Week 11: Friday Night Preview & Predictions
Week 11 in New Mexico high school football brings an exciting slate of games as teams battle for playoff positions and district titles.
FRIDAY'S SPECIALS: MUST-SEE GAMES TONIGHT
No. 2 Centennial vs. No. 5 Las Cruces
- Details: 7 p.m., Field of Dreams
- Prediction: Centennial 38, Las Cruces 33
- Favorite: Centennial, -5.5 (O/U 61.5)
- Grine's Pick: Centennial
Preview: The marquee matchup of the night features the Centennial Hawks and Las Cruces Bulldawgs squaring off for the District 3-6A Championship. The second-ranked Centennial Hawks (9-0 overall, 5-0 district) are favored by 5.5 points and are considered strong contenders to face La Cueva in the state championship, led by NMSU commit Zaiden Davis (2025). Las Cruces (7-2 overall, 5-0 district) will look to play spoiler tonight, with junior standout running back Daniel Amaro aiming to lead his team to an upset.
No. 3 Cleveland vs. No. 6 Rio Rancho
- Details: 6 p.m., Lightning Bolt Stadium (Cleveland HS)
- Prediction: Cleveland 44, Rio Rancho 24
- Favorite: Cleveland, -19.5
- Grine's Pick: Cleveland
Preview: Cleveland has been one of the hottest teams heading into Selection Sunday, and this showdown with Rio Rancho will close out their regular season. Cleveland (8-1 overall, 4-0 district) has already clinched a share of the district championship and aims to win it outright tonight. The Storm, led by rising star Moses Sparks Jr. (2026), who recently received an offer from Nebraska, is determined to dominate. Rio Rancho (6-3 overall, 3-1 district) will challenge Cleveland’s momentum with a balanced offense featuring talented receivers led by Jace Pitt (2025).
WHO'S LOOKING LIKE A PLAYOFF TEAM: BUBBLE TEAMS
Piedra Vista: In our
NMPreps Week 11 Playoff Predictions, the Panthers were left out of the bracket, marked as our first bubble team
IN. However, tonight they have a chance to secure their spot with an upset over rival Farmington (4-5 overall, 1-3 District 1-6A). Despite a challenging season (2-7 overall, 1-3 district), last week’s 42-0 rout of Cibola gives Piedra Vista momentum. Their Week 1 win over Sandia also adds a layer of intrigue to their playoff resume.
Sandia: The Matadors find themselves in a must-win scenario to eliminate any doubt about their postseason eligibility. Entering the game as 6.5-point underdogs, Sandia has shown grit recently, clawing their way into playoff contention with clutch wins over fellow bubble teams West Mesa (41-7) and Albuquerque (26-17). Another victory tonight could solidify their position without question.
Carlsbad: The Cavemen (4-5 overall, 2-3 District 3-6A) sit deeper in the bubble but could make a case for the playoffs with a win over rival Hobbs (5-4 overall, 3-2 district). A Carlsbad victory would create a three-way tie in District 3-6A with Hobbs, Organ Mountain, and Carlsbad all at 3-3, likely securing a bid for one of them. This rivalry game could shake up the playoff landscape.
6A Football Predictions
- Cibola at Volcano Vista — Prediction: Volcano Vista 48, Cibola 7 (VV, -45.5)
- Clovis at Alamogordo — Prediction: Alamogordo 31, Clovis 10 (AHS, -30.5)
- Hobbs at Carlsbad — Prediction: Hobbs 27, Carlsbad 22 (HHS, -4.5)
- Piedra Vista at Farmington — Prediction: Farmington 20, Piedra Vista 18 (FHS, -2.5)
- Sandia at Los Lunas — Prediction: Los Lunas 29, Sandia 23 (LLHS, -6.5)
