Grine's Saturday Morning Coffee: NMPreps Week 7 Friday Night Recap
Friday night in New Mexico high school football was everything fans hoped for—overtime thrillers, dramatic upsets, and playoff implications looming large. As we sip on this Saturday morning coffee, let's dive into the action and highlight some of the night’s most exciting games.
FRIDAY NIGHT THRILLERS
First Cheers: Mayfield Stuns Lovington. No. 20 Mayfield (3-4, 2-2 District 2-5A) took to the road and delivered a gritty performance, upsetting the No. 8 Lovington Wildcats (5-2, 2-2 District 2-5A) in a high-octane affair. The Trojans found themselves trailing 30-22 at halftime but clawed their way back to secure a 50-49 victory. Mayfield's dual-threat quarterback, Luke Linnan, led the charge with 150 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown, while also adding 150 passing yards and 2 touchdowns through the air. This win snaps Lovington’s hot start to the season, marking their second straight loss after a 5-0 run.
Second Cheers: Carlsbad’s Heartbreak in Overtime. In 6A, the No. 17 Carlsbad Cavemen (3-4, 1-1 District 3-6A) suffered a crushing 41-40 overtime loss to No. 21 Organ Mountain (3-4, 2-1 District 3-6A) in a game that could have major playoff implications. The back-and-forth contest ended with Knights quarterback Xavier Perez connecting with Lennis Washington on an 11-yard touchdown pass, followed by Estevan Belmontes’ successful extra point. Carlsbad, needing only a PAT to extend the game, missed their attempt, allowing the Knights to secure a pivotal district win.
Third Cheers: Valencia Survives Chaparral’s Upset Bid. In Class 4A, playoff talk is heating up, and the Valencia Jaguars (5-2, 2-1 District 2-4A) kept their postseason hopes alive with a thrilling 52-44 overtime victory over Chaparral. Lobos (2-5, 1-2 District 2-4A) quarterback Raul Lopez rushed for a game-tying three-yard touchdown in the final minute of regulation but came up short on a two-point conversion attempt, leaving the score tied at 44-44. In overtime, Valencia's Michael Storms III punched in a rushing touchdown, and Dalton Muzzy’s successful two-point conversion sealed the win for the Jaguars.
RAPID FIRE
Quick look at more headlines from Friday night.
Hot Springs Slips in a Nail-Biter:
Hot Springs (3-3, 0-2 District 3-3A) aimed to keep their season momentum alive, but fell just short in a 29-28 loss to Hatch Valley (4-3, 1-2 District 3-3A). After leading midway through the game, the Tigers couldn’t hold on as the Bears rallied for a key district win.
Tucumcari Stuns Estancia:
In 2A, Tucumcari (2-4, 1-0 District 2-2A) pulled off a shocking 48-47 victory over winless Estancia (0-6, 0-1), keeping their playoff hopes alive. This upset win could have serious playoff implications for the Rattlers as the season progresses.
Del Norte Gets in the Win Column:
Del Norte (1-6, 1-3 District 1-5A) finally notched their first win of the season, edging Rio Grande (0-6, 0-4 District 1-5A) in a 21-19 victory. The Knights fought hard to break their winless streak, giving their season a spark.
Valley’s Dual-QB Attack:
Two quarterbacks proved better than one for Valley (2-5, 2-2 District 1-5A), as both Julian Butkivich and Jose Jaramillo threw two touchdowns each to lead the Vikings to a 25-12 win over Capital (2-5, 2-2 District 1-5A).
La Cueva Flexes Dominance:
Top-ranked La Cueva (6-0, 3-0 District 2-6A) showcased why they’re the 6A favorite with a commanding 56-7 win over Eldorado (3-3, 1-2 District 2-6A). Bears quarterback Cameron Dyer threw three touchdowns as La Cueva continued their march toward a title.
Los Alamos Rallies for the Win:
Los Alamos (4-3, 4-0 District 1-5A) pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat Belen (2-4, 2-2 District 1-5A), 36-34. Trailing 27-14 with just four minutes left in the third quarter, quarterback Kyle Evenhaus hit Jesus Diaz on a 53-yard touchdown pass before rushing for the game-winning score with 24 seconds remaining.
Rio Rancho Shuts Out Cibola:
On a night when former Rio Rancho head coach David Howes, now an assistant with Cibola, was inducted into the RRPS Hall of Fame, No. 6 Rio Rancho (4-2, 1-0 District 1-6A) delivered a 28-0 shutout win over No. 25 Cibola (2-4, 0-1 District 1-6A). Rams ATH Micah Takahashi had two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, leading the team to victory.
Volcano Vista's Henson Hits 300:
No. 4 Volcano Vista (5-1, 1-0 District 1-6A) quarterback Ilijah Henson threw for over 300 yards in their 48-7 win over No. 23 Piedra Vista (1-5, 0-1 District 1-6A). Henson continues to be one of the top performers in the state.
Gallup Snaps a Nine-Game Skid:
Gallup (1-6, 1-2 District 1-3A) finally broke their nine-game losing streak dating back to last season with a 46-12 win over Zuni (2-4, 1-1 District 1-3A), giving the Bengals something to celebrate on Friday night.
Dexter Makes a Statement:
Dexter (7-0, 3-0 District 3-3A) proved they’re a title contender with a dominant 38-0 win over New Mexico Military Institute (4-2, 2-1 District 3-3A). This win puts the undefeated Demons firmly in the conversation alongside St. Michael’s and Robertson as championship favorites in 3A.
Taos Upsets Española
The Española Sundevils (5-2, 2-2 District 1-4A) struck first, taking an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Taos Tigers (4-2, 2-1 District 1-4A) responded with a 26-yard rushing touchdown from Reggie Suazo in the final minute of the quarter. From there, the Tigers dominated, cruising to a 27-7 victory without looking back.
