First Round Playoff Preview: Classes 4A-3A-2A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's playoff time in New Mexico High School football. The 2023 playoffs in 6A-2A begin Friday night at locations throughout the state and continuing with several more games Saturday afternoon. In all, 20 games will be played. Here is a preview of all the First Round matchups for Classes 4A-2A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 4A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Albuquerque Academy (9) at Grants (8)</strong>: Albuquerque Academy didn't finish the season on a positive note with consecutive lopsided losses to Portales, Lovington and Bernalillo but the Chargers seemingly did enough in non-district play, including victories over 6A Capital and 5A Los Alamos to earn an at-large berth. RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119328' first='Jett' last='Galles']</strong> gained nearly 1,000 yards in just 8 games. LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275045' first='Brody' last='Whitaker']</strong> leads the defense. Grants is back in the 4A playoffs under first-year head coach Steve Brown after consecutive 1-9 seasons and is guaranteed a winning season. RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613060' first='Andres' last='Lazos']</strong> is close to 1,200 rushing yards and he'll return in 2024 along with many other Pirate standouts. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Pius X (10) at Espanola Valley (7)</strong>: Espanola Valley has risen from the ashes of a 1-9 campaign in 2021 to become one of the best stories in Class 4A. Second-year head coach Tylon Wilder has worked wonders with the Sundevils and transformed a community in the process. It also helps, of course, to have good players and Espanola Valley has one of the top running backs in 4A in <strong>Adrick Deleon</strong> (1,687 rushing yards on 146 carries). St. Pius X has had an up-and-down season. The Sartans have employed a two-quarterback system with freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154948' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter']</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137859' first='Nathaniel' last='Miera']</strong>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taos (11) at Aztec (6)</strong>: Two teams nicknamed Tigers that are very familiar with each other as this will be their third meeting in the last 13 months. Taos turned heads last season by going 10-2 and advancing to the 4A semifinals. The Tigers fell back to 4-6 this season but still have some talented players starting with dual threat QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853710' first='Evan' last='Salazar']</strong>. Aztec finished second in its district behind unbeaten Bloomfield. The centerpiece of Aztec's offense is RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275041' first='Baylor' last='Seabolt']</strong>, a next level talent along with QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275457' first='Landan' last='Frost']</strong> and WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137468' first='Kale' last='Watson']</strong>. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Valencia (12) at Bernalillo (5)</strong>: After not making the playoffs last season, Bernalillo opened eyes in the first half of this season with a 6-0 start. A three-game losing streak stalled the Spartans until a rousing 50-14 victory over Albuquerque Academy last weekend. Junior QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615632' first='Uriel' last='Castro']</strong> (1,842 passing yards) and WR/DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275206' first='Mason' last='Espinda-McChriston']</strong> (44 receptions for 833 yards + 129 tackles) are two talented players destined for the next level. The latter is the leader of Bernalillo's ‘Goon Squad' defense. Valencia is back in the playoffs under first-year head coach LeDarrius Cage. Senior DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103800' first='Daniel' last='Villegas']</strong> is a 1,000-yard rusher.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1718623068971757577?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1718623068971757577?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 3A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Raton (9) at Thoreau (8)</strong>: Largely because of the demanding district they're in, Raton has flown under the radar in Year 1 P.C.W. (Post Cayden Walton). But the Tigers are back in the playoffs with an offense led by senior QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1103773' first='Jacob' last='Mattorano']</strong> and the RB duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613159' first='Cannon' last='Walton']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119146' first='Joseph' last='Saenz']</strong>. This marks the second straight year Thoreau has hosted a first-round playoff game. QB <strong>Ian Bear Eagle</strong> has thrown for over 1,100 yards and 16 TD and is supported by a balanced rushing attack. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hope Christian (10) at Socorro (7)</strong>: These two teams met in Week 4 with Socorro pulling out a hard-fought 29-21 victory. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613184' first='Isaiah' last='Ocampo']</strong> took the reins of the Warriors offense this season and has enjoyed a fantastic year with nearly 2,800 total yards and 31 TD. Two receivers have 47+ receptions (junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='592109' first='Alex' last='Amaro']</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137096' first='Jay' last='Lee']</strong>). Hope Christian turned around its season just in time with victories over Tucumcari and Ruidoso in the final two weeks. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137124' first='RJ' last='Montoya']</strong> and RB <strong>Elijah Saiz</strong> are a productive offensive backfield duo.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hatch Valley (11) at Dexter (6):</strong> Dexter spent a couple of weeks at No. 1 in the MaxPreps 3A poll before losing at home to Robertson and NMMI. Freshman QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155032' first='CJ' last='Granados']</strong> (1,246 passing yards) has emerged as one of the top 2027 prospects in the state. The ground game is led by junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119136' first='Julian' last='Manzanares']</strong> (800+ rushing yards + 14 rushing TD). Hatch Valley won four straight games after a 1-3 start but lost to Socorro and Cobre in the final two weeks. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275480' first='Jacob' last='Gomez']</strong> fuels the Bears offense with his dual threat skills. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Navajo Prep (12) at NMMI (5)</strong>: Run-dominated NMMI earned the No. 5 seed after winning its district with a 4-0 mark. Dual threat QB <strong>Cole Seidenberger</strong> and RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119319' first='Cohen' last='Tomasits']</strong> are the top two rushers but plenty of other guys get involved as well. Navajo Prep fought their way into the 3A playoffs with a thrilling 38-36 road win over Newcomb in a high-stakes winner-take-all district championship game in which the losing team was unlikely to make the playoffs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119659' first='Xavier' last='Nez']</strong> quarterbacks the Eagles while senior <strong>Joshua Wells</strong> is the top rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1718622643069624338?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1718622643069624338?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLASS 2A (Quarterfinals)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Escalante (8) at Eunice (1):</strong> Escalante makes the LONG trip (425 miles each way) to SE New Mexico to take on the No. 1 seeded Cardinals. Matchup of two of the top playmakers in 2A – Escalante QB [player_tooltip player_id='275564' first='Trey' last='Archuleta'] and Eunice QB [player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon']. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Estancia (7) at Texico (2)</strong>: The state's No. 1 rusher (Josh Calhoon of Estancia) takes on the powerful Wolverines led by QB [player_tooltip player_id='592201' first='Cade' last='Figg'], a next level talent. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Loving (6) at Santa Rosa (3)</strong>: Loving is next team up trying to figure out how to stop Santa Rosa RB [player_tooltip player_id='275599' first='Nicolas' last='Chavez'] (1,844 yards and 27 TD on ground). Few teams have succeeded, though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tularosa (5) at Jal (4)</strong>: Will Jal successfully defend its Class 2A title? Tularosa gets the first opportunity to knock the Panthers off their throne.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1718622196556578909?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1718622196556578909?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->