Baker’s Dozen: Week 10 Preview of Top 13 Games
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Week 10 of the New Mexico High School Football season is here! It begins Thursday night with a handful of games around the state, and continues with a full slate on Friday and Saturday. Here are the Top 13 Games…
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Continue ReadingWeek 10 of the New Mexico High School Football season is here! It begins Thursday night with a handful of games around the state, and continues with a full slate on Friday and Saturday. Here are the Top 13 Games of Week 10:
GAME OF THE WEEK: Volcano Vista (6-2) at Rio Rancho (6-2)
A huge game for Class 6A playoff seeding. Rio Rancho and Volcano Vista are ranked No. 5 and No. 6, respectively, in the latest MaxPreps 6A poll. As a result, tis game likely serves as a top four seed elimination game. Winners in six of their last seven games, the Rams still have a chance to win the District 6A-1 title. If they beat the Hawks on Friday, it will set up a winner-take-all district championship game with rival Cleveland next Friday. Sophomore QB J.J. Arellano has been a revelation since being inserted into the starting lineup several weeks ago following an injury to Noah Nelson Noah Nelson 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM . Volcano Vista QB Eliot Pasket-Bell has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 20 TD. He also leads the Hawks in rushing with 635 yards on 74 carries. An elite battle of dual threat signal callers.
Artesia at Goddard: Both teams are 1-0 in the district. Artesia is rolling, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and can clinch at least a share of the district title with a win over the Rockets. The Bulldogs have scored 30+ points in every game this season. QB Nye Estrada has already thrown for 2,328 yards and 30 TD. Peyton Greathouse Peyton Greathouse 5'9" | 175 lbs | WR Artesia | 2024 TN has 58 receptions for 1,031 yards. Goddard is coming off a 42-28 win over Mayfield.
Raton at Robertson: How remarkable of a player is Raton RB Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Raton | 2023 State NM ? First, he leads the state in rushing by several hundred yards, and eyes the single season rushing mark after becoming the all-time career rushing leader last week. But he also has 76 tackles and is 4th in the state with 6 interceptions. Based on their road win at St. Michael’s a couple of weeks ago, Robertson can secure the district title with victory over the Tigers.
Roswell at Mayfield: Even though both teams are coming off losses, they are still ranked No. 3 (Roswell) and No. 5 (Mayfield) in the latest MaxPreps 6A poll. Thus, both teams are still vying for a top four seed. The loser is likely out. Both teams want to play physical and run the football. This one could be a slobberknocker.
Valley at Los Alamos: While a top four seed is unlikely, Valley is still battling for the right to host a first-round game in the 5A playoffs. The Vikings have been one of the pleasant surprises of the season along with Piedra Vista. QB Julian Butkivich has thrown for close to 1,000 yards and complements nicely a balanced rushing attack. Los Alamos is on the playoff bubble with a 4-4 record. Teke Nieto Teke Nieto 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB Los Alamos | 2023 State NM has 849 rushing yards. Huge game for both teams.
Capital at Clovis (Thur.): Capital (4-4) has an outside chance of reaching the Class 6A playoffs, but they need to win this one on the road and then beat Santa Fe next week to even get into the conversation. After a difficult start to the season, Clovis has won its first two district games over Albuquerque High and Santa Fe and can force a winner-take-all district championship game at Los Lunas (bye this week) next week with a victory over the Jaguars.
Cleveland at Cibola: Cleveland’s offense gets plenty of love and rightly so. But how about that Storm defense? In the last two games, they’ve held Volcano Vista and Atrisco Heritage, two of the most explosive offenses in 6A, to a combined 21 points. Cibola lost QB Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM two weeks ago to a broken ankle. The Cougars were held to 7 points by Rio Rancho last week and they’ll have their work cut out trying to score enough points on that Cleveland defense to win.
Las Cruces at Carlsbad: Las Cruceswon last week’s must-win game against Organ Mountain with 14-year-old freshman quarterback Gunnar Guardiola directing the offense. Will Mathew Lashley return from injury to reclaim his starting job or will Guardiola make his first career road start? Another must-win for the Bulldawgs with Centennial looming next week. The same could be said for Carlsbad (4-4), which is right on the bubble at No. 11 in the new 6A poll. They have Hobbs next week, so the Caveen have an uphill battle.
Piedra Vista at Highland (Sat.): Two of the season’s most intriguing Class 5A teams clash Saturday afternoon. A victory should just about secure a top four seed for Piedra Vista. QB Logan Howell has emerged as a talented dual threat QB. Highland, as we predicted, is much improved over last season. The Hornets are 5-2 and ranked No. 11 in the latest MaxPreps 5A poll. Considering PV is No. 1, an upset victory by Highland should clinch a playoff berth for them.
Eldorado at Farmington: Eldorado pulled out a much-needed 2OT win over Sandia last week to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. But they need to beat Farmington and West Mesa and then hope the selection committee looks favorably upon them. A struggling defense has been the main culprit for the Eagles this season. Farmington is No. 9 in the new 6A rankings, but can force a likely winner-take-all district championship game at La Cueva next week with a win over the Eagles.
St. Pius X at Silver: Few people predicted in August that Silver would be the No. 1 ranked team in 4A with two weeks left in the regular season, but here we are. Silver’s ground game led by Aiden Granado is their best asset. St. Pius X has struggled all season and now face a huge test traveling all the way to Silver City.
Aztec at Bloomfield: With Gallup and Kirtland Central struggling, this matchup between the Four Corners rivals essentially serves as the District 4A-1 championship game. Bloomfield QB Ryan Sharpe Ryan Sharpe QB Bloomfield | 2023 State NM is enjoying a great season with 1,097 passing yards, 19 TD passes and just 3 INT.
Organ Mountain at Hobbs: Hobbsis currently ranked No 4 in the 6A MaxPreps poll, so the Eagles have the inside track to securing the last bye. But they need to take care of Organ Mountain at home and then Carlsbad on the road next week to make sure they get it. Hobbs’ offense has been dynamic all season long. Organ Mountain faces a major uphill battle to get into the playoffs.
BEST OF THE REST
Alamogordo at Centennial
Albuquerque Academy at Lovington
La Cueva at Sandia
Espanola Valley at Moriarty
Bernalillo at Portales
Hope Christian at Ruidoso
OTHER GAMES
West Las Vegas at Santa Fe Indian
Miyamura at Belen
Santa Teresa at Gadsden
Kirtland Central at Gallup
Santa Fe at Albuquerque High
Manzano at Del Norte (Thur.)
Rio Grande at West Mesa (Thur.)
Valencia at Grants (Thur.)
Zuni at Newcomb (Thur.)
Deming at Chaparral (Thur.)
Wingate at Cuba (THur.)
Hagerman at Jal
Escalante at Santa Rosa
Texico at Loving
Tucumcari at Dexter
Crownpoint at Thoreau
Hot Springs at Socorro
Cobre at Hatch Valley
Pojoaque Valley at Taos
El Paso (TX) Cathedral at St. Michael’s (Sat.)