Baker’s Dozen: Week 9 Preview of Top 13 Games
In this article:
Week 9 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…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWeek 9 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 9:
GAME OF THE WEEK: Roswell (6-1) at Artesia (5-2)
Another week,another No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle for Roswell. Well, as far as the Coaches poll is concerned. Roswell is No. 1 in both polls while Piedra Vista slipped to No. 2 ahead of Artesia in the MaxPreps poll following the Sept. 30 loss to Roswell. Either way, this game will be a slobberknocker. Roswell QB Manny Fuentez Manny Fuentez 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Roswell | 2024 State NM is a dangerous dual threat QB and as he showed against Piedra Vista two weekends ago, is capable of getting the ball to his best targets in various ways. The Coyotes defense is superb, allowing 14 or fewer points in four of seven games. But they’d better bring their track shoes because the Artesia offense led by QB Nye Estrada will throw the ball all over the field. Estrada is No. 3 in the state in passing yardage with 2,040 and 27 TD in 7 games. Junior Peyton Greathouse Peyton Greathouse 5'9" | 175 lbs | WR Artesia | 2024 TN is his favorite target with 50 receptions for 911 yards and 7 TD. Both Estrada and Greathouse are back in 2023, so the fun is just beginning in the Bulldog Bowl.
Carlsbad at Centennial (Sat.): How many people thought Carlsbad would be undefeated in district play after two games. But the Cavemen are perfect following victories over Alamogordo and Organ Mountain. But now they face the Centennial, Las Cruces and Hobbes gauntlet over the final three games. Carlsbad has adjusted well to first-year head coach Oliver Soukup’s run-dominated attack. Eli Asay Eli Asay WR Carlsbad | 2023 State NM has used his blazing speed to rush for 1,000 yards. Centennial is ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps and No. 2 by the Coaches because they’re elite on both sides of the ball. Mikah Gutierrez Mikah Gutierrez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2023 State NM is a serious 2022 New Mexico Heisman candidate, while the defense is stout. Best run game wins? Probably. Winner moves to 3-0 in the district.
St. Michael’s at Raton (Sat.): Raton RB Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Raton | 2023 State NM is THIS close to lapping the field in total rushing yardage. With 2,166 yards to date, he has nearly twice as many yards on the ground as everybody else. But he’ll face his toughest test of the season Saturday night in Raton as St. Michael’s, unbeaten before last week’s loss to Robertson, comes to town. The Horsemen have allowed more than 20 points just once this season. St. Michael’s RB Marcus Leyba is a very good ball carrier as well. Should be a heckuva game on the New Mexico-Colorado border.
Hatch Valley at Socorro: Two of the top players in Class 3A will be on the same field Friday night at award-winning Eddie Castaneda Stadium in Socorro. Hatch Valley RB Layton Gillis Layton Gillis 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Hatch Valley | 2023 State NM is No. 2 in the state in rushing behind Raton RB Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Raton | 2023 State NM and is the main weapon for the Bears. Unbeaten Socorro (7-0) is led by dual threat QB Marcus Armijo Marcus Armijo 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Socorro | 2023 State NM , who has passed for 1,016 yards and run for 624 yards, amassing 1,640 total yards with three regular season games left. The winner of this game will very likely capture the district championship and be assured of a top four seed.
Cibola at Rio Rancho: An intriguing battle of backup quarterbacks. Cibola’s senior QB Daniel Benham Daniel Benham 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Cibola | 2023 NM started in Week 1 but gave way to Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM the following week. But with Chavez now likely out for the season with a broken ankle, Benham is the guy to lead the Cougars through the final three regular season games and into the playoffs. Rio Rancho sophomore QB J.J. Arellano took the reins of the Rams’ offense several weeks ago when Noah Nelson Noah Nelson 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM suffered an injury and has been nothing short of sensational. A key contest for seeding in the Class 6A playoffs.
La Cueva at West Mesa (Thur.): If you’re a Lobo fan, here’s a good opportunity to go watch your newest 2023 quarterback commit as the Bears and Mustangs clash on Thursday night at Community Stadium. La Cueva QB Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM leads the state in passing yardage with 2,318 in 7 games. He’s very accurate (64.4 percent), especially on deep throws, and rarely throws the ball to the other team. WR Ian Sanchez Ian Sanchez 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2023 State NM leads the state in receptions (60) and receiving yardage (988). West Mesa QB Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM is the No. 3 junior (2024) QB in the state in terms of passing yardage (1,732). He has an array of receivers ready to catch his passes starting with Chris Johnson Chris Johnson 5'9" | 135 lbs | WR West Mesa | 2023 State NM . The key question for the Mustangs is whether their defense will be able to contain the Bears offense.
Taos at Espanola Valley: Who saw this coming during the preseason? Nobody. Certainly one of the most fascinating games of the week. Neither team has lost since Week 2. Taos has won six straight games following a shaky Week 1 loss at St. Michael’s. Six-foot-7 QB Daemon Ely Daemon Ely 6'7" | 210 lbs | QB Taos | 2023 State NM is a dangerous dual threat signal caller. Espanola Valley counters with a pretty good quarterback of their own – Nate Chacon. He’s passed for 1,465 yards and 17 TD in 7 games.
Cleveland at Atrisco Heritage: Because the Storm have two losses, some people may have forgotten about them. Bad mistake. Cleveland has been as explosive in the past few games as they have in a long time, scoring 61, 56 and 56 points in their last 3 games. The Storm already have a 1,000 yard passer ( Evan Wysong Evan Wysong 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Cleveland | 2023 State NM ), a 1,000 yard rusher ( Josh Perry Josh Perry 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Cleveland | 2023 State NM ) and close to a 1,000-yard receiver ( Nic Trujillo Nic Trujillo 6'1" | 160 lbs | WR Cleveland | 2023 State NM ). Atrisco Heritage has a very explosive offense as well. QB Dean Marquez Dean Marquez 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM has thrown for over 2,100 yards and his WR corps rank among the best in the state. This could be an entertaining shootout of the highest degree.
Jal at Texico: Another No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle, this time in the Class 2A ranks. Jal has ben dominant all season and nobody has come close to containing its explosive offense led by QB Alexavier Carreon Alexavier Carreon 6'1" | RB Jal | 2023 State NM . Next team to try is Texico, which has posted shutouts in its last two games. Jal can widen the gap between itself and the rest of Class 2A with another impressive win here.
Hobbs at Alamogordo (Sat.): Hobbs’ offense was shut down for the first time this season in last week’s 27-20 loss to Centennial, albeit in sloppy and wet conditions. But the Eagles still posses one of the most formidable offenses in the state with QB Omar Argott, RB Diego Baeza Diego Baeza 5'5" | 160 lbs | RB Hobbs | 2023 State NM , WR Kaden Trevino Kaden Trevino 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2023 State NM and others. Alamogordo posted one of its biggest victories in years last week when they went to Field of Dreams and held off Las Cruces, 13-10. A win like that should inject plenty of confidence and enthusiasm into the Tigers program. Ryan Stovall Ryan Stovall 6'2" | 195 lbs | LB Alamogordo | 2023 State NM is an elite linebacker.
Portales at Albuq. Academy (Fri., 3 p.m.): Portales, ranked No. 2 in 4A behind Silver, comes to Albuquerque for a rare Friday afternoon clash. The Rams started 6-0 but suffered its only loss last week, 48-47 at Valley. This game marks their third trip to Albuquerque in five weeks. QB Paxton Culpepper has passed for 1,226 yards and 15 TD. Four receivers have 17+ receptions. Albuquerque Academy has missed RB Cole Conway Cole Conway 6'3" | 230 lbs | RB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM and now top WR Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM is out for the season with an injury.
Mayfield at Goddard: The gridiron battles in one of the state’s most competitive districts are underway, with this matchup serving as the undercard to the Roswell-Artesia contest. Since dropping a close game to 6A Carlsbad in Week 2, Goddard has won 4 of 5 games. Four of Mayfield’s 7 non-district games were against 6A schools, including all 3 of its established city rivals. Mayfield escaped Deming last week with a 28-27 victory by scoring two late touchdowns. This should be a close, hard-fought affair.
Sandia at Farmington: Both teams were involved in entertaining shootouts last week with Farmington edging West Mesa, 48-41, and Sandia falling to Eldorado, 42-39, in double OT. Three of Farmington’s last four games have been decided by 7 points or less. The Scorpions are 0-3 at home but 3-1 on the road. QB Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM has enjoyed a solid season. Sandia is already 0-2 in the district, so this game is a must-win for the Matadors if they want to make the 6A playoffs, especially with La Cueva (district) and Cibola (non-district) remaining on the schedule. Malachi Thymes Malachi Thymes 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Sandia | 2023 State NM is Sandia’s top offensive weapon.
BEST OF THE REST
Las Cruces at Organ Mountain: Must win for both teams for the playoffs.
Santa Teresa at Deming (Thur.): District play in 5A-3 begins with a good one.
Belen at Highland (Thur.): Highland is much improved over last season.
Lovington at Bernalillo: Lovington beings their high voltage offense north.
Piedra Vista at Miyamura: Piedra Vista looks to bounce back after the loss at Roswell.
Loving at Eunice: Eunice is another team looking to rebound.
Bloomfield at Kirtland Central: Bloomfield still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in 4A.
OTHER GAMES
Del Norte at Valley (THur.)
Santa Fe Indian at Robertson m(THur.)
Los Lunas at Santa Fe
Shiprock at Rio Grande
Los Alamos at Manzano
Moriarty at Pojoaque Valley
Hope Christian at Tucumcari
McCurdy at Escalante
Chaparral at Gadsden
Dexter at NMMI
Cobre at Hot Springs
Gallup at Aztec
Grants at Silver
Newcomb at Tohatchi
Thoreau at Cuba
Valencia at St. Pius X (Sat.)
Albuquerque High at Capital
Estancia at Mescalero Apache
Wingate at Crownpoint
Laguna Acoma at Santa Rosa
Tularosa at Capitan