10 Most Intriguing Games Involving ABQ Schools
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The Albuquerque Public Schools office recently released the 2023 football schedules for its 13 football-playing high schools. Upon review, here are the 10 Most Intriguing Games involving at least one Albuquerque high school (includes private schools): La Cueva at Cleveland,…
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Continue ReadingThe Albuquerque Public Schools office recently released the 2023 football schedules for its 13 football-playing high schools. Upon review, here are the 10 Most Intriguing Games involving at least one Albuquerque high school (includes private schools):
La Cueva at Cleveland, Aug. 25: Rematch of last November’s Class 6A state championship game. However, both teams will look a bit different, particularly on offense. La Cueva will debut a new starting quarterback ( Cameron Dyer Cameron Dyer 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2025 State NM ), new No. 1 running back (TBA) and new No. 1 wide receiver (Probably Jackson Hix Jackson Hix 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2024 State NM ) in Week 1 against Rio Rancho. Cleveland? Same thing. Both defenses should still be very good. Will the defenses be ahead of the new look offenses?
Volcano Vista at Las Cruces, Aug. 18: The Hawks make the long trip to the Field of Dreams for one of the best Week 1 matchups. Volcano Vista must replace dynamic dual threat QB Elliot Paskett-Bell Elliot Paskett-Bell 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Volcano Vista | 2023 State NM (NMMI signee), who threw for over 3,200 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2022. Las Cruces will have a new QB as well with Kelley Stevens and Gunnar Guardiola ready to compete for the starting job this summer. Fun Friday night in Las Cruces.
La Cueva at Centennial, Sept. 2: Following matchups with Rio Rancho and Cleveland, La Cueva’s challenging start to the 2023 schedule continues with a Saturday afternoon (yeah, it will be HOT) battle with the Hawks at Field of Dreams. Rematch of the classic 6A semifinal playoff game last November when La Cueva escaped FOD with a championship game securing win by scoring a late TD for a thrilling 42-35 victory. The matchup between the La Cueva offense and the Centennial defense will alone be worth the price of admission. Opportunity to watch Hawks LB John Sierra John Sierra 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Centennial | 2024 State NM (UNM offer) chase La Cueva QB Cameron Dyer Cameron Dyer 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2025 State NM ? Sign me up.
Organ Mountain at Albuquerque High, Aug. 18: Two new head coaches mark their debuts with their respective teams. As everybody knows, 2022 was a very difficult season for Organ Mountain, on and off the field. They hired former West Coast power Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman coach Kenneth Sanchez, a major coup for the Knights. Albuquerque High, meanwhile, promoted offensive coordinator Desmond Anaya to head coach in February. Anaya, a former standout first at Eastern New Mexico and then New Mexico State, has been with the Bulldogs since 2017.
Cibola at Piedra Vista, Sept. 22: These two teams feature new quarterbacks in 2023. The Cougars must find a successor to Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM . Most likely, the job will go to rising sophomore Noah Carroll, whom we saw at the Bernalillo Jamboree two weeks ago. Piedra Vista, which runs a version of the flexbone, must replace dynamic dual threat QB Logan Howell Logan Howell 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Piedra Vista | 2023 State NM , who signed with Eastern New Mexico after leading the anthers to the Class 5A championship game.
Albuquerque Academy at Moriarty, Aug. 25: After leading Albuquerque Academy to the 4A quarterfinals in 2021 and 2022, Chargers head coach Shaun Gehres resigned (he will remain at the school in an administrative role) and replaced by defensive coordinator David Lee. Academy is looking for a new QB-WR-RB trio to replace the highly productive threesome of QB A.J. Rivera A.J. Rivera 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM , RB Cole Conway Cole Conway 6'3" | 230 lbs | RB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM and WR Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM . All three have signed to play at the next level. We know what Moriarty will do on offense – run the football from the Wing-T.
Atrisco Heritage at West Mesa, Sept. 15: Two of the top quarterbacks in the Albuquerque Metro Region matchup in what could be an exciting high-scoring affair at Community Stadium. Between them, Atrisco Heritage QB Dean Marquez Dean Marquez 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM and West Mesa QB Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM passed for nearly 5,000 yards and 60 TD in 2022. Both have an array of wide receivers at their disposal. Don’t blink because you might miss another TD in this one.
Valley at Los Lunas, Sept. 22: Valley was one of the surprise teams in Class 5A last season, finishing with a top eight seed and reaching the quarterfinals of the playoffs in Billy Cobos’ first year as head coach. Rising junior QB Julian Butkivich Julian Butkivich QB Valley | 2025 State NM is back. Los Lunas begins the post-Paul Cieremens Era in Year 2 of life in Class 6A. The Tigers were 7-5 in 2022 and Cieremens has joined New Mexico State as a preferred walk-on. Who succeeds him is the key storyline for Los Lunas entering preseason camp.
Rio Rancho at La Cueva, Aug. 18: Rio Rancho is one of several major New Mexico programs with a summer QB battle. For the Rams, it’s rising senior Noah Nelson Noah Nelson 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM vs. rising junior JJ Arellano JJ Arellano 5'11" | 165 lbs | QB Rio Rancho | 2025 State NM . Both are dual threat quarterbacks. Rayce Ramirez Rayce Ramirez 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM fuels the RRHS running game. For La Cueva, this game marks the beginning of the Cameron Dyer Cameron Dyer 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2025 State NM Era at quarterback. Dyer is 6-foot-4, 185 pounds and possesses a rifle for an arm. The Bears have talent all over the field. They should contend again for the 6A title.
Portales at Highland, Aug. 19: Portales typically makes multiple trips to the Albuquerque Metro Region annually, and this season appears to be no different. The Rams bring their potentially explosive offense to the Duke City for a matchup with the Class 5A Hornets, who are looking to keep their upward trajectory going after barely missing the playoffs a season ago. Will the Highland defense have an answer for Portales QB Paxton Culpepper Paxton Culpepper 6'0" | 150 lbs | QB Portales | 2025 State NM ?