November Madness: Class 6A and 5A Quarterfinals Preview

The playoffs enter the second weekend in Classes 6A-2A with quarterfinal action at various stadiums throughout the state. Here is the preview of the QF games in Class 6A and 5A:   CLASS 6A   No. 5 Las Cruces at No. 4 Volcano Vista (Fri., 7 p.m.): These two teams engaged in a fierce, hard-fought battle in Week 2, a come-from-behind 27-24 victory for Volcano Vista, and nothing suggests anything will be different this time around. The only thing different is the stakes are higher with a spot in the semifinals on the line. In the first meeting, Volcano Vista ran the ball 40 times for nearly 200 yards with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1257357' first='Mason' last='Gurule'] leading the attack with 104 yards on 23 carries. Las Cruces has an outstanding RB as well – senior [player_tooltip player_id='1137388' first='Daniel' last='Amaro'], a 1,000-yard rusher with 21 TD. Amaro gets the ball in the red zone. Bulldawgs QB [player_tooltip player_id='853029' first='Gunnar' last='Guardiola'] is one of the top signal callers in the state. Both defenses are outstanding. The Hawks haven't allowed more than 8 points in a single game since the Week 2 win over the Bulldawgs with 2 shutouts in the last three games. Las Cruces, meanwhile, has allowed more than 14 points once in the last 7 games.           No. 6 Los Lunas at No. 3 Cleveland (Fri., 7 p.m.): The first time these teams squared off earlier this season, Los Lunas caught Cleveland in a bad moment. The Storm were coming off a season-opening loss to Centennial, and they took their frustrations out on the Tigers in a 55-7 victory. Biggest difference between the teams in that game? The run game. The Storms rushed for 434 yards on 25 carries (17.4 yards per attempt) compared to just 22 yards on 28 carries for Los Lunas. [player_tooltip player_id='611120' first='Juan' last='Munoz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1600936' first='Samuel' last='Bustillos'] each rushed for 161 yards. So, if the Tigers want to reverse the outcome of the first meeting, they'll have to run the ball and defend the run a heckuva lot better than they did in the first meeting. Los Lunas has three rushers with 700+ yards on the ground – [player_tooltip player_id='1137088' first='Kaiden' last='Reese'], [player_tooltip player_id='1119303' first='Jordan' last='Howard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1604956' first='Jagger' last='Casillas'].      No. 7 Rio Rancho at No. Centennial (Fri., 7 p.m.): Speaking of running the football, these two teams combined for 642 rushing yards in their first meeting this season, a Week 4 matchup at Field of Dreams won by Centennial, 43-27. The Hawks threw the ball just nine times with QB [player_tooltip player_id='613746' first='Zaiden' last='Davis'], a New Mexico State commit, running for 190 yards and 4 TD on 19 carries. Like most other teams this season, the Rams struggled to get Davis on the ground. We'll see what they do different this time. [player_tooltip player_id='280925' first='Jordan' last='Lucas'] is dangerous running or catching the football. He has 34 receptions for 531 yards and 4 TD, and averages 10.5 yards every time he runs the football. Rio Rancho ousted Sandia, 47-17, in the first round, with QB [player_tooltip player_id='613752' first='JJ' last='Arellano'] and WR Jace Pitts hooking up for three passing TD. Arellano also ran for 3 TD, including a weaving 74-yard run. [player_tooltip player_id='1604705' first='Micah' last='Takahashi'] had 100 rushing yards in the first meeting.                 No. 9 Hobbs at No. 1 La Cueva (Sat., 1 p.m.): Hobbs makes it second trip to Wilson Stadium in northeast Albuquerque in two weeks, this time for a Saturday afternoon clash with the defending Class 6A champions. The Eagles eliminated Eldorado in the first round and their offense will test the Bears. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1119255' first='Brock' last='Beaty'] has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 25 TD, while sophomore RB [player_tooltip player_id='1604984' first='Shamus' last='Wright'] paces a balanced run game with 640 yards and 5 TD on 11 carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1422014' first='Omarrion' last='Kennedy'] has 581 yards on 96 carries and leads the Eagles with 11 rushing TD. Seven Eagles receivers have 10+ receptions. The big names for La Cueva are familiar to most high school football fans in New Mexico. QB [player_tooltip player_id='611098' first='Cameron' last='Dyer'] (enrolling at Arizona State in Jan.) leads a prolific offense featuring RB Cheeto Lumbrera, WR [player_tooltip player_id='853013' first='Tanner' last='Montano'], one of the best O-Lines in the state and a nasty defense led by Wisconsin commit [player_tooltip player_id='611083' first='Mason' last='Posa']. That's why the Bears are 10-0.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TPW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TPW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheGoldStandard?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheGoldStandard</a> <a href="https://t.co/qIN8CfBCyy">pic.twitter.com/qIN8CfBCyy</a>— Hobbs Eagles Football (@HobbsEaglesFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/HobbsEaglesFB/status/1856341595295014949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote>   CLASS 5A   No. 6 Mayfield at No. 3 Deming (Fri., 7 p.m.): Let's hope this quarterfinal matchup Friday night in Deming ends up being as exciting as this season's first meeting between the teams. Deming scored late and pulled out a 29-27 thriller in Week 6. Both teams have excellent quarterbacks. Deming's [player_tooltip player_id='837197' first='Ryan' last='Alfaro'] is one of the top dual threats in the state with 1,318 rushing yards and 23 TD during the regular season. He could join the prestigious 1,000-1,000 club before the playoffs are over. [player_tooltip player_id='851887' first='Isaac' last='Martinez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='611155' first='Isaiah' last='Pizarro'] are solid running the ball as well. Mayfield QB [player_tooltip player_id='1257289' first='Luke' last='Linnan'] can beat you with his arm and his feet (35-yard TD run in last week's lopsided win over Belen in the 1st round), and has excellent support in RBs Justin Madrid and [player_tooltip player_id='1266489' first='Anthony' last='Nevarez']. Expect another close, hard-fought battle.            No. 9 Highland at No. 1 Roswell (Fri., 7 p.m.): When was the last time these two teams met on the gridiron? It's been a long time. Highland RB [player_tooltip player_id='615425' first='Amiri' last='Mumba'] (1,894 rushing yards) against the Roswell defensive front seven could be the most intriguing player vs. unit matchups in the quarterfinal round. How that battle goes will likely determine the outcome. Mumba has rushed for 210+ yards in five consecutive games and seven overall this season. If it wasn't for a nagging injury that limited him in September, Mumba would be well past the 2,000-yard mark by this point. Highland has reached the second round of the playoffs for the first time in two decades. The Coyotes defense, though, presents his stiffest challenge of the season. Roswell RB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1118273' first='Xai' last='Carrasco'] is an elite two-way player.   No. 5 Los Alamos at No. 4 Gadsden (Sat., 1 p.m.): These teams met two years ago in the Land of Oppenheimer in a first-round contest that served as Gadsden's coming out party. Now the Hilltoppers must make the long six-hour trip to Gadsden, and they'll bring a high-scoring offense with them. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1119597' first='Kyle' last='Evenhus'] has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 23 TD and completes 65 percent of his passes. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1604744' first='Jordan' last='Herrera'] has rushed for 1,311 yards and 19 TD on 179 carries. WR [player_tooltip player_id='1594208' first='Akim' last='Leija'] has 53 receptions and over 1,000 yards through the air. Gadsen counters with 1,400+ yard rusher [player_tooltip player_id='615673' first='Alfredo' last='Andrade'], who has 18 TD on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1155087' first='Anthony' last='Palomares'] (36 receptions) and [player_tooltip player_id='1119699' first='Zakk' last='Minjarez'] (29) headline the WR corps.            No. 7 Lovington at No. 2 Artesia (Sat., 1 p.m.): Artesia is arguably the top Friday Night Lights town in the state, so seeing them host a Saturday afternoon contest is a bit unusual. While Lovington stumbled a bit in the second half of the schedule following a fast start – a stretch that began with a home loss to Artesia - they're still a dangerous football team starting with quarterback Mathew Prudencio (2,722 passing yards after the 1st round win over Goddard), RB [player_tooltip player_id='615565' first='Ondalis' last='Cardenas'] and FOUR receivers with 34+ receptions. Artesia's offensive arsenal is impressive with elite dual threat QB [player_tooltip player_id='1432984' first='Izac' last='Cazares'] (2,578 passing yards + 34 TD), RB [player_tooltip player_id='1118283' first='Frankie' last='Galindo'] (47 career TD)and 1,000-yard receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1118257' first='Ethan' last='Conn']. Plenty of players contribute on defense with SEVEN Bulldogs amassing between 43 and 60 tackles. The Bulldogs are seeking their third straight Class 5A championship and 32nd overall.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/JNTARl4c3x">pic.twitter.com/JNTARl4c3x</a>— BulldogFootball 🏈🏆x32 (@artesiafootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/artesiafootball/status/1855972229013446709?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote>     <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-13-at-15-25-33-20-Bulldawg-Football-@LCHSFOOTBALL-_-X.png?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1557538" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Twitter</figcaption></figure>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Hornets Football hit the road this Friday where they will face the #1 ranked Roswell Coyotes at the Wool Bowl. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='615425' first='Amiri' last='Mumba'] is one of the key pieces that the Hornets have relied on to reach the 2nd round, a feat that Highland has not been able to achieve in 20 years. <a href="https://t.co/jXufv93pcu">pic.twitter.com/jXufv93pcu</a>— Highland Hornets Football (@HHS_HornetsFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHS_HornetsFB/status/1856063054745596259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote>

The playoffs enter the second weekend in Classes 6A-2A with quarterfinal action at various stadiums throughout the state. Here is the preview of the QF games in Class 6A and 5A: