHER GAMES
Kirtland Central at Thoreau (Thur.)
Ruidoso at Chaparral (Thur.)
Gallup at Miyamura (Thur.)
Estancia at Socorro (THur.)
Del Norte at Bernalillo
Newcomb at Moriarty
Rio Grande vs. Taos (at Questa)
Hagerman at Dexter
McCurdy at Espanola Valley
NMMI at Texico
Raton at Trinidad (CO)
Cuba at Shiprock