***WEEK 7 PICK EM CHALLENGE***

You pick the winners, we track the points! Who among you is the best at predicting the outcomes of New Mexico high school football games each week? It’s simple: we select five games weekly, assign points for choosing favorites or upsets, and you submit your picks for each game. We’ll maintain a leaderboard throughout the season to see who comes out on top!

Games
Melrose (6-0) at Gateway Christian (4-1), +750 either way
Miyamura (3-3) at Highland (3-3), +750 either way
Rio Grande (0-5) at Del Norte (0-6), +750 either way
Gadsden (5-1) at Roswell (4-1), +700 (Gadsden is the upset +800)
Espanola Valley (5-1) at Taos (3-2), +700 (Taos is the upset +800)

Poll: Week 7 Most Likely to Upset this Week?

6A FOOTBALL



Grine's NMPreps Bracket Projections

Oh boy, 6A football is going to be a fun watch over the next four weeks! The bubble has taken on a huge role in determining who will secure the final four, maybe five or six, spots in the 6A bracket. We can all agree on the top three teams—La Cueva, Centennial, and Cleveland—though Cleveland faces a tough road ahead with two Group 1 At-Large teams in their District 1-6A: Volcano Vista and their rival Rio Rancho. Also in that group is Las Cruces from District 3-6A, who will look to challenge Centennial, the story of the season.

Group 2 features Los Lunas (2-6A) and Hobbs (3-6A), who are not guaranteed locks and could be considered in Group 3, or as we’ve labeled it, the Bubble. Now, the Bubble is quite big as we head into the heart of district play—Carlsbad, Albuquerque, Farmington, and Eldorado claimed the final spots this week.

Here’s how the "OUT" teams stand: Piedra Vista beat Sandia, Sandia beat Cibola, Alamogordo beat Piedra Vista, Albuquerque beat Alamogordo. Cibola beat Albuquerque, West Mesa lacks a 6A win, Eldorado beat Organ Mountain and Cibola, Carlsbad beat Cibola, and Organ Mountain beat Alamogordo.

5A FOOTBALL



Grine's 5A Playoff Projections and Soapbox: Breaking Down 5A Football

The 5A bracket should have no more than 10 playoff teams, especially with only 16 teams in the classification. As I step onto my soapbox, I believe there should be a bylaw in the NMAA playoffs that limits the percentage of teams allowed to make the playoffs. If there are only 15 teams in a classification, fewer teams should qualify.

Okay, back to the feature. I’ve tried to argue that a team from District 1-5A should be in the top four, but I’m done doing so. Now, I contend that perhaps seven of the top eight teams will come from District 2-5A. Seeds 9 to 12 will come from 2-5A as well. We gave district leader Los Alamos one of the top eight seeds this week, placing them at No. 9, with Highland holding the edge for now.

Miyamura beat Belen, Belen beat Valley, and Valley beat Miyamura. How can Capital join the group? We’ll have to wait until they play them over the next three to four weeks. Santa Teresa is in the mix for fun, and if they can upset one of the others in their district, they could steal a playoff spot.

4A FOOTBALL



4A Football: Bloomfield and District 1-4A Running The Show

Like my shout from the rooftop in 5A football, with only 15 teams in 4A, there should be no more than 8 or 10 teams making the state playoffs. Or, go the complete opposite way and allow all teams to make the playoffs, giving them one more game in a playoff atmosphere. In 4A football, I’ll make the bold prediction that it’s Bloomfield’s title to lose—I pick them over the field.

Bernalillo is tough, but I would have liked them more had they put some distance between themselves and Española Valley, unless I’m not giving the Sundevils enough credit. St. Pius X and Manzano are the current favorites in District 2-4A, but Portales will linger around. We only featured 14 of 15 teams, leaving off the mess that is Aztec.

The biggest surprise at this point in the season, as district play really heats up, is Albuquerque Academy sitting at 14. That loss to Chaparral was a shocker. Teams in our At-Large Group 2 will fight for the final home playoff spot and the 8-seed, with Valencia holding the edge at the moment over Grants and Moriarty.

The big question is, will District 1-4A get seeds 1-3? We currently have St. Pius X at No. 3, but will Española Valley jump them? Imagine Española Valley and Bernalillo with top-four seeds—times sure have changed.

3A FOOTBALL


3A Football: A Potential Repeat of the 2023 State Championship Game in 2024

St. Michael's, Robertson, and Dexter are currently the favorites to win the championship in this classification, with the northern schools—St. Michael's and Robertson—seemingly on a collision course for a repeat of the 2023 state championship game. Dexter, however, is a sneaky talented squad. Yes, they’re undefeated and ranked No. 3, but they’ve shown some vulnerability in games against West Las Vegas and Grants, which keeps them out of the top-two conversation.

New Mexico Military, Socorro, and West Las Vegas fall into the next tier of teams and might be considered sleepers. Pojoaque, benefiting from their drop to 3A, sits at 4-1 overall, and we have them as the 7-seed. They lead our Group 2 along with Hatch Valley, Hope Christian, and Hot Springs—two of these teams will secure a home playoff game.

Thoreau is a district champion, but we have them at No. 11. It would be a shame to place them in the top eight, especially after their loss to Hot Springs. Cobre holds the final seed, but Tohatchi, the runner-up in Thoreau's district, could steal that spot. We’ve listed Ruidoso and Crownpoint, but their playoff hopes are hanging by a very thin thread.

2A FOOTBALL


2A Football: Texico Creating Separation for a 2024 Repeat

The defending state champion Texico Wolverines were projected in the preseason to take a step back after their 2023 title, but it appears they are in prime shape to repeat in 2024. Eunice remains solid and is our top contender, setting up the possibility of a rematch.

District 2-2A forms our second tier, with district leaders Legacy Academy and Santa Rosa holding the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds. Loving, from the Texico/Eunice district, is another strong contender.

Raton hangs on to Group 1 but is coming off two tough losses to 3A powers Robertson and St. Michael's, which may have them battle-tested for District 2. McCurdy is the favorite to win District 1 and currently holds the 8-seed.

The bubble has Estancia IN with the final playoff spot, but Laguna-Acoma could steal that slot. While we respect that Estancia played a tough schedule, having only one win might keep them out in favor of a Laguna-Acoma team that could finish with four wins.

=====
What do you have? Who are the 12 teams that will go dancing?

Grine's Playoff Picture in 5A Volleyball

As we look ahead to the 2024 State Tournament in Rio Rancho, it’s time to start categorizing teams and assessing what to watch as November approaches. Here’s how the playoff picture is shaping up in 5A volleyball.

The Favorite: Las Cruces Bulldawgs (11-0)​

It's impossible to dispute the Bulldawgs as the heavy favorites to claim another state title in 2024. They remain undefeated after a month and a half of play, dropping only three sets out of 32. With a dominant track record, Las Cruces enters October as the clear team to beat.

The Contenders: Cleveland Storm (10-2), La Cueva Bears (6-2)​

Cleveland and La Cueva are both legitimate threats to challenge Las Cruces in the championship match at the Rio Rancho Events Center. La Cueva’s only losses are to Las Cruces and Cleveland, though they also earned a win over Cleveland earlier in the season. Meanwhile, Cleveland is riding an impressive eight-game win streak, with their only losses coming to Las Cruces and La Cueva, which is a similar resume to La Cueva.

Dark Horse Teams: Santa Fe Demons (9-1), Los Lunas Tigers (6-4), Roswell Coyotes (12-1), Centennial Hawks (6-4)​

These teams rank in the 4-7 range and could be poised to make a playoff run. Santa Fe has been particularly impressive with a 9-1 record, while Los Lunas has played strong throughout the season. Roswell is riding a 12-game win streak, and Centennial is quietly climbing the ranks, with standout players Anniston Lustig and Maddison Bekken leading the charge as district play begins.

Sleeper Teams: Rio Rancho Rams (7-4), Volcano Vista Hawks (7-4), Albuquerque Bulldogs (7-5)​

These teams, currently ranked 8-10, are all sitting with seven wins apiece. Their playoff fates hinge on how they perform in district play, which could significantly impact their rankings and playoff seedings. Rio Rancho and Volcano Vista, in particular, are aiming to make it three teams from District 1 in the tournament.

Final Two: Hobbs Eagles (5-7), Eldorado Eagles (8-4)​

District 4’s second playoff spot is still in question. Hobbs could secure a berth but must convincingly outperform Carlsbad and Clovis. Eldorado, meanwhile, needs to hold its position above Sandia to become the potential third team representing District 2 in the bracket.

Post Here

*****WEEK SEVEN SCOREBOARD (SEPT 30-OCT 5)*****

6A FOOTBALL

1. La Cueva 6-0 3-0
2. Centennial 6-0 2-0
3. Cleveland 5-1 1-0
4. Volcano Vista 5-1 1-0
5. Las Cruces 5-2 3-0
6. Rio Rancho 4-2 1-0
7. Hobbs 3-3 1-1
8. Los Lunas 4-1 3-0
9. West Mesa 3-3 1-2
10. Eldorado 3-3 1-1
11. Farmington 3-3 0-1
12. Albuquerque 4-2 2-1
13. Organ Mountain 3-4 2-1
14. Carlsbad 3-4 1-1
15. Alamogordo 1-6 0-3
16. Piedra Vista 1-5 0-1
17. Sandia 3-3 2-1
18. Cibola 2-4 0-1
19. Atrisco Heritage 1-4 0-3
20. Santa Fe 2-4 0-3
21. Clovis 0-6 0-2

5A FOOTBALL

1. Artesia 5-2 4-0
2. Roswell 4-1 2-1
3. Deming 5-2 2-2
4. Gadsden 5-2 2-2
5. Mayfield 3-4 2-2
6. Lovington 5-2 2-2
7. Goddard 2-5 1-3
8. Los Alamos 4-3 3-0
9. Miyamura 4-3 2-1
10. Highland 3-4 1-2
11. Belen 2-4 2-2
12. Valley 2-4 2-2
13. Capital 2-5 2-2
14. Santa Teresa 1-6 0-4
15. Del Norte 1-6 1-4
16. Rio Grande 0-6 0-4

4A FOOTBALL

1. Bloomfield 5-0 3-0
2. Bernalillo 6-0 3-0
3. St. Pius X 4-2 2-0
4. Manzano 5-1 2-0
5. Portales 4-3 2-1
6. Taos 4-2 2-1
7. Espanola Valley 5-2 2-2
8. Valencia 5-2 2-1
9. Moriarty 3-3 1-2
10. Grants 3-3 2-1
11. Kirtland Central 1-5 0-3
12. Chaparral 2-5 1-2
13. Albuquerque Academy 2-4 0-2
14. Silver 2-5 0-3
15. Aztec 0-6 0-4

3A FOOTBALL

1. St. Michael's 7-0 1-0
2. Robertson 7-0 1-0
3. Dexter 7-0 3-0
4. New Mexico Military 4-2 2-1
5. Socorro 5-1 2-0
6. West Las Vegas 3-3 0-0
7. Pojoaque Valley 4-2 0-1
8. Hatch Valley 4-3 1-2
9. Hope Christian 3-4 1-1
10. Hot Springs 3-2 0-1
11. Ruidoso 1-5 1-1
12. Cobre 2-5 0-3
13. Thoreau 4-2 3-0
14. Santa Fe Indian 1-6 --
15. Tohatchi 3-3 1-1
16. Crownpoint 2-4 1-1
17. Gallup 1-6 1-2
18. Zuni 2-5 1-1
19. Wingate 1-6 1-2
20. Shiprock 0-5 0-2

2A FOOTBALL

1. Texico 6-0 1-0
2. Eunice 5-1 0-0
3. Santa Rosa 3-2 1-0
4. Legacy Academy 6-0 1-0
5. Raton 2-4 0-1
6. Loving 5-2 0-1
7. Tularosa 4-2 1-0
8. McCurdy 4-2 1-0
9. Jal 2-4 0-1
10. Navajo Prep 4-1 1-0
11. Newcomb 4-2 0-1
12. Laguna-Acoma 2-3 0-1
13. Cuba 1-5 1-0
14. Hozho Academy 3-3 0-1
15. Tucumcari 2-4 1-0
16. Estancia 0-5 0-1
17. Capitan 0-5 0-1

What do you have?

*****WEEK 7 SCOREBOARD (OCT 3-5)*****

Thursday, October 3
Artesia 57, Santa Teresa 0 - F
Centennial 61, Alamogordo 35 - F
Legacy Academy 35, Raton 0 - F
Pine Hill 52, Shiprock NW 0 - F
Robertson 51, Pojoaque Valley 0 - F
St. Pius X 35, Albuquerque Academy 21 - F

Friday, October 4
Bernalillo 54, Kirtland Central 0 - F
Clayton 38, Menaul 6 - F
Cleveland 50, Farmington 0 - F
Del Norte 21, Rio Grande 19 - F
Deming 39, Goddard 14 - F
Dexter 38, NMMI 0 - F
Dulce 48, Ramah 14 - F
Elida 84, Roy/Mosquero 38 - F
Escalante 28, Cloudcroft 14 - F
Eunice 49, Kermit TX 19 - F
Fort Sumner 54, Questa 0 - F
Gallup 46, Zuni 12 - F
Grady 44, Dora 6 - F
Hatch Valley 29, Hot Springs 28 - F
La Cueva 56, Eldorado 7 - F
Las Cruces 55, Clovis 3 - F
Logan 53, Holy Cross TX 8 - F
Los Alamos 36, Belen 34 - F
Los Lunas 28, Albuquerque 7 - F
Mayfield 50, Lovington 49 - F/OT
Melrose 62, Gateway Christian 16 - F
Mescalero Apache 41, Lordsburg 20 - F
Mesilla Valley 52, Tatum 14 - F
Moriarty 35, Aztec 0 - F
Mountainair 66, Magdalena 30 - F
Organ Mountain 41, Carlsbad 40 - F/OT
Portales 21, Silver 6 - F
Rio Rancho 28, Cibola 0 - F
Roswell 48, Gadsden 7
Ruidoso 42, Cobre 0 - F
Santa Rosa 49, Capitan 0 - F
Shiprock 33, Wingate 8
Taos 27, Espanola Valley 7 - F
Texico 50, Loving 0 - F
Thoreau 47, Tohatchi 12 - F
Tucumcari 48, Estancia 47 - F
Tularosa 35, Jal 20 - F
Valencia 52, Chaparral 44 - F/OT
Valley 25, Capital 12 - F
Volcano Vista 48, Piedra Vista 7 - F
West Mesa 22, Atrisco Heritage 16 - F

Saturday, October 5
McCurdy 56, Santa Fe Indian 8 - F
Miyamura 36, Highland 31 - F
St. Michael's 60, Hope Christian 7 - F

Watching Texas A&M play Arkansas in Falls yesterday and you had there punter for A&M Tyler White punting to Isaiah Sategna from Arkansas. Tyler's dad played for Artesia and Isaiah's dad is Mario Sategna who played for Bloomfield.

You also have Kennedy Urlacher whose dad played for Lovington. By the way we know who is dad is.

Are there anymore? Luke Wysong comes to mind at UNM and Evan too. Any more???