Week 6: Top-25 Preview
The week doesn't have the flare that previous weeks have had with high profile match ups but a few games have the folks talking. A pair of 1 vs 2 in classification match ups that have you prepping for a possible state championship round one.
No. 1 Rio Rancho (5-0) vs No. 23 Sandia (2-2)
A team that has lived up to and more with the title as number one ranked team in New Mexico verse a team that hasn't found the right stride. Rio Rancho (5-0) has only allowed 58-points on the season, twice a team has reached double figures and have outscored opponents 213 to 58. Sandia (2-2) is in need of a statement. They started the season 2-0 but have since dropped its last two games with a schedule of teams that is a combined 4-16. Look for the Rio Rancho defense to be the talk in this game including Cailon Bailon who has 35-tackles on the year, a touchdown and 2.5 sacks. This one could be the surprise game of the year (maybe we are reaching) but could the Matadors get the engine started?
Prediction: Rio Rancho 42, Sandia 28
No. 2 Cleveland (5-0) vs Atrisco Heritage Academy (0-3)
The Cleveland Storm will likely give an insight to the future as they take on the winless, unranked Atrisco Heritage Academy Jaguars who will be overwhelmed on both ends of the ball. Cleveland's past five opponents have been ranked in the Top-25 (four in the Top-10) this season and have too many weapons for the Jaguars to handle. You could expect Storm running backs to have big holes to the endzone. In week three Shawn Neito had 5-touchdowns (8 on the season), in week 6 Niko Papadopoulos had 6 (11 on the season). However, this could be a game where we see one of the top ranked quarterbacks Angelo Trujillo get more opportunity to throw the ball. Atrisco Heritage has given up 122-points in three games this season and could be one in which the opponent tops 50 plus for the second consecutive week.
Prediction: Cleveland 50, Atrisco Heritage Academy 0
No. 3 Las Cruces (4-1) vs Gadsden (1-4)
The Las Cruces Bulldawgs have the rosters that could have folks excited about 2017 in Las Cruces but the third ranked Bulldawgs could be maturing a season ahead of schedule. The must see duo of Payton Ball a junior quarterback and Brandon Baeza a junior receiver has lived up to the young hype. Gadsden will hope to get sophomore Andres Santaella the exposure and experience in hopes of a brighter future. The sophomore back has 278-yards on the season on 58-carries. Gadsden is currently riding a 4-game losing streak heading into the game with Las Cruces.
Prediction: Las Cruces 50, Gadsden 0
No. 4 Volcano Vista (3-2) vs Highland (0-3)
The Volcano Vista Hawks have moved up considerably in the rankings this season and have reached the mark as the fourth best team in New Mexico. The Hawks come into the contest have a 68-21 win over Highland foe and District 4-6A team Atrisco Heritage. Volcano Vista got a big game out of quarterback Dillon Gassoway, 449-yards and 6 touchdowns and wide receiver Adam Schaap, 243-yards and 3 touchdowns during week 5. Highland has yet to have the showing that they had hoped for and will look to surprise the Hawks at Community stadium. Highland hasn't fared well against Top-25 opponents allowing 162-points in three games.
Prediction: Volcano Vista 48, Highland 6
No. 5 Mayfield (3-2) vs No. 8 Onate (3-2)
Are the Trojans the real deal? Do the Trojans have question marks? One could answer this question with yes on two different occasions. The first being without stud running back yes some question marks with the consistency of the offense. Yes the real deal with Isaac Vance but have surrounding pieces that at times stepped into bigger shoes. Onate is another team with the question of contender or pretender. Onate for the most part is a buy as a playoff team but is this team destined for bigger than just a bid? One could say yes as they have a 3-2 record but are 0-2 against Top-10 opponents. This will be the true test of what tier to place the Knights. They will need their offense, that has seen signs of life, at its very best against a Mayfield team that hasn't been stellar on D. However, Onate which has one of the better defensive units will need to keep the game low in scoring to have the chance to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Mayfield 23, Onate 21
No. 6 Artesia (4-1) vs No. 11 Los Lunas (5-0)
Who is the best team in 5A football for the 2016 football season? Artesia, the two-time defending champion, has the history and talent that makes you enjoy the pick. The lone loss came last week in week five to the undefeated and second ranked Cleveland Storm. However, the defense which has been the best in 5A could be the x-factor in a game profiled by plenty of offensive weapons. Look for Artesia quarterback Taylor Null to continue his tour of being one of the best QB's in New Mexico. Los Lunas brings it's own young quarterback in Nick Gaerlan and Michigan commit O'maury Samuels along with New Mexico State commit Trevor Brohard at TE. The environment will be unreal, once again, in Artesia on Friday night with the #1 ranked Artesia Bulldogs vs the #2 ranked Los Lunas Tigers for the top spot in 5A football.
Prediction: Artesia 35, Los Lunas 34
No. 9 Centennial (4-1) at No. 19 Carlsbad (2-3)
If you are looking for a game with meaning then you have this District 3-6A match up between Centennial and Carlsbad. Centennial, the favorite in the game with a 4-1 record and ranked 9th in the state of New Mexico has the opportunity to be the conversation for a home game in the state tournament. Carlsbad, on the bubble, needs a signature win and this game could be the chance to make a huge leap forward. Centennial has seen it's fair share of games against teams outside of the Top-10 and has a pair of close two/three point wins along with an offensive shootout against Hobbs where they scored 54 points Carlsbad is 0-3 when facing teams ranked inside the Top-10 this season but their defensive could be one of the more underrated units as they haven't allowed them to run off but will definitely need the offense to come alive as they have only averaged 11 points in losses. In wins they have averaged 33 points. They need to be closer to the high 20's, low 30's if they want to have a chance at a win.
Prediction: Centennial 34, Carlsbad 20
No. 12 Piedra Vista (5-0) at No. 13 Manzano (2-2)
Another game with the "bubble" type of headline that will either break or make a team come the state tournament. Piedra Vista has been the team that could be consider a masked team. Are they a con or should we be taking them more serious this season as a playoff team. A win here will put them as an IN team but a loss could end state tournament dreams a bit. They have one win over a Top-25 team this season according to the week 6 rankings in a 3-point win over No. 24 Goddard. Manzano is a team that has been given more credit with a schedule that includes two Top-10 teams in Rio Rancho and Centennial. In the contest against Centennial they seen an early lead fall short in a 28-21 loss. This could be a low scoring affair that comes down to the better fourth quarter but don't be fooled as Piedra Vista offense has only been getting better with a new fullback on the radar in Avery Norton.
Prediction: Manzano 27, Piedra Vista 18
No. 15 Alamogordo (4-1) at No. 24 Goddard (2-3)
The Alamogordo Tigers have been good this season. Ranked third in the state with a lone loss to the second ranked 5A team in Los Lunas you have to start taking them serious as a potential contender. We know the Tigers can score as they have put up over 30 points in all of their 4 wins and will again need to light up the scoreboard. Goddard has been a bit under the radar for having a better than average defense. They have battled with Top-25 competiton this season losing a narrow 3-point game, a four point loss and held Clovis to their average. Can they add some of their offensive punch to the table, enough to pull the upset is the question in this contest?
Prediction: Alamogordo 38, Goddard 20
No. 16 St. Pius X (4-1) at Miyamura (4-0)
The Sartans are being test this season and so far have answered the call. The lone loss to Alamogordo was a the one game that they allowed double digit points. They will have to keep a Miyamura team that is averaging 42 points a game well under their average. For Miyamura this is the first game against a Top-25 team and will have their hands full with a Pius team that is talented on both ends of the ball.
Prediction: St. Pius 33, Miyamura 13
No. 17 Roswell (4-1) at Farmington (0-3-1)
The Roswell Coyotes hit the road after getting a much needed 5A win over a ranked Belen team in week 5 a week after dropping their only game of the season. Roswell, has rising quarterback in Bear Kyser who has 653-passing yards on the season. Also, look out for sophomore defensive stud Cade Manzanares who has 6 sacks on the season. Farmington who is still searching for their first win of the season will need their offensive to live up to the preseason hype. They have steadily been coming alive recently but will need to be near perfect to pull of the upset in this contest. Roswell is averaging 45 points per game in wins while Farmington is giving up close to 30 points in losses. Limit Roswell from patiently getting into the end zone will be the key.
Prediction: Roswell 32, Farmington 14
No. 20 Belen (4-1) vs Deming (0-5)
The Belen Eagles needed this game after suffering their first loss of the season. Up until this point the offense was starting to gain steam as one to keep an eye on averaging more points than the previous season. However, they failed to put up points only scoring 7 points last week. Deming will need to watch out for a 1-2 punch that has seen the receivers "get theirs" but also a plethora of young backs that have reached the end zone. Deming hasn't been able to score points this season and the key in this game is putting points on the scoreboard while getting a stop or two along the way (maybe more).
Prediction: Belen 42, Deming 10
No. 21 Robertson (5-0) at Taos (3-2)
The Robertson Cardinals are one of two ranked teams from 4A football in the Top-25 this season. They have been stellar on defensive this season but will need the offense to be just as good to avoid any hope of an upset by a Taos team that has upset on their minds. Roberston has gone for over 20 points in every game this season and in the last two games for 47 and 49 points. Taos comes into the contest on a 3-game winning streak after dropping its two opening games this season. Taos has averaged 42 points in wins but only 10 points in losses, they will have to score closer to 25 if they hope for any shot.
Prediction: Robertson 41, Taos 10
No. 22 Cibola (1-4) vs Albuquerque (2-2)
Cibola finally got the win under their belt in week 5 with a 17-14 win over Sandia, a team ranked in the Top-25. As mentioned in the Top-25 Question for week 6 the Cougars have allowed over 20 points in all of their losses the past two seasons. They will have to limit Albuquerque from getting into the end zone as the Bulldogs have two wins on their resume with both of those games they went over 20 points (37 and 28).
Prediction: Cibola 20, Albuquerque 7
Byes: No. 7 Eldorado, No. 10 Clovis, No. 14 La Cueva, No. 18 Moriarty, No. 25 Hobbs
