Week 10 Premier New Mexico High School Football Preview and Predictions
We’re diving deep into Thursday night's gridiron action across New Mexico, giving you a comprehensive look at each game and our NMPreps predictions. As the playoff picture begins to take shape, every win and every point matters. Let’s go! #nmpreps
INSIDE THE 25
No. 13 Eldorado Eagles vs No. 24 West Mesa Mustangs, 7 PM (Community Stadium)
Preview:
In this game of the night, there's a lot on the line. Eldorado (5-3 overall, 3-2 district) is looking to solidify a top-8 seed for the playoffs with a strong finish to the season. A win here could put them in prime position heading into the final stretch. West Mesa (4-4 overall, 2-3 district) finds themselves on the bubble, and last week’s loss to Sandia (41-7) hurt their playoff hopes. They’re in desperate need of a bounce-back win to stay in the hunt.
Eldorado’s defense will be key to this matchup, led by Andres Atsye, who averages 10.5 tackles per game, and Adam Ngola, who leads the team in sacks. The Eagles' offense, while not explosive, has been steady. Quarterback Giovanni Evans averages 101.8 passing yards per game, and running back Isaiah Quintana carries the ground game, in two games he has 154 yards and a touchdown senior Daniel Quinones had 293 yards in 7-games. The X-factor could be in special teams returner Jahari Morehead (2026). The Eagles rely on controlling the tempo and minimizing mistakes, which has helped them remain competitive all season.
West Mesa comes in with a more dynamic offense, averaging 22.6 points per game, but their defense has struggled, giving up 276 points so far this season. Running back Jamari Phillips-Woods leads the team with 81.5 rushing yards per game, while quarterback Dominic Lucero is more of a game manager, throwing for 79.4 yards per game. The Mustangs' ability to put points on the board early will be critical; they’ve shown they can score in the first half but tend to fade late in games.
Final Take:
Eldorado’s consistency and balanced attack should give them the upper hand in this matchup. West Mesa needs to come out firing early and maintain that momentum, or their playoff hopes could fade away for good. Expect a close battle, but Eldorado's defense could be the deciding factor in keeping West Mesa in check.
Prediction: Eldorado 28, West Mesa 17
Favorite: Eldorado -8.5
Grine’s Pick: Eldorado
OUTSIDE THE 25
Capital Jaguars at Highland Hornets, 7 PM
Preview:
The Capital Jaguars (2-6 overall, 2-3 district) travel an hour south to take on the Highland Hornets (4-4 overall, 3-2 district) in what could be a spoiler opportunity for the Jaguars as their postseason hopes fade. Capital has had a rough go offensively, averaging just 16.1 points per game, while their defense has been serviceable, allowing an average of 25 points per game. However, last week’s 44-8 home loss to Miyamura raised questions about whether they’ve packed it in for the season or if they’ll rally for a final push.
For Capital to make things interesting, they’ll rely heavily on their defensive leaders. Emmanuel Lopez (2026) with 64 total tackles, Jonah Walpa (2025) with 51 total tackles, and Eli Dominguez (2025) with 43 tackles will need to play lights out to keep this game close. Offense remains the issue, but if the defense steps up, they could put the team in a position to pull off the upset. Two wins to close the season might give them an outside shot at sneaking into the playoffs, but that starts with a huge performance hre.
On the other side, Highland comes into the game with momentum, winning 3 of their last 4 games. With a playoff run still within their reach, the Hornets will lean on their ground-and-pound offense led by running back Amiri Mumba, who is back healthy and close to full strength. Mumba has rushed for 662 yards and 7 touchdowns in just five games. Paired with run-first quarterback Alex Lopez (2025), who has 443 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns of his own, Highland will look to control the tempo by keeping the ball on the ground and the clock moving.
Final Take:
While Highland doesn’t put up big numbers, their ball-control offense could work to Capital's advantage by keeping the score low. If Capital’s defense can force a couple of turnovers or hold the Hornets on key drives, this game might be tighter than expected. But with their playoff hopes on the line and their star running back back in form, Highland should have enough to get the job done.
Prediction: Highland 26, Capital 13
Favorite: Highland -12.5
Grine’s Pick: Highland
Cuba Rams at Newcomb Skyhawks, 7 PM
Preview:
This 2A showdown between Cuba (2-6 overall, 2-1 district) and Newcomb (4-4 overall, 0-3 district) features two teams clinging to the hope of an outside shot at a playoff bid. Cuba started the season with five straight losses but has since rebounded with two district wins, giving them a glimmer of hope despite a tough loss to district leader McCurdy last week. Newcomb, on the other hand, began their season with a promising 4-0 start but has since hit a wall, riding a four-game losing streak and looking to get back on track.
Cuba’s offense hasn’t been prolific, averaging just 13.4 points per game, and they’ve had issues putting points on the board consistently. They’re led by dual-threat quarterback Richard Lovato, who is responsible for much of their production, both through the air and on the ground. Lovato is averaging 57.8 rushing yards and 49.3 passing yards per game. Adriano Yazzie is their top receiver, pulling in 29.0 yards per game, and he’ll need to step up to help stretch the field.
For Newcomb, running back Landon Noble has been a workhorse, averaging a staggering 154.4 rushing yards per game, but despite his efforts, the Skyhawks haven’t been able to turn his yardage into wins in district play. The key for Newcomb will be to avoid turnovers and get the ball into Noble’s hands as much as possible. Zakkius Negale anchors the defense, leading the team with 7.3 tackles per game, but they’ll need a complete team effort to snap their losing streak.
Final Take:
This is a game where both teams have something to prove. Newcomb’s ground game gives them the edge in time of possession, but Cuba has shown resilience in bouncing back from their slow start. It’ll be a battle of the running backs, with Noble and Lovato likely to carry the load for their respective teams. Expect a low-scoring affair with plenty of clock-chewing drives. In the end, Cuba’s slight edge in district experience might just tip the scales.
Prediction: Cuba 15, Newcomb 14
Favorite: Cuba -1.5
Grine’s Pick: Newcomb
Estancia Bears at Capitan Tigers, 7 PM
Preview:
This 2A matchup features two teams desperate for a win, with both still searching for their first victory of the season. Estancia (0-8 overall, 0-3 district) relies heavily on the ground game, led by Leon Maxwell-Priesen (2026) with 587 rushing yards and 5 TDs. Seniors Rubio (488 yards, 4 TDs) and junior Jose Chaparro (399 yards, 4 TDs) also contribute. Capitan (0-7 overall, 0-3 district) has struggled offensively, scoring just 14 points all season.
Prediction: Estancia 30, Capitan 6
Favorite: Estancia -24.5
Grine’s Pick: Estancia
Socorro Warriors at Ruidoso Warriors, 6 PM
Preview:
Socorro (6-2 overall, 3-1 district) enters this 3A clash with a high-powered offense, averaging 422.6 total yards per game. Isaiah Ocampo leads the charge, averaging 109.3 rushing yards and 231.6 passing yards per game. Ruidoso (1-7 overall, 1-3 district) has had a tough season and will need a strong performance from Tru Camejo and Levi Shelton to keep up.
Prediction: Socorro 35, Ruidoso 14
Favorite: Socorro -20.5
Grine’s Pick: Socorro
Thoreau Hawks at Wingate Bears, 7 PM
Preview:
Thoreau (6-2 overall, 4-0 district) has been dominant in district play, averaging 37.9 points per game. Wingate (2-7 overall, 2-3 district) has struggled on both sides of the ball, allowing 355 points on the season. Thoreau’s balanced attack should prove too much for the Bears.
Prediction: Thoreau 38, Wingate 20
Favorite: Thoreau -18.5
Grine’s Pick: Thoreau
