November Madness: Weekend Preview, Classes 3A and 2A
In this article:
We’ve reached the quarterfinal round of the 2023 New Mexico high school football playoffs in Classes 6A-3A. The quarterfinals will be played in 3A this weekend and the semifinals in Class 2A. Here is a preview of those games: CLASS…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWe’ve reached the quarterfinal round of the 2023 New Mexico high school football playoffs in Classes 6A-3A. The quarterfinals will be played in 3A this weekend and the semifinals in Class 2A. Here is a preview of those games:
CLASS 3A
Raton (9) at St. Michael’s (1): These two heated district rivals meet again. It’s the third time in the last four full seasons (excluding the covid-impacted 2020) that Raton and St. Michael’s have met in the playoffs. And this will be the SEVENTH time overall since the beginning of the 2019 season that they have squared off on the gridiron. It’s no surprise Raton took a slight step back in Year 1 P.C.W. (Post Cayden Walton) from a won-loss perspective, but here they are back in the 3A quarterfinals. QB Jacob Mattorano Jacob Mattorano 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Raton | 2024 State NM has thrown for 1,617 yards and 17 TD. Junior Cannon Walton Cannon Walton 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Raton | 2025 State NM has done a nice job succeeding his older brother along with Joseph Saenz Joseph Saenz 5'7" | 145 lbs | RB Raton | 2025 State NM . St. Michael’s doesn’t have a good recent history being a No. 1 seed but the Horsemen are formidable on both sides of the ball. They run the football with RB Soren Annon Soren Annon 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB St. Michael's | 2025 State NM and Matthias Duran Matthias Duran 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB St. Michael's | 2024 State NM and, as always, are solid defensively.
Socorro (7) at Robertson (2): Two of the most dynamic dual threat quarterbacks in Class 3A square off. Socorro’s Isaiah Ocampo Isaiah Ocampo 5'10" | 150 lbs | QB Socorro | 2025 State NM has accounted for close to 3,000 total yards this season directing the Warriors offense. He has two elite receivers catching his passes – Alex Amaro Alex Amaro 5'9" | 140 lbs | WR Socorro | 2024 State NM and Jay Lee Jay Lee 5'11" | 155 lbs | WR Socorro | 2026 State NM . For Robertson, Jesse James Gonzales‘ transition to quarterback this season after two years at running back has been smooth. Nathanial Gonzales is his favorite receiver.
Dexter (6) at Cobre (3): If there has been any 3A team flying under the radar this season, it’s Cobre. But here are the Indians as the No. 3 seed for the playoffs. They handily beat Socorro, Hot Springs and Hatch Valley to claim the undisputed district title. Dexter spent a few weeks this season as the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps 3A poll. Freshman QB CJ Granados CJ Granados 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Dexter | 2027 State NM is one of the top young players in the state. Julian Manzanares Julian Manzanares 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Dexter | 2025 State NM is a 1,000-yard rusher for the Demons.
NMMI (5) at West Las Vegas (4): An intriguing contrast in offensive philosophies. NMMI won their district with a powerful rushing attack led by dynamic QB Cole Seidenberger and RB Cohen Tomasits Cohen Tomasits 6'0" | 160 lbs | RB NMMI | 2025 State NM . West Las Vegas, on the other hand, relies significantly on the powerful throwing arm of QB C.J. Perea. But the Dons will run the ball too and they feature a balanced attack with three 300+ yard rushers going into their first playoff game.
CLASS 2A
Santa Rosa (3) at Texico (2): Two of the top players in Class 2A go head-to-head. Santa Rosa RB/LB Nicolas Chavez Nicolas Chavez 5'9" | 150 lbs | RB Santa Rosa | 2024 State NM will likely surpass the 2,000-yard rushing plateau this weekend. He’s also an elite defender with 141 tackles. A solid New Mexico Heisman contender. For Texico, 6-foot-3, 200-pound QB Cade Figg Cade Figg 5'8" | QB Texico | 2024 State NM does it all for the Wolverines. He’ll play at the next level and he’s offered by multiple schools.
Tularosa (5) at Eunice (1): Tularosa went to Jal and trounced the defending 2A champions in the quarterfinals, as impressive a victory we’ll see this season. Tularosa has three losses this season but two have been by one point to Jal (39-38) and Cobre (27-26). The other was by six points to Santa Rosa. So the Wildcats are eight points from being undefeated. Eunice’s offense is arguably the most explosive in 2A behind the trio of QB Elijah Melancon Elijah Melancon 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB Eunice | 2026 State NM , EB Eljan Woods Eljan Woods 5'7" | 145 lbs | RB Eunice | 2025 State NM and WR Ashton Thompson Ashton Thompson 5'11" | 150 lbs | WR Eunice | 2024 State NM . The Cardinals have the potential to score a pile of points.