Quarterfinals Preview: Class 4A-2A

The quarterfinals of the New Mexico High School Football playoffs are set for this weekend with 20 games across the five classifications scheduled to be played on Friday and Saturday. Here is a preview of the matchups in Class 4A-2A:   Class 4A   Grants at St. Pius X (Fri., 7 p.m.): These two old rivals meet again. They squared off in Week 2 with the Sartans prevailing, 34-20, on the road. This time, Grants makes the trip to Albuquerque. The Pirates knocked off Silver, 14-7, in a hard-fought First Round game. They've persevered through the season-injury to QB [player_tooltip player_id='854297' first='Tristin' last='Fernandez']. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1720592' first='Julian' last='Fernandez'] is an exciting young RB. St. Pius X has so many offensive weapons you need to write a book to name them. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1154948' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter'], RB [player_tooltip player_id='1154954' first='Hershul' last='Olloway'] and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1154956' first='Cayl' last='Cox-Liggins'] are the ‘Big 3.'            Moriarty at Chaparral (Fri., 7 p.m.): Two teams that focus on running the football. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1606046' first='Mario' last='Romero'] leads Moriarty with close to 1,300 rushing yards and 15 TD. But the Pintos have two the rushers with 500+ yards: [player_tooltip player_id='1155208' first='Mateo' last='Manley']-Griego and [player_tooltip player_id='1606079' first='Royce' last='Dennisson']. Chaparral RB [player_tooltip player_id='1155082' first='Raul' last='Lopez'] is a 1,000-yard rusher and combines with QB [player_tooltip player_id='851884' first='Israel' last='Nieto'] (1,566 passing yards + 499 rushing yards) to form a dynamic offensive backfield.   Albuquerque Academy  at Taos (Fri., 7 p.m.): Taos has been one of 4A's biggest surprises this season, earning a top four seed by finishing second in District 4A-1. Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='853710' first='Evan' last='Salazar'] and senior RB Eli Lucero lead the Tigers offense. Albuquerque Academy has bounced back nicely after missing the playoffs in 2024, trouncing Valencia in the first round. Strong-armed junior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1369761' first='William' last='Braun'] passed for 2,263 yards and 28 TD during the regular season. Senior RB [player_tooltip player_id='1137080' first='Ryan' last='Williams'] leads the run game with [player_tooltip player_id='854309' first='Zachary' last='Waghorn']. [player_tooltip player_id='1605074' first='Logan' last='Hague'] is the top WR. [player_tooltip player_id='851898' first='Gage' last='Conway'] is a valuable weapon on offense and special teams.              Bernalillo at Bloomfield (Sat., 1 p.m.): When these two teams met earlier this season, Bloomfield walloped Bernalillo, 60-16. Even the Spartans' ‘Goon Squad' defense couldn't stop Bloomfield's prolific offense. Incredibly, the Bobcats scored 51 or more points in nine of their 10 regular season games. QB Manual Chavarria is the engineer with a state-leading 2,617 passing yards and 42 TD. [player_tooltip player_id='853022' first='Peyton' last='Duncan'] is elite running or catching the football. Kaleb Huchens (39 receptions) is the favorite receiving target. Will the Bernalillo defense find a way to contain the Bloomfield offense? That's the key question of the game. Nobody has done it yet this season except for 6A Piedra Vista. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='853757' first='Ulisses' last='Castro'] has stepped in and done a nice job at QB for the Spartans this season. [player_tooltip player_id='853756' first='Mario' last='Molinar'] is second in rushing and the leading tackler with 117. He's been a tackling machine for three seasons.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/11/FB_IMG_1762924771978.jpg?w=477" alt="" class="wp-image-2049103" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Facebook</figcaption></figure>   Class 3A   Hot Springs at Hope Christian (Fri., 6 p.m.): The Hot Springs Tigers were Road Warriors in the First Round, making the long trip to Thoreau and beating the Hawks, 24-14. Now they'll try to do it again by traveling up I-25 to Albuquerque. Sophomore QB [player_tooltip player_id='1613430' first='Zaiden' last='Baker'] is a talented dual threat QB. [player_tooltip player_id='1155121' first='Billy' last='Baca'], [player_tooltip player_id='854288' first='Tristan' last='Polanco'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1155284' first='Nehemiah' last='Smith'] support him. Hope Christian earned the No. 3 seed largely because of the outstanding performance of dual threat QB [player_tooltip player_id='1137124' first='RJ' last='Montoya']. He's thrown for over 1,400 yards and leads the Huskies in rushing. Kingsley Fritz is a solid RB., The pass game is extremely balanced.           NMMI at Pojoaque Valley (Fri., 6 p.m.): NMMI makes the long trip to Pojoaque, which is located about 25 miles north of Santa Fe. The Colts, as always, love to run the football with their triple option offense. Aquaylis Jordan leads the ground attack along with Miguel Garcia and Konstantino Scopelitis. Pojoaque Valley wants to run the ball, too. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1248677' first='Joshua' last='Gonzales'] has passed for over 1,000 yards and rushed for 400+ more in the Elks' balanced rushing attack. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1416992' first='D'Marcus' last='Rodriguez'] leads the Elks in rushing. This is the first playoff game ever hosted by Pojoaque Valley. The stadium at PVHS should be rocking.   Robertson at St. Michael's (Sat., 1 p.m.): These two teams met a couple of weeks ago in the regular season finale. The unbeaten Horsemen (10-0) extended their winning streak to 30 games by cruising to a 40-6 win over the Cardinals, who have experienced some adversity this season. What does Robertson have to do different? Find a way to pressure St. Michael's QB [player_tooltip player_id='1600843' first='Kamal' last='Stith'] into bad throws and keep him in the pocket. In the first meeting, Stith tied his season high with 5 TD passes. Stith also rushed for 131 yards. Unless Robertson finds a way to stop him, Stith and St. Michael's should find a way to stay unbeaten.              Ruidoso at Dexter (Sat., 1 p.m.): Everybody in New Mexico knows what the town of Ruidoso has endured over the past couple of years from Mother Natuyre. So, seeing the Warriors in the quarterfinals is a feel good story. Ruidoso loves to love the football with [player_tooltip player_id='1613409' first='Mason' last='Fikany'], [player_tooltip player_id='1267035' first='Tru' last='Camejo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='854298' first='Ashdyn' last='Urban'] all contributing with over 585 yards each. Dexter also prefers running the football with RB [player_tooltip player_id='854287' first='Garet' last='Gonzalez'] and athletic dual threat QB [player_tooltip player_id='1155032' first='CJ' last='Granados'] leading the way. Dexter has lost only one game this season and that was to 4A Grants.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">#4 in 3A first time ever hosting a playoff game in Pojoaque this team is making history. <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachZekeV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachZekeV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/Nj5ODG5TMP">pic.twitter.com/Nj5ODG5TMP</a>— Pojoaque valley football program (@PojoaqueP) <a href="https://twitter.com/PojoaqueP/status/1984854082692268215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2025</a></blockquote>   Class 2A   Navajo Prep at Texico (Sat., 1 p.m.): Same folks were probably surprised when defending champion Texico was given the No. 1 seed. But the Wolverines played an extremely challenging schedule with three games against Texas schools and won their final five games. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'] has been a revelation, stepping in at QB after an injury sidelined starter [player_tooltip player_id='1343408' first='Bennett' last='Wahlen']. Figg has rushed for 1,270 yards and 12 TD. Navajo Prep beat Jal in the First Round, 22-13. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1605989' first='Aden' last='Clah'] has thrown for nearly 1,300 yards.           Raton at Hozho Academy (Sat., 1 p.m.): How many people correctly predicted before the season that Hozho Academy would earn a top four seed in the 2A playoffs? Very few. But here they are. The Wolves won District 2A-1 behind solid dual threat QB [player_tooltip player_id='1137855' first='Brandon' last='Bonaguidi'], who leads Hozho in rushing. Raton counters with RB [player_tooltip player_id='1604784' first='Cael' last='Walton'], one of the state's top rushers with 1,524 yards and 15 TD on the ground. The Walton Legacy is still thriving in Raton.          Santa Rosa at Eunice (Sat., 1 p.m.): Eunice QB [player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon'] isn't just one of the top quarterbacks in Class 2A. He's one of the best in the state, period. Melancon has eclipsed 10,000 career passing yards. The Santa Rosa defense will have its hands full trying to stop him and Eunice's fleet of receivers. Santa Rosa senior [player_tooltip player_id='854299' first='David' last='Chavez'] is a two-way standout for the Lions, who lost their final two games of the regular season before mercy-ruling rival Tucumcari in the first round.        Loving at Legacy Academy (Sat., 1 p.m.): A year ago, Loving traveled to Albuquerque to face Legacy Academy in the quarterfinals of the 2A playoffs and beat the Silverbacks by three touchdowns. Payback for Legacy Academy? They're a top four seed again. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1600087' first='Lorenzo' last='Sedillo-Urban'] is a talented dual threat QB for the Silverbacks. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1606048' first='Xander' last='Chavez'] and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1137096' first='Jay' last='Lee'] are pretty good, too. Loving's backfield duo of QB [player_tooltip player_id='1137875' first='Tristen' last='Onsurez'] and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1604697' first='Brodie' last='Allen'] ranks among the best in Class 2A.   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨🏈 STATE QUARTERFINALS TIME!! 🏈🚨#2 Legacy Academy Silverbacks vs. #7 Loving Falcons 📍 Bernalillo HS 🗓 Saturday, Nov 15 ⏰ 1 PM Let's pack the stands and bring the energy, Silverback Nation! 💙💪 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RespectTheJungle?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RespectTheJungle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayoffMode?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayoffMode</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuiltDifferent?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BuiltDifferent</a> <a href="https://t.co/b4mtO0sOU9">pic.twitter.com/b4mtO0sOU9</a>— Legacy Academy Football (Silverbacks) (@legacyacademyFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/legacyacademyFB/status/1988246851905351780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2025</a></blockquote>

The quarterfinals of the New Mexico High School Football playoffs are set for this weekend with 20 games across the five classifications scheduled to be played on Friday and Saturday. Here is a preview of the matchups in Class 4A-2A: