First Round Playoff Preview: Classes 4A-3A-2A
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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…
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Continue ReadingIt’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:
CLASS 4A
Albuquerque Academy (9) at Grants (8): 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 Jett Galles Jett Galles RB Albuquerque Academy | 2025 State NM gained nearly 1,000 yards in just 8 games. LB Brody Whitaker Brody Whitaker 5'11" | 235 lbs | LB Albuquerque Academy | 2024 State NM 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 Andres Lazos Andres Lazos 5'4" | 125 lbs | RB Grants | 2025 State NM is close to 1,200 rushing yards and he’ll return in 2024 along with many other Pirate standouts.
St. Pius X (10) at Espanola Valley (7): 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 Adrick Deleon (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 Isaiah Carpenter Isaiah Carpenter 6'5" | 185 lbs | QB St. Pius X | 2027 State NM and sophomore Nathaniel Miera Nathaniel Miera 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB St. Pius X | 2026 State NM .
Taos (11) at Aztec (6): 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 Evan Salazar Evan Salazar 5'10" | 140 lbs | QB Taos | 2026 State NM . Aztec finished second in its district behind unbeaten Bloomfield. The centerpiece of Aztec’s offense is RB Baylor Seabolt Baylor Seabolt 5'11" | 165 lbs | RB Aztec | 2024 State NM , a next level talent along with QB Landan Frost Landan Frost 6'0" | 165 lbs | QB Aztec | 2024 State NM and WR Kale Watson Kale Watson 5'10" | 140 lbs | WR Aztec | 2026 State NM .
Valencia (12) at Bernalillo (5): 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 Uriel Castro Uriel Castro 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Bernalillo | 2025 State NM (1,842 passing yards) and WR/DB Mason Espinda-McChriston Mason Espinda-McChriston 6'2" | 175 lbs | ATH Bernalillo | 2024 State NM (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 Daniel Villegas Daniel Villegas 5'8" | RB Valencia | 2024 State NM is a 1,000-yard rusher.
CLASS 3A
Raton (9) at Thoreau (8): 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 Jacob Mattorano Jacob Mattorano 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Raton | 2024 State NM and the RB duo of Cannon Walton Cannon Walton 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Raton | 2025 State NM and Joseph Saenz Joseph Saenz 5'7" | 145 lbs | RB Raton | 2025 State NM . This marks the second straight year Thoreau has hosted a first-round playoff game. QB Ian Bear Eagle has thrown for over 1,100 yards and 16 TD and is supported by a balanced rushing attack.
Hope Christian (10) at Socorro (7): These two teams met in Week 4 with Socorro pulling out a hard-fought 29-21 victory. Junior Isaiah Ocampo Isaiah Ocampo 5'10" | 150 lbs | QB Socorro | 2025 State NM 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 Alex Amaro Alex Amaro 5'9" | 140 lbs | WR Socorro | 2024 State NM and sophomore Jay Lee Jay Lee 5'11" | 155 lbs | WR Socorro | 2026 State NM ). Hope Christian turned around its season just in time with victories over Tucumcari and Ruidoso in the final two weeks. QB RJ Montoya RJ Montoya 5'8" | 170 lbs | QB Hope Christian | 2026 State NM and RB Elijah Saiz are a productive offensive backfield duo.
Hatch Valley (11) at Dexter (6): Dexter spent a couple of weeks at No. 1 in the MaxPreps 3A poll before losing at home to Robertson and NMMI. Freshman QB CJ Granados CJ Granados 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Dexter | 2027 State NM (1,246 passing yards) has emerged as one of the top 2027 prospects in the state. The ground game is led by junior Julian Manzanares Julian Manzanares 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Dexter | 2025 State NM (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 Jacob Gomez Jacob Gomez 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB Hatch Valley | 2024 State NM fuels the Bears offense with his dual threat skills.
Navajo Prep (12) at NMMI (5): Run-dominated NMMI earned the No. 5 seed after winning its district with a 4-0 mark. Dual threat QB Cole Seidenberger and RB Cohen Tomasits Cohen Tomasits 6'0" | 160 lbs | RB NMMI | 2025 State NM 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. Xavier Nez Xavier Nez QB Navajo Prep | 2025 State NM quarterbacks the Eagles while senior Joshua Wells is the top rusher.
CLASS 2A (Quarterfinals)
Escalante (8) at Eunice (1): 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 Trey Archuleta Trey Archuleta 5'9" | 165 lbs | QB Escalante | 2024 State NM and Eunice QB Elijah Melancon Elijah Melancon 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Eunice | 2026 State NM .
Estancia (7) at Texico (2): The state’s No. 1 rusher (Josh Calhoon of Estancia) takes on the powerful Wolverines led by QB Cade Figg Cade Figg 5'8" | QB Texico | 2024 State NM , a next level talent.
Loving (6) at Santa Rosa (3): Loving is next team up trying to figure out how to stop Santa Rosa RB Nicolas Chavez Nicolas Chavez 5'9" | 150 lbs | RB Santa Rosa | 2024 State NM (1,844 yards and 27 TD on ground). Few teams have succeeded, though.
Tularosa (5) at Jal (4): Will Jal successfully defend its Class 2A title? Tularosa gets the first opportunity to knock the Panthers off their throne.