6A Football Preseason Rankings: La Cueva Bears

NMPreps preseason countdown of all 6A New Mexico high school football teams. #nmpreps

NO. 1 LA CUEVA BEARS

City: Albuquerque, NM
2021 Record: 10-2 overall, 6-0 district
2021 Playoffs: 6A Semifinals
Head Coach: Brandon Back
NMPreps 6A Preseason Rank: #1 (of 21)
NMPreps Top-40 Preseason Rank: Coming Soon

Preview: The La Cueva Bears are a popular pick to win it all this season after a 10-win overall record during the 2021 season. Quarterback Aidan Armenta (2023), and receiver Exodus Ayers (2023) headline an explosive offense. Jackson Hix (2024), Ian Sanchez (2023), Crux Markham (2023), and Mason Crowell (2023) headline a list of receiving targets for Armenta on the outside. Add in another top ranked prospect at his position in running back Gabriel Buie (2023) returning off an impressive post season in 2021, rushing for nearly 400 yards in two games. Colt Mangino (2023) and Mason Posa (205) look to anchor the defense, it will have plenty of time to find some replacements to fill some voids left due to graduation.

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6A Preseason Rankings

Best stadium or arena in the US

1-on-1: Chris Montoya, 2023, Rio Rancho HS

NMPreps Joshua Grine continues his interviews with some of the top athletes in New Mexico high school football.

Today, our interviews take us to Rio Rancho with a top-5 ranked DB for the Rams. The 2023 prospect had 57 total tackles, 18 of them solo. The key contest came against Volcano Vista with an 11 tackle game. The Rams went 9-2 overall and played for the state championship.

1. What is your first and last name? --Chris Montoya

2. What school do you attend? Rio Rancho High School

3. What sports do you play? Football, Wrestling, Track

4. What position? LB/DB/RB

5. What is your number, why? #1 because it’s a clean simple and easy number to be remembered by

6. What is your nickname? Bubba is my nickname that my sister gave to me when we were younger because she couldn’t pronounce the word brother correctly.

7. What are the first 3 songs on your pre-game playlist? You know how we do it-Ice Cube Sum 2 prove- Lil Baby Smells like a teen spirit-Nirvana

8. What are your strengths as a player? My strengths as a player are that I’m a team player, an every day guy, a leader, I’m coachable, and I could be put at any position and excel there

9. Who got you into football? I grew up around football I was able to watch my older brother play for many years and my father also played in high school so they both influenced me to play

10. If you weren't playing sports, what would you be doing? If I wasn’t playing high school sports, I would for sure be an Art artist.

11. What is the perfect pre-game meal? My perfect pre game meal is a 6 inch sandwich as Plain as possible and it has to be eaten exactly 2 hours before game time so it could settle in my stomach

12. Who has been an influence on your life and game? Raw Lewis as inspired me a lot because of his story and all the things he went through in his childhood. And I grew up watching his style of play and I always loved how he would just fly to the ball to make the play

13. If you had a superpower, what would it be? My super power would definitely be super strength just so I would be able to lift anything I want to

14. Who is the funniest person on your team? There are a couple funny people on the team but the funniest is probably Elijah Garabedian

15. What is your plan after you graduate? The plan is to definitely play college ball and I will also become a fireman after college

16. What are some expectations for your team this year? Some expectations for my team this year is to make it back to the state championship, win the state championship, and to finish what we started last year

17. What makes it special playing at Rio Rancho? Growing up I played for the Rams team in YAFL and we chose that team because my brother was going to Rio Rancho High School at that time also playing football

18. What is a quote that you live by? "Some people want it to happen, Some wish it would happen, Others make it happen." -Michael Jordan

Best/Worst Case Scenario: Cibola Cougars

2022 SCHEDULE
8/19 - at Eldorado (wilson)
8/26 - at Valley
9/2 - vs West Mesa
9/9 - at Farmington
9/24 - vs Los Lunas
9/30 - vs Atrisco Heritage
10/7 - at Volcano Vista
10/14 - at Rio Rancho
10/21 - vs Cleveland
10/29 - vs Sandia

Best Case Scenario: 8-2 overall. They have two, maybe three, that they will enter as true underdogs -- Cleveland and Rio Rancho. Can they overcome that mountain this season? The odds say no. They have some coin flips games that they will have to win to get to 8-wins. Volcano Vista, Sandia, Eldorado, and Los Lunas all fall into that group, possibly Farmington too.

Worst Case Scenario: 4-6 overall. They have four games games that they are favored in as we enter the season -- Valley, West Mesa, Atrisco Heritage and sticking true to the B/W scenario, Farmington falls into the category.

Most Likely: 5-5 overall. We fell right in the middle with the Cougars as more questions surround than certainty does. New head coach, star quarterback leaves to Florida, and a transition period is most likely.

Over/Under: Click Here

Over/Under: Santa Teresa Desert Warriors

2022 Schedule
8/19 - vs Goddard
8/26 - vs Mayfield
9/2 - at Lovington
9/9 - at Cobre
9/16 - at Valencia
9/23 - vs Mountain View (TX)
9/30 - at Artesia
10/14 - at Deming
10/21 - at Gadsden
10/28 - vs Chaparral

Post any updates or text to 505-414-4313

After seeing a summer with metal bats, I still can’t believe that we are going away from wood. A baseball bat is the most important piece of equipment to an athlete in any sport. It’s also a piece of equipment that can be doctored, altered, and used illegally. There have been kids all summer using “hot” bats. There is a reason that bats have to be tested and schools have to purchase bat testing machines at the college level. I’ve seen 4 pitchers pelted by comebackers so far this summer. It’s been about 3 or 4 prior since I’ve seen one. This was a poor decision that has challenged the integrity of the game.

Over/Under: West Mesa Mustangs

SCHEDULE
8/18 - vs Santa Fe
8/26 - vs Volcano Vista
9/2 - at Cibola
9/9 - at Albuquerque
9/16 - at Atrisco Heritage
9/23 - OPEN
9/30 - at Sandia
10/6 - vs Farmington
10/13 - vs La Cueva
10/20 - vs Rio Grande
10/27 - at Eldorado

Over/Under: 3.5

6A Football Preseason Rankings: Cleveland Storm

NMPreps preseason countdown of all 6A New Mexico high school football teams. #nmpreps

NO. 2 CLEVELAND STORM

City: Rio Rancho, NM
2021 Record: 13-0 overall, 5-0 district
2021 Playoffs: 6A State Champions
Head Coach: Robert Garza *1st Year
NMPreps 6A Preseason Rank: #2 (of 21)
NMPreps Top-40 Preseason Rank: Coming Soon

Preview: Much of the focus leading into the 2022 season has been centered around new head coach Robert Garza. The longtime Storm assistant takes over with the departure of former head coach Heath Ridenhour taking a position with the University of New Mexico. The good news here for Garza will be the return of quarterback Evan Wysong (2023), a UNM commit, that is a top-5 player in our NMPreps200 rankings. Also, back is the overall No. 1 2024 prospect in Stratton Shufelt who can dominate on both sides of the football for the Storm. Let's make it three for three as the Storm will also return a top receiver in the state with 2023 Nic Trujillo coming off a near 1,000-yard season. The Storm have weapons and continue to reload but the big looming question will be the transition from Ridenhour to Garza.

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What is happening on the travel/club ball scene?

Carlsbad > Clovis (making the playoffs)
Hobbs > Centennial (winning H2H)
Tacos > Burritos
Spread > Option
Mayfield > Deming (winning H2H)

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Favorite Firework?

2022 SCHEDULE
8/19 - at Hobbs
8/26 - vs Canyon (TX)
9/2 - at Randall (TX)
9/9 - vs Carlsbad
9/16 - vs Eldorado
9/23 - vs Roswell
9/30 - at Albuquerque*
10/7 - vs Santa Fe*
10/21 - vs Capital*
10/28 - at Los Lunas*
*District

Related
2022 Over/Under Numbers

6A Football Preseason Rankings: Rio Rancho Rams

NMPreps preseason countdown of all 6A New Mexico high school football teams. #nmpreps

NO. 3 RIO RANCHO RAMS

City: Rio Rancho, NM
2021 Record: 9-2 overall, 3-1 district
2021 Playoffs: Lost, State Championship (Cleveland 35-14)
Head Coach: Nate Pino *1st Year
NMPreps 6A Preseason Rank: #3 (of 21)
NMPreps Top-40 Preseason Rank: Coming Soon

Preview: Transition is a key word in 6A football as both powers in Rio Rancho have new head coaches taking over their programs. The Rams turn to longtime assistant Nate Pino as the next signal caller. The Rams offense will also have pieces to replace, specifically at QB and RB. 2024 QB Noah Nelson gained some experience last season serving as the backup. Nelson threw for 272-yards and 4-touchdowns. He also rushed for another 143-yards and 1-TD. He will have top prospect Mikey Wood (2023/WR) to throw to on the outside along with Travien Williams II (2023) another WR with experience. Williams II had three receiving touchdowns last season. On defense it will be the talented CB in Chris Montoya Jr. (2023). The Rams will stay in district 1 in the new alignment with the likes of Cleveland, Cibola, and Volcano Vista -- three strong contenders to go deep in the playoffs.

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6A Preseason Rankings

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2022 SCHEDULE
8/19 - at Volcano Vista
9/2 - at Eastwood (TX)
9/10 - vs Cleveland
9/16 - vs Mayfield
9/30 - vs Hobbs*
10/7 - vs Alamogordo*
10/14 - at Organ Mountain*
10/21 - at Carlsbad*
10/28 - vs Centennial*
--Only 9-games

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2022 Over/Under Features
Early Preseason Team Rankings

6A Football Preseason Rankings: Las Cruces Bulldawgs

NMPreps preseason countdown of all 6A New Mexico high school football teams. #nmpreps

NO. 4 LAS CRCUES BULLDAWGS

City: Las Cruces, NM
2021 Record: 7-5 overall, 3-1 district
2021 Playoffs: 6A Semifinals
Head Coach: Mark Lopez
NMPreps 6A Preseason Rank: #4 (of 21)
NMPreps Top-40 Preseason Rank: Coming Soon

Preview: The Las Cruces Bulldawgs have voids to fill left by the graduation to a very strong 2022 class. The Bulldawgs went 7-5 overall last season reaching the 6A semifinals, before falling to eventual state champion Cleveland (Rio Rancho). The Dawgs will have some key players to watch and we start on the offense with Zayke Hawkins (2024/WR) returning as one of the top prospects on the squad. The defense will feature a new name but a well known name in the Las Cruces area in Siddeeq Shabazz (2023/S). The two will highlight a new Las Cruces Bulldawgs team looking to make another run in November.

Early Prediction: 7-2 overall, 4-0 district

Kirtland Central is still in need of a home football game on either 8/26 or 9/16.

Best/Worst Case Scenario: Hobbs Eagles

Best Case Scenario: 8-2 overall

Middle of the Road: 6-4 overall

Worst Case Scenario: 3-7 overall

Favorites: Lovington, Alamogordo, Organ Mountain. Although the Wildcats (Lovington) are two classes below, the 4A power could pull off the upset, like they have before.

Coin Flips: Clovis, Artesia, Roswell, Centennial, Carlsbad. Packed with coin flips games and yes we combined all CF games here. If we had to separate -Clovis and Carlsbad fall in line as the favorite CF games. Roswell, Artesia, and Centennial become the true CF games. We added the middle of the road section with wins over FCF games and getting an upset along the way over a TCF game. Centennial could (probably should) be in the underdog section but they will be a wait and see.

Underdog: Las Cruces, Rio Rancho. An interesting section. Rio Rancho has a new head coach and they have the ability to either stay at the top of the class or float around second tier in 6A (teams ranked 4-8). Las Cruces has maintained position at the top.

Over/Under: Coming Soon

Schedule: vs Clovis (8/19), vs Artesia (8/26), at Roswell (9/2), at Lovington (9/9), vs Rio Rancho (9/16), at Las Cruces (9/30), vs Centennial (10/7), at Alamogordo (10/14), vs Organ Mountain (10/21), at Carlsbad (10/28)

Related: 2022 Best/Worst Case Scenario's
Related: 6A Early Preseason Rankings

6A Early Preseason Rankings: Los Lunas Tigers

NMPreps preseason countdown of all 6A New Mexico high school football teams. #nmpreps

NO. 5 LOS LUNAS TIGERS

City: Los Lunas, NM
2021 Record: 13-0 overall, 3-0 district
2021 Playoffs: 5A State Champs
Head Coach:
NMPreps 6A Preseason Rank: #5 (of 21)
NMPreps Top-40 Preseason Rank: Coming Soon

Preview: When you have the quarterback that they do, when you have a talented core of wide receivers and when you have the experience that the Tigers have -- they have the opportunity to compete in 6A football despite the move "up" from 5A. The Tigers offense will go on the shoulders of top prospect Paul Cieremans along with studs Jalin Holland (2025/WR), Fabian Trujillo (2024/WR), and Thomas Ordonez (2023/WR), as they look to continue their winning ways. They are favored to win their district -- Clovis, Santa Fe, Capital, Albuquerque -- and move along with a well balanced schedule. They will open the season on the road on a Friday night against Belen (8/19).

Early Prediction: 9-1 overall.

Related: Best/Worst Case Scenario - Los Lunas Tigers
Related: Over/Under - Los Lunas Tigers
Related: 6A-2A Early Preseason Rankings

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