NMPreps.com Top-25 Preview
No. 1 Rio Rancho (8-0) vs No. 24 Cibola (3-6), Sat., 1pm: The Rams and Cougars square off on Saturday in an afternoon contest. The Rams return after a week off in week nine but the clear favorite as they bring in an offense scoring 45.9 points per game, allowing on 12 per game. Cibola who struggles on offense, scoring 12.7 points per game.
Prediction: Rio Rancho 50, Cibola 0
No. 3 Las Cruces (7-1) vs No. 5 Onate (6-2), Fri., 7pm: The District 3-6A title is up for grabs, the winner takes home the championship barring a week 11 loss. Las Cruces owns the recent history against the Knights of Onate winning 4 of the last 5 by a combined score of 223 to 89. This is the most evenly match game with both averaging in the 30's (Las Cruces 39, Onate 32) on O, and allowing around 20 points per game.
Prediction: Las Cruces 24, Onate 21
No. 4 Artesia (7-1) at No. 16 Goddard (5-3), Fri, 7pm: The Artesia Bulldogs travel to Roswell to take on the Goddard Rockets, an Artesia win will clinch the district title. Goddard who started the season 1-3 has since won the last four games in a row. This one should be defensive battle and that will be the x-factor, who gets the stops?
Prediction: Artesia 34, Goddard 28
No. 6 Manzano (6-2) vs Santa Fe (0-8), Fri, 7pm: Manzano is on a 4-game win streak and have moved all the way up to 6th in the rankings. Santa Fe hasn't found a win and could be over early as they been mercy ruled in two of the last three games. Manzano running back Jordan Byrd went for over 300-yards in the last outing, he could see that again this week.
Prediction: Manzano 50, Santa Fe 0
No. 8 Volcano Vista (6-2) vs Piedra Vista (5-3), Fri., 7pm: The Volcano Vista Hawks have used a balanced attack from running the ball and quarterback playing well. Piedra Vista, on a three game skid right now, will look to studs Avery Norton and Elijah Gomboa for a last chance to make the playoffs with an upset.
Prediction: Volcano Vista 36, Piedra Vista 18
No. 9 Mayfield (4-4) vs No. 25 Hobbs (2-6), Fri., 7pm: Two programs in need of a win to make an argument for a state tournament bid, Hobbs more than Mayfield. The Mayfield Trojans however are fighting to stay in the tournament and move up in the seed selection process. The difference surrounds Mayfield with possible injuries, Hobbs has played well but hasn't been able to close out an upset. One to watch in the contest is Cayson Clay an explosive wide receivers who made the list for top receivers.
Prediction: Mayfield 25, Hobbs 21
No. 10 Clovis (5-3) vs Sandia (3-5), Sat., 2pm: With a district runner up spot still in play, maybe a district title the Clovis Wildcats need the game as a statement before a week 11 showing against La Cueva. Sandia enters the game on a two game skid, having troubles on offense scoring 7 points in two games. Seth Lopez played well last week and with more touches this Wildcats team could create a killer attack with two running backs. Sandia should focus on stopping the run but need to find a way to get on the board.
Prediction: Clovis 28, Sandia 6
No.11 La Cueva (5-3) vs No. 14 Eldorado (4-4), Fri., 7pm: The Bears and Eagles are trying to gain position for a bid to the state tournament. La Cueva winners of 4 of their last 5 games has moved into position for a good seed in the state tournament. Eldorado has dropped two of the last three games and trending the opposite direction with plenty of bubble teams on the cusp of missing the playoffs.
Prediction: La Cueva 21, Eldorado 20
No. 12 St. Pius X (8-1) at No. 15 Belen (7-1), Thurs, 7pm: Belen has pulled off three straights wins since falling to Roswell 26-7. Right now they are 1-1 against Top-25 teams and get another chance to prove their status on Thursday night. The difference in the contest will be can the Eagles stop the Sartans O, the Eagles have given up 24 points a game in the two Top-25 games. Against the rest of the field they have given up 6.6 points per game. St. Pius X has one of the most elusive players in the state in Drew Ortiz.
Prediction: St. Pius X 35, Belen 20
No. 13 Roswell (6-2) vs Lovington (1-7), Fri., 7pm: The Roswell Coyotes enter the game as 45 point as the Coyotes can put up points against non-top 25 teams this season. Plus the Coyotes minus two of their six games have gone for over 40 points. Also, the Lovington Wildcats have given up 358 points on the season. The name to know has been Gabriel Najar who has been on a move lately, rushing for over 100-yards in the last four games - 200 last week against Artesia.
Prediction: Roswell 45, Lovington 0
No. 17 Moriarty (8-0) vs Portales (7-1): Last week the Pintos accomplished the task of being picked against by routing district opponent Hope Christian, 41-20. Portales (No. 30 NMPreps.com Fab 50) who sits outside the Top-25 have been a team on a mission since dropping a game to Dexter on September 23rd. They are on a 3-game win streak winning by a combined score of 158-33. Both teams are averaging around 41 points per game and the difference could be in the offense. Portales will need to stop the run for Moriarty, Moriarty will need to contain Junior Ramirez who can do both.
Prediction: Portales 35, Moriarty 34
No. 18 Robertson (8-0) vs West Las Vegas (6-2): One week ago this was shaping to be a must see game outside the city of Las Vegas. In Vegas this should still be a hot ticket but with West dropping one to Taos most assume a Robertson thrashing. Both are high scoring offenses (39 per) but Robertson will have the differene maker with a stout D, maybe one of the better (or best) in 4A. The guy we like as our x-factor is Connor Houdek on defense who averages around 12 tackles per game.
Prediction: Robertson 39, West Las Vegas 21
No. 19 Los Lunas (5-3) at Grants (5-3), Friday, 7pm: The Los Lunas Tigers are on a three game skid and need to make a statement this week as they have fallen off their tracks. Running back O'maury Samuels has been out along with quarterback Nick Gaerlan, with plenty more questions surrounding the Tigers lately. Grants on the other hand have won their last 5 of 6 games and could be looking for an upset win at home.
Prediction: Los Lunas 35, Grants 10
No. 20 Carlsbad (2-6) vs Gadsden (1-8), Friday, 7pm: Each win matters, for Carlsbad they need each win to continue their rebuilding under Coach Gary Bradley. Gadsden will love to play spoiler and have the opportunity in this contest to go out with a bang on the season in their finale. Carlsbad has Jaykan Willis at running back who can get in the stat line and top players list for Week 10 in this contest and is our X-factor.
Prediction: Carlsbad 24, Gadsden 10
No. 21 Hatch Valley (7-1) vs Cobre (4-4): The Hatch Valley Bears are playing like a team on a mission and one has to like the Bears in this one having a 14-game home win streak. After a 1-4 start however he Cobre Indians (No. 41 NMPreps.com Fab 50) could be the biggest New Mexico test this season. The biggest questions heading into this contest is if the Cobre defense can stop a Hatch Valley offense with more weapons than any Bear hunter in New Mexico. Cade Hackey, mentioned in the running for wide receiver of the year is only one of those weapons who could be in store for a big game. The last time Hatch played against a pass heavy team with a WR stud was Aztec, a game they dropped 62-31.
Prediction: Hatch Valley 42, Cobre 28
No. 22 Estancia (7-1) vs Cuba (1-7): Estancia has allowed 7-points in their two district games, Cuba could be on an end of a 50-0 contest. The Bears not only have the difference makers, they have the x-factors and everything you associate with a win in this game. Expect NMPreps.com Mr. Football candidate Ezekiel Tapia to get in and out early in this contest, he has 1,881-yards on the season with 7 straight games with 100 yards or more.
Prediction: Estancia 50, Cuba 0
No. 23 Alamogordo (4-4) vs Santa Teresa (2-6), Fri, 7pm: The Alamogordo Tigers started the season 3-1 but have dropped 3 of the last 4 games. They lost stud wide receiver Alex Ramirez for the season but have a top, next level quarterback in Kyle Hooper along with x-factor Dee Smith in this contest. Santa Teresa, if any team is going to this week, is one team that could sneak up and pull the huge upset. They have a junior running back in Dominick Dozal, only a junior who has 1,245-rushing yards.
Prediction: Alamogordo 28, Santa Teresa 27
