Week 1 Aftermath: Analyzing the Latest MaxPreps Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MaxPreps has released new rankings following Week 1. Here's our analysis:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 6A</strong>: Based on Week 1, Cleveland, Las Cruces and Volcano Vista are the three best teams in 6A, so MaxPreps got that right. After that, it could be a wild scramble. Thankfully, the top three all play each other this season beginning Thursday night when Volcano Vista visits Las Cruces at the Field of Dreams. Cleveland host the Bulldawgs on Sept. 12. Week 2 features another Top 10 matchup: No. 10 Clovis at No. 7 Rio Rancho. Don't expect No. 4 La Cueva or No. 5 Centennial to be down for long following Week 1 losses. Those teams are too good for prolonged losing streaks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Underrated: Rio Rancho.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams On The Rise: Piedra Vista, Los Lunas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top 10 Bound: Eldorado. Alamogordo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MaxPreps Football Polls<br>Updated 8/25/25<br>Class 6A<br>1.Cleveland<br>2.Las Cruces<br>3.Volcano Vista<a href="https://t.co/x407QgHjuk">https://t.co/x407QgHjuk</a> Cueva<br>5.Centennial<br>6.Hobbs<a href="https://t.co/7UvdmMG049">https://t.co/7UvdmMG049</a> Rancho<br>8.Los Lunas<br>9.Piedra Vista<br>10.Clovis <a href="https://t.co/DsdujjfoCG">pic.twitter.com/DsdujjfoCG</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1960447162837557321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A</strong>: No surprise Artesia and Roswell are No. 1 and No. 2. They've become the two dominant programs in 5A in the past few years with no end in sight. They meet Oct. 17 at the Wool Bowl. The gap between those two teams and the rest of 5A is significant. The teams ranked No. 3-7 will all get their opportunities when district play starts. The top seven teams in the 5A rankings all come from District 2. The first District 1 team is Los Alamos at No. 8.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Underrated: Gadsden.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams On The Rise: Goddard, Highland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MaxPreps Football Polls<br>Updated 8/25/25<br>Class 5A<br>1.Artesia<br>2.Roswell<br>3.Lovington<br>4.Deming<br>5.Mayfield<br>6.Goddard<br>7.Gadsden<br>8.Los Alamos<br>9.Valley<br>10.Highland <a href="https://t.co/ogcz2QOOJL">pic.twitter.com/ogcz2QOOJL</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1960447409458221206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A</strong>: The feeling here is Bloomfield and St. Pius X will battle all season long for No. 1. Right now, it's the Bobcats following their 63-12 demolition of Belen in Week 1. But St. Pius X is pretty good too, especially with their galaxy of offensive standouts. Few schools in the state have a more high-powered offense than the Sartans. No. 3 Bernalillo has a HUGE game Thursday night against 5A Highland. How long does Portales stay at No. 4 before dropping? The Rams travel to Lovington for a tough test on Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Underrated: Valencia, Grants.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams On The Rise: Albuquerque Academy, Silver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MaxPreps Football Polls<br>Updated 8/25/25<br>Class 4A<br>1.Bloomfield<a href="https://t.co/NJlgi3Es0Y">https://t.co/NJlgi3Es0Y</a>. Pius X<br>3.Bernalillo<br>4.Portales<br>5.Silver<br>6.Albuquerque Academy<br>7.Taos<br>8.Valencia<br>9.Grants<br>10.Espanola Valley <a href="https://t.co/hMTMtozpjO">pic.twitter.com/hMTMtozpjO</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1960447661435125828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3A</strong>: The ‘Big Three' of St. Michael's, Robertson and Dexter remains the same from last season. All three won convincingly on the road in Week 1 by the combined score of 112-0. Considering No. 4 Socorro just lost to Robertson, 34-0, the gap between the ‘Big Three' and the rest of 3A is significant until further notice. The winner of Friday's Hatch Valley-Pojoaque Valley game should be ranked next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Underrated: Cobre.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team On The Rise: Hope Christian. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top 10 Bound: Pojoaque Valley, Hatch Valley.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MaxPreps Football Polls<br>Updated 8/25/25<br>Class 3A<a href="https://t.co/ftTK3Z2G5D">https://t.co/ftTK3Z2G5D</a>. Michael's<br>2.Robertson<br>3.Dexter<br>4.Socorro<br>5.West Las Vegas<br>6.NMMI<br>7.Ruidoso<br>8.Hatch Valley<br>9.Cobre<br>10.Hope Christian <a href="https://t.co/m4ZUBoiJmq">pic.twitter.com/m4ZUBoiJmq</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1960447913038881151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A</strong>: Just like last season, Santa Rosa and Texico remain the top two teams in 2A following the Lions' thrilling home win over the Wolverines in Week 1. Both teams are talented with dynamic player son both sides of the ball. Eunice has arguably the best offense in 2A with QB [player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon'], RB Greyson Meek and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1600116' first='Dyson' last='Lord']. The Cardinals ‘ 3-game gauntlet of St. Michael's, Loving and Texico looms on the horizon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most Underrated: Loving.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team On the Rise: Legacy Academy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top 10 Bound: Navajo Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MaxPreps Football Polls<br>Updated 8/25/25<br>Class 2A<br>1.Santa Rosa<br>2.Texico<br>3.Eunice<br>4.Jal<br>5.Raton<br>6.Loving<br>7.Legacy Academy<br>8.Tularosa<br>9.Estancia<br>10.Tucumcari <a href="https://t.co/NsjR4QGYBd">pic.twitter.com/NsjR4QGYBd</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1960448164676427863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->