NMPreps: 2021 6-Man Football Preseason Preview & Predictions
NMPreps.com's quick preview and prediction for the 2021 (2020) New Mexico high school football season. Today, we look at 6-man football with a mixture of new teams to the classification down from 8-man.
2019 RECORDS
- Springer/Maxwell 9-1 *State Champ
- Elida 9-1 *State Runner Up
- Animas 6-3
- Hondo Valley 6-4
- Ramah 6-4 (8-man last season)
- Mountainair 5-4 (8-man last season)
- Vaughn/Corona 4-5
- Carrizozo 4-6
- Dora 3-5 (8-man last season)
- Gateway Christian 2-6 (8-man last season)
- Lake Arthur 2-6
- Floyd 1-5
- Tse’ Yi’ Gai 0-6 (8-man last season)
- Northwest 0-6 (8-man last season)
- Reserve 0-5 (8-man last season)
- Jemez Valley 0-0 (8-man last season)
- Foothill 0-0 (8-man last season)
- Roy/Mosquero 0-0
- Clovis Christian 0-0
2021 DISTRICT PLACEMENT
I
Foothill
Jemez Valley
Northwest
Ramah
Roy/Mosquero
Springer/Maxwell
Tse'Yi'Gai
II
Clovis Christian
Dora
Elida
Floyd
Gateway Christian
Lake Arthur
III
Animas
Carrizozo
Hondo Valley
Mountainair
Reserve
Vaughn/Corona
TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH
Teagan Burton, 2021 (Elida High School)
-1,160-passing yards and 26 touchdowns.
Chilly Hernandez, 2022 (Animas High School)
-406 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns.
Omar Castillo, 2022 (Animas High School)
-370 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns.
Diego Maestas, 2021 (Springer/Maxwell School)
TOP FIVE EARLY RANKINGS
No. 1 Elida High School
Scoop: The Elida Tigers were the 1-seed last season and didn't lose a game until the state championship game, a 29-26 loss to champ Springer/Maxwell. The Tigers return quarterback Teagan Burton and although they graduate plenty that surrounded him, they welcome back some experienced youth.
No. 2 Animas High School
Scoop: The Panthers gave eventual state champion Springer/Maxwell everything they could handle in the semifinals last season, falling 40-36. They graduate their all-state quarterback but return a duo in Omar Castillo (QB) and Chilly Hernandez (RB) that could be the best duo in the classification this season.
No. 3 Mountainair High School
Scoop: The drop in classification will immediately make the Mustangs a favorite to win it all this season. Not because of the drop but with the return of their entire roster outside of running back Francisco Zamora. Yes, Zamaora was very good in the backfield last season but the likes of Cade Brazil (2021), Dylan Greene (2021) and Adrian Luna (2022) create some excitement moving forward.
No. 4 Hondo Valley High School
Scoop: The Eagles reached the semifinals last season but bring plenty of excitement as they return everyone this season. Tommy Lucero (WR) and Fabian Prudencio (QB) could carry them forward this season.
No. 5 Springer/Maxwell School
Scoop: The Red Devils won their first state championship last season and the goal is to repeat. The bad news is they graduate a very good class and will be filling many holes. The good news is they return Diego Maestas (WR) who had a really solid showing in the state championship game.
