Baker’s Dozen: Top 13 Games of Week 1
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The 2023 New Mexico High School football season is finally here. The campaign begins Thursday night with a handful of games around the state and runs through Saturday afternoon. Here are our Top 13 games of Week 1 of what…
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Continue ReadingThe 2023 New Mexico High School football season is finally here. The campaign begins Thursday night with a handful of games around the state and runs through Saturday afternoon. Here are our Top 13 games of Week 1 of what promises to be another exciting season ahead.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Cleveland at Centennial (Sat., 1 p.m., Field of Dreams)
Along with several other highly anticipated matchups looming in the next several weeks, this is a possible Class 6A championship game preview. Last year Centennial traveled to Rio Rancho and knocked off the Storm, 38-35, scoring a late TD to pull off the upset. In doing so, they became the first New Mexico-based team in three years to beat Cleveland. However, as we know, the Storm got the last laugh by capturing another state championship in late November. With many new faces on offense and stellar defenses on both sides, this one has the look and feel of a close, hard-fought defensive struggle. Cleveland LB Stratton Shufelt Stratton Shufelt 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Cleveland | 2024 State NM and Centennial LB John Sierra John Sierra 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Centennial | 2024 State NM are two of the top defensive players in the entire state. Both will play Division I football.
Rio Rancho at La Cueva: The Bears, 6A runners-up last fall, begin a new era on offense with junior QB Cameron Dyer Cameron Dyer 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2025 State NM (offered by New Mexico State) and arguably the fastest WR corps in the state. We’ll see if the Rio Rancho secondary can keep up. The Rams look improved on both sides of the ball after losing in the quarterfinals to Centennial last November. Noah Nelson Noah Nelson 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM is expected to be the starting QB for the Rams in the opener but JJ Arellano JJ Arellano 5'11" | 165 lbs | QB Rio Rancho | 2025 State NM could grab the job if the Rams get off to a slow start offensively.
Volcano Vista at Las Cruces: Both teams begin the season with new quarterbacks. Volcano Vista aims to take the next step and reach the 6A title game this season. Alijah Gonzales Alijah Gonzales 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM has the potential to become a 1,000-yard rusher for the Hawks. Their defense should be stout. Las Cruces looks to bounce back after a disappointing campaign in 2022 when they failed to make the playoffs, a are occurrence. The Bulldawgs believe they will be much improved.
Hobbs at Clovis: Renewal of one of Eastern New Mexico’s top rivalries. Hobbs, a top four seed in the playoffs last year, has new faces at most of the offensive skill positions and a potentially solid defense. Andrew McCraw begins his second year at Clovis. The Wildcats run the flexbone offense and the players appear more comfortable with the scheme than a year ago. That could translate to more wins for Clovis.
Artesia at Carlsbad: The Eddy County War came down to the wire last season when Artesia pulled out the win with kickoff return for a touchdown in the final seconds. This one could be that close again. With many of last season’s major contributors returning, including QB Nye Estrada Nye Estrada 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB Artesia | 2024 State NM , Artesia is favored to repeat as Class 5A champions. Carlsbad has a new head coach and should run a more balanced offensive scheme this season after the run-heavy offense preferred by former head coach Oliver Soukup, who is now the defensive coordinator at Eastern New Mexico.
Farmington at Piedra Vista: The biggest rivalry in the Four Corners occurs on opening weekend since Farmington is now a Class 6A program and the two schools are no longer district foes. Scorpions QB Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM is physically big and possesses a cannon arm. He has an array of weapons around him. Piedra Vista hosted Artesia in the Class 5A championship game last November ands aim to keep the momentum going.
Roswell at Lovington: An intriguing cross-classification matchup. Roswell has been one of the top programs in Class 5A for years and behind dynamic QB Manny Fuentez looks to knock rival Artesia off its throne. Lovington has a new QB ( Wyatt Gomez Wyatt Gomez 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Lovington | 2024 State NM ), two talented running backs and a good defense. The Wildcats will be in the thick of the Class 4A championship chase all season long.
Organ Mountain at Albuquerque High: Matchup between two teams with head coaches making their highly anticipated debuts at their respective schools. Kenneth Sanchez was a splashy hire for Organ Mountain, which endured a multitude of trials and tribulations last season. Desmond Anaya is the new top gun at AHS. The Bulldogs traveled to Las Cruces in Week 1 last year and knocked off the Knights, 22-20. AHS offensive lineman TJ McCarthy TJ McCarthy 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Albuquerque | 2024 State NM is being heavily recruited.
Silver at Alamogordo: The 4A Colts travel to meet the 6A Tigers. Silver is coming off a great season in which they advanced all the way to the state championship game before losing to Bloomfield. They believe their offense will be prolific again. The defense features a bunch of new faces. Alamogordo made the playoffs in its first season in 6A and now aims to take the next step while trying to replace major contributors from last season.
Santa Teresa at Goddard: The Desert Warriors travel to Roswell to face Goddard at the Wool Bowl. Santa Teresa is better than people think and has the talent to earn a spot in the 5A playoffs again. Goddard loves to run the football and they have a great RB in Jonathan Silva Jonathan Silva RB Goddard | 2024 State NM .
Eldorado at Cibola: The Noah Carroll Noah Carroll 5'9" | 160 lbs | QB Cibola | 2026 State NM Era begins at quarterback for Cibola. Carroll is just a sophomore, so he’s the present and the future for the Cougars. Eldorado has an established QB in Brandon Olivas Brandon Olivas 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Eldorado | 2024 State NM and a nice RB in Johnpaul Ludi. But the defense is largely young and inexperienced.
West Mesa at Santa Fe: Many folks believe West Mesa QB Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM is the best prep signal caller in the state. He’s been offered by New Mexico. Brody is a tall, smart, great athlete with pinpoint accuracy on his throws. And he has some great receivers catching his passes. The Santa Fe defense faces a huge challenge trying to stop the Mustangs offense. Demons WR Bryce Melton Bryce Melton WR Santa Fe | 2025 State NM is arguably the fastest player in the state.
Robertson at Socorro (Thur.): An early ‘Game of the Year’ candidate in Class 3A. Robertson has been one of the prominent programs in 3A for many years and the Cardinals should be good again with RB Jesse James Gonzales Jesse James Gonzales RB Roberton | 2025 State NM and others. Socorro lost just one game a season ago but it came at home in the semifinals to St. Michael’s. The Warriors must replace several prominent players but should be competitive again.
Bernalillo at Valley (Thur.): It’s a Family Affair at Milne Stadium in Albuquerque as Valley coach Billy Cobos faces nephew John Cobos, head coach of Bernalillo. Valley could have one of its best teams in years after surprising folks last year. Bernalillo has put last season’s disappointment behind them and has the 4A playoffs squarely in their sights.
BEST OF THE REST
Portales at Highland (Sat.)
St. Michael’s at Taos (Sat.)
Sandia at Atrisco Heritage (Sat.)
St. Pius X at Bloomfield
Ruidoso at Gadsden
Belen at Los Lunas
Los Alamos at Espanola Valley
OTHER GAMES
Del Norte at Deming
Mayfield at Manzano
Chaparral at Cobre
Laguna-Acoma at Hatch Valley
Pojoaque Valley at Navajo Prep
Tularosa at Hot Springs
Capital at Grants
Mescalero Apache at Tucumcari
Escalante at West Las Vegas
Miyamura at Aztec
Valencia at Kirtland Central
Moriarty at Gallup
Raton vs. Eunice (at Tucumcari)
Rio Grande at Albuquerque Academy (Thur.)
Texico at Estancia
Cuba at Santa Fe Indian
Hope Christian at McCurdy
Tohatchi at Shiprock
Zuni at Thoreau
Valley (AZ) at Crownpoint