Embedded With the Enemy

Part II - Football

By John Moore

In a locker room full of officials you will find an amazing collection of compression garments, knee braces, ankle wraps, copper fit, and all manner of pain reliever. The pre-game is a unique experience for new officials. Jumping into the world of officiating from coaching is indescribable in 1000 words or less, but I may be able to give some insight to coaches about who these guys are prepping for a game like they are one of the players, only different. I am going to make some wide generalizations here and will not try to describe any one individual.

The White Hat: This is the crew leader, the Referee in charge of rules enforcement, crew management, and usually the most experienced guy out there. Ask this guy a question about intentional grounding and you might miss a meal after the explanations are done. This is not because they lack social skills, it is because they are thorough and do not want ANY confusion. Every rule in football has articles and exceptions. For new guys like myself, the white hats are invaluable. Most of these guys have decades of experience and are a great source for new officials. Coaches should take the time to know the white hats, just like they take the time to know fellow coaches.

The Grizzled Vet: These old guys are even more valuable to new officials than the white hats. There are no convoluted explanations but short to-the-point answers with maybe a bad word mixed in. They are the guys who tell you to remove your flag and bean bag before approaching the urinal or you will be picking them up out of the bottom of the urinal hoping nobody saw you. They are very good with coaches and kids and usually can officiate all or mostly all positions. Sometimes they may be too grizzled, a little rough around the edges, but they have earned it.

The Other White Hat: If you are lucky, you might have very experienced officials at every position. Playoff crews might have multiple officials who work as white hats during the year. These guys have to bite their tongue at times when not working as the crew chief. They have to change their approach, but many enjoy moving to a position they learned early in their careers. Too many white hats is not always a good thing, but these guys are pros and adjust to the situation.

The Young Gun: These guys with a few years under their belts and aspirations of calling college football are great for the game. They are young and fast and can play the back judge spot. If they are serious about moving up, they know the rules very well. They keep their noses in the rule book and take on new challenges. They will be white hats one day so meet them early.

The Rookie: These guys are normally great to have on your sideline because they do not want to bring any attention to themselves. Usually, they are not throwing the flag unless there is something flagrant. Coaches should be able to adjust expectations when they get a newbie. Some advice...don’t beg for calls and be grateful they are not flagging your team either.

One important thing to remember is that all of these guys will miss a call. We all want to get them right all the time, but we don’t. We will watch film, try to see where we went wrong, and try to be better in the future. Sometimes, we were in the right spot, did everything right, and simply missed the call. I wish I could explain how this happens. Have you ever watched an NFL game and watched a play go under review only to have officials miss it in super slow motion?

Get 20 officials in a room and show a single play. The discussion NEVER ends. The setting could be used as punishment for people who yell about missed calls. Get a room of 20 coaches playing, “you make the call,” and you will get a lot of incorrect calls even in slow motion. Get a room full of 20 fans together and there is no chance they agree on the correct call and there might be a fight. Until one horrible day in the future when robo-officials call the games, we have a bunch of guys who love football, wrapping knees and ankles, feeling the butterflies, and doing the very best they can.

So I made a load of generalizations here but it is important to remember, all officials are good and all are bad at times. Just having the courage to put the stripes on should be enough for players, coaches, and fans to respect them. Always, coaches are the stewards of the game. Learn the rules, learn what it takes to be an official, and teach your players fans and fellow coaches how to interact with officials.

Good luck this year to everyone who makes Friday nights possible.

Related
Moore: Embedded With the Enemy | Part I
Moore: Thunderstruck. Music in the Weight Room
Moore: The Hated Early Morning Workout
Moore: The "C Team"
Moore: Quitters

New Mexico High School Football Rankings - Week Two (August 21st)

Week to week the NMPreps rankings will move teams up and down. This is not a resume feature like our state playoff predictions. This looks more on what have you done lately.

6A FOOTBALL
1. Cleveland (1-0): Beat Centennial
2. La Cueva (1-0): Beat Rio Rancho
3. Centennial (0-1): Lost to Cleveland
4. Rio Rancho (0-1): Lost to La Cueva
5. Volcano Vista (1-0): Beat Las Cruces
6. Hobbs (1-0): Beat Clovis
7. West Mesa (1-0): Beat Santa Fe
8. Los Lunas (1-0): Beat Belen (+1)
9. Farmington (1-0): Beat Piedra Vista (+1)
10. Sandia (1-0): Beat Atrisco Heritage (New)

Dropped: Atrisco Heritage (8)

5A FOOTBALL
1. Artesia (1-0): Beat Carlsbad
2. Roswell (1-0): Beat Lovington
3. Goddard (1-0): Beat Santa Teresa (+2)
4. Mayfield (1-0): Beat Manzano (+2)
5. Deming (1-0): Beat Del Norte (+2)
6. Piedra Vista (0-1): Lost to Farmington (-2)
7. Gadsden (1-0): Beat Ruidoso (+1)
8. Los Alamos (1-0): Beat Espanola Valley (+2)
9. Santa Teresa (0-1): Lost to Goddard (-2)
10. Valley (0-1): Lost to Bernalillo (-7)

4A FOOTBALL
1. Bloomfield (1-0): Beat St. Pius X
2. Portales (1-0): Beat Highland
3. Lovington (0-1): Lost to Roswell
4. Albuquerque Academy (1-0): Beat Rio Grande
5. Silver (0-1): Lost to Alamogordo
6. Aztec (1-0): Beat Miyamura
7. Valencia (1-0): Beat Kirtland Central
8. Moriarty (1-0): Beat Gallup
9. St. Pius X (0-1): Lost to Bloomfield
10. Taos (0-1): Lost to St. Michael's

3A FOOTBALL
1. Robertson (1-0): Beat Socorro
2. St. Michael's (1-0): Beat Taos
3. Ruidoso (0-1): Lost to Gadsden
4. Socorro (0-1): Lost to Robertson
5. Hope Christian (1-0): Beat McCurdy
6. West Las Vegas (1-0): Beat Escalante
7. New Mexico Military (1-0): Beat Alamogordo JV
8. Raton (0-1) Lost to Eunice
9. Dexter (1-0): Beat Cloudcroft
10. Hatch Valley (1-0) Beat Laguna-Acoma

2A FOOTBALL
1. Eunice (1-0): Beat Raton
2. Texico (1-0): Beat Estancia
3. Santa Rosa (1-0) Beat Cleveland JV
4. Jal (1-0) Beat Centennial JV
5. Loving (1-0) Beat Carlsbad JV
6. Tularosa (1-0) Beat Hot Springs
7. Escalante (0-1): Lost to West Las Vegas
8. Estancia (0-1): Lost to Texico
9. Hagerman (1-0): Beat Capitan
10. Capitan (0-1): Lost to Hagerman

Notes: We will still update our preseason 92-team rankings along with posting our top-10 rankings.

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Most Impressive Win From Week1

Week 2 Thursday Picks & Predictions

NMPreps picks, lines, and predictions for week 2 of the New Mexico high school football season. #nmpreps


Grine's Record: 33-4
Week 2: 0-0
Week 1: 33-4

Week 2 Thursday Night Preview

NMPreps guide to New Mexico high school football. We preview games taking place on Thursday night of week 2. #nmpreps

Inside the 25

No. 13 Atrisco Heritage (0-1) vs Rio Grande (0-1): Both teams are coming off week 1 losses. Atrisco Heritage dropped a close game against Sandia, 21-20. Rio Grande struggled to a 50-0 loss at the hands of Albuquerque Academy. Chauncey Lane (2025) and Landon Griego (2025) connection opened the season for the AH Jaguars and are two newcomers that will carry them forward. Griego finished with 186 passing yards and 1 passing TD. Lane had a highlight weekend with 108 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD.

No. 15 Las Cruces (0-1) vs El Paso-Americas TX (0-0): Thursday night could be renamed New Mexico vs Texas. The Las Cruces Bulldawgs host Americas High School (TX) in the Trail Blazers season opener. This is an adding game for the Bulldawgs who only played nine games in 2022. The Bulldawgs kept it close last week trailing 10-7 at the half before falling to top-five ranked Albuquerque-Volcano Vista, 24 to 7. We will get another look at Bulldawgs quarterback Gunnar Guardiola (2026) who could become a solid three year option under center.

No. 18 Clovis (0-1) at Canyon TX (0-0): The Wildcats travel over the NM/TX border to take on the Canyon Eagles in their season opener. Can the Wildcats bounce back at Happy State Bank Stadium after suffering a loss to rival Hobbs (41-13) in the opener? On offense seniors Jett Stone and Kash Roberts have an opportunity to shine this season, Stone finished with over 100-yards total offense (60 passing/56 rushing) with a passing touchdown. The Wildcats fell 42-6 against Canyon in 2022, in Clovis.

Outside the 25

Gadsden (1-0) at El Paso High TX (0-0): We get to see just how real the Gadsden Panthers are this season as they travel to El Paso. Gadsden returns this week after a shutout win over Ruidoso, 42-0 in week one. The Panthers hope to make it back-to-back weeks avenging losses from 2022. The Panthers fell on the road to El Paso High, 27-20. El Paso returns after graduating 1000-yard rusher Lueranze Johnson, so the idea is jumping on another team in a rebuild. The story from week one came in the form of junior running back Alfredo Andrande rushing for 178 yards and senior RB Ryan Hernandez adding another 116 rushing yards and 3 rushing yards. How fast can this RB duo run the Panthers up the rankings?


Thursday, August 24th
Americas TX (0-0) at Las Cruces (0-1), 7pm
Clovis (0-1) at Canyon TX (0-0), 7pm
Gadsden (1-0) at El Paso TX (0-0), 6:30pm
Loving (1-0) vs Centennial JV, 7pm
Rio Grande (0-1) at Atrisco Heritage (0-1), 7pm
Tatum (0-0) at Alamo Navajo (0-1), 5pm
Wingate (1-0) at Navajo Prep (0-1), 7pm

Related
Week 2 Team Rankings
Week 2 Schedule
Week 2 Ranking Every Game to Watch
Week 2 Most Likely to Upset

Post here or text to 505-414-4313

WEEK 1
Aiden Jaquez - Deming - 59 yards rushing, 3 TDs
Alfredo Andrade - Gadsden - 178 yards rushing
Andres Grine - Albuquerque Academy - 60-yard receiving TD vs Rio Grande
Anthony Alacron - Deming - 3 solo, 3 TOT, 3 Int's, 1 pick 6
Brandon Olivas - Eldorado - 231 yards passings and 2 TDs vs Cibola
Brock Beaty - Hobbs - 172 yards passing and 3 TDs
Bryle Matthews - Kirtland Central - 108 yards receiving and 2 TDs
Cameron Dyer - La Cueva - 325 yards passing and 2 TDs vs Rio Rancho
CJ Perea - West Las Vegas - 331 passing 3tds and 1 rushing TD
Daniel Hernandez - Centennial - 114 yards passing.
Daniel Villegas - Valencia - 160 yards rushing
Deshaun Kensey - West Las Vegas - 194 yards receiving
Elijah Brody - West Mesa - 182 yards passing and 1 TD, 200 yards rushing, 1 rushing TD
Elijan Woods - Eunice - 225 yards rushing and 2 TDs
Erick Thomas - Eldorado - 102 yards receiving and 1 TD
Gabriel Trujillo - Bernalillo - 11 total tackles (4 solo), 3 sacks
Gustavo Diaz-Castro - Hobbs - 13 total tackles (9 solo)
Isaac Martinez - Deming - 53 yards rushing, 2 TDs
Jeremiah Jaquez - Hobbs - 104 yards receiving and 2 TDs
Jesse James Gonzales - Robertson - 166 yards passing and 1 TD
Jett Galles - Albuquerque Academy - 2 rushing TD's vs Rio Grande
John Paul Ludi - Eldorado - 128 yards rushing and 2 TDs
Joshua Calhoon - Estancia - 214 yards rushing and 2 TDs
Jykub Gage - Santa Rosa - 204 yards rushing and 3 TDs, 1 kickoff return for TD, 5 total TDs
Kaleb Rodriguez - Loving - 213 yards passing and 3 TDs
Lucas Tracy - Albuquerque Academy - 158 yards passing and 4 TDs
"Ethan Tafoya - West Las Vegas - 80 rushing and 83 receiving 1 TD
Mason McChriston - Bernalillo - 16 total tackles (7 solo), 1 sack
Mason Posa - La Cueva - 10 total tackles, 1 sack
Mateo Contreras - Robertson - 2 INTs (Pick-6), Rushing TD vs Socorro
Mathias Duran - St. Michael's - 4 rushing TDs
Nicolas Chavez - Santa Rosa - 238 yards rushing, 3 TDs, 16 Total Tackles
Paxton Culpepper - Portales - 202 yards passings and 3 TDs
Ryan Alfaro - Deming - 2 passing TDs 78 total yards
Saul Armendariz - Hobbs - 126 yards rushing and 1 TD
Sebashian Acuna - Deming - 4 solo, 4 asst, 8 TOT 1/2 sack
Vicente "Champ" Chacon - Deming - 3 solo, 2 asst, 5 TOT, 1 sack, 1 fmb rec.
Wyatt Gomez - Lovington - 231 yards passing and 1 TD vs Roswell
Zadrick Betancourt - Lovington - 14 total tackles
Zaeden McPherson - Hobbs - 12 total tackles (5 solo)
Zaiden Davis - Centennial - 16 total tackles (10 solo)
Zane Mayberry - Portales - 132 yards receiving and 1 TD

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What are your top five games to watch this week?

Poll: Most Likely to Upset in Week 2

Ours will release in the morning. What do you have for you ballot? Week 1 Here

1. La Cueva (1-0) at Cleveland (1-0), 7pm
2. Hobbs (1-0) at Artesia (1-0), 7pm
3. Centennial (0-1) at El Paso Franklin TX (0-0), 7pm
4. Texico (1-0) at Santa Rosa (1-0), 7pm
5. West Mesa (1-0) at Volcano Vista (1-0), 7pm
6. Alamogordo (1-0) at Los Lunas (1-0), 7pm
7. Eldorado (1-0) at Rio Rancho (0-1), 7pm
8. Capital (1-0) at St. Michael's (1-0), 1pm
9. Durango CO (0-0) at Farmington (1-0), 7pm
10. Goddard (1-0) at Carlsbad (0-1), 7pm
11. Cobre (1-0) at Robertson (1-0), 1:30pm
12. West Las Vegas (1-0) at Dexter (1-0), 6pm
13. Clovis (0-1) at Canyon TX (0-0), 7pm
14. Valley (0-1) at Cibola (0-1), 11am
15. Gadsden (1-0) at El Paso TX (0-0), 6:30pm
16. Lovington (0-1) at Seminole TX (0-0), 7pm
17. Deming (1-0) at Organ Mountain (0-1), 1pm
18. Americas TX (0-0) at Las Cruces (0-1), 7pm
19. Albuquerque Academy (1-0) at Moriarty (1-0), 7pm
20. Espanola Valley (0-1) at Bernalillo (1-0), 7pm
21. Eunice (1-0) at Estancia (0-1), 7pm
22. Wingate (1-0) at Navajo Prep (0-1), 7pm
23. Bloomfield (1-0) at Pojoaque Valley (1-0), 7pm
24. Portales (1-0) at Ruidoso (0-1), 7pm
25. Del Norte (0-1) at Valencia (1-0), 7pm
26. Highland (0-1) at St. Pius X (0-1), 7pm
27. Taos (0-1) at Los Alamos (1-0), 7pm
28. Piedra Vista (0-1) at Sandia (1-0), 1pm
29. Tularosa (1-0) at Jal (1-0), 7pm
30. Manzano (0-1) at Belen (0-1), 7pm
31. Raton (0-1) at Guymon OK (0-0), 7pm
32. Fabens TX (0-0) at Chaparral (0-1), 7pm
33. Tucumcari (1-0) at Thoreau (1-0), 7pm
34. Hatch Valley (1-0) at Hope Christian (1-0), 1pm
35. Escalante (0-1) at Tohatchi (1-0), 7pm
36. Silver (0-1) at Miyamura (0-1), 7pm
37. Santa Teresa (0-1) at Mayfield (1-0), 7pm
38. Rio Grande (0-1) at Atrisco Heritage (0-1), 7pm
39. Crownpoint (1-0) at Shiprock (0-1), 7pm
40. Gallup (0-1) at Grants (0-1), 2pm
41. Santa Fe (0-1) at Roswell (1-0), 7pm
42. Melrose (1-0) at Mancos CO (0-0), 4pm
43. Mountainair (0-0) at Dora (0-1), 3pm
44. Menaul (1-0) at Lordsburg (1-0), 6pm
45. Santa Fe Indian (0-1) at Socorro (0-1), 7pm
46. Montezuma-Cortez CO (0-0) at Aztec (1-0), 7pm
47. Zuni (0-1) at Cuba (1-0), 1pm
48. Hagerman (1-0) at Mescalero Apache (0-1), 7pm
49. Tatum (0-0) at Alamo Navajo (0-1), 5pm
50. New Mexico Military (1-0) at Cloudcroft (0-1), 7pm
51. Newcomb (0-0) at Laguna-Acoma (0-1), 7pm
52. Hot Springs (0-1) at Capitan (0-1), 7pm
53. Logan (1-0) at Questa (0-1), 3pm
54. Grady (1-0) at Roy/Mosquero (1-0), 6pm
55. Mesilla Valley (0-0) at Clayton (1-0), 1pm
56. Carrizozo (0-1) at Gateway Christian (0-0), 7pm
57. Hozho Academy (1-0) at McCurdy (0-1), 1pm
58. Chesterton Academy (0-0) at Jemez Valley (0-0), 4pm
59. Magdalena (0-0) at Pine Hill (0-1), 1pm
60. Loving (1-0) vs Centennial JV, 7pm

Week 2 features 60 games across every corner of the state. Today, we rank what to watch this week in New Mexico high school football.

No. 1 vs No. 2. The La Cueva Bears and Cleveland Storm provide us the game of the regular season. A rematch of the 2022 state championship provides us the headline for week 2. It also provides us with two players ranked in the top three players rankings -- Cameron Dyer (La Cueva) and Stratton Shufelt (Cleveland).

Southern Delight. Both Artesia (1-0) and Hobbs (1-0) opened the season with dominating performances against their rivals. This sets us up for a top game of the week in New Mexico high school football. Both teams are ranked in the top-10 and could be a high scoring affair.

Rebound Week: Valley (0-1) entered the season with much hype and will get a shot at redemption as they take on the Cibola Cougars (0-1). The Valley Vikings experienced the biggest upset of week 1 and now look to pull off a quality win. The Cougars are also looking to get things going after falling in the opening week to Eldorado.

Resume Watch: Albuquerque Academy (1-0) vs Moriarty (1-0). This game could come back into play on selection Saturday. The Chargers moved along with ease over Rio Grande last week, 50-0. Moriarty also flexed on Gallup, 50-0.

Friday Watch: Of course I want to see Cleveland vs La Cueva but I also want to watch Santa Rosa vs Texico or Hobbs at Artesia. The Santa Rosa and Texico intrigues me as a potential late playoff game to watch.

Week after week very few games are within 10 points. Week after week it is a blowout after a blowout and is not competitive until we get to the semifinals most of the time. Something needs to change.

This is probably not a popular opinion but mostly it is true.

What did you learn in week 1?

*****WEEK ONE SCOREBOARD (AUG. 17TH-19TH)*****

Post live updates here or text to 505-414-4313

RANKINGS FOR THE WEEK of AUGUST 14TH-19

Post here

Week 1 Picks & Predictions

NMPreps New Mexico high school football favorites and underdogs. #nmpreps

THURSDAY


Other games: Jal at Centennial (JV); Santa Rosa at Cleveland (JV)

How it works: We assign points to five games each week, you pick the winners. We will keep a total all season long before crowning a champ.

Games
Artesia at Carlsbad, +100
Farmington at Piedra Vista, +75
Hobbs at Clovis, +75 (Clovis is the upset +150)
Rio Rancho at La Cueva, +100 (Rio Rancho is the upset +150)
Cleveland at Centennial, +75 (Centennial is the upset +150)

How to post your picks
Artesia
Farmington
Hobbs
Rio Rancho
Cleveland

*Thread will lock on Thursday evening.

What games are you attending this week?

Grine's Record: 5-2
Week 1: 5-2

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Bernalillo 12, Valley 6 - Final

It wasn't pretty but the Bernalillo Spartans pulled an opening night upset over the Valley Vikings, 12-6. All 18 points scored in the first half with a few key defensive stops that propelled the Spartans to victory.

A first quarter goal line stop by Bernalillo that led to a fumble by the Vikings killed an early momentum strike. Later a sack on Vikings quarterback Julian Butkivich led to the Spartans first touchdown of night. Uriel Castro (QB) hit a rising player in WR Mason Espinda-McChriston in the deep corner.

Daniel Garcia of Valley scored on a 90-yard kick off return immediately after the Spartans score. The Spartans defense led to another score as they got to quarterback Butkivich again on a sack that would lead to the next Spartans score. This time is was RB Diego Molinar for the score.

Bernalillo starts the season 1-0 and avenges an opening night loss to Valley (0-1) in 2022. This also evens the Cobos Bowl with nephew beating uncle this time around.

Thursday Scores
Albuquerque Academy 50, Rio Grande 0 - F
Bernalillo 12, Valley 6 - F
Crownpoint 14, Valley-Sanders AZ 6 - F
Eunice 40, Raton 29 - F
Gadsden 42, Ruidoso 0 - F
Jal 42, Centennial (JV) 28 - F
Los Alamos 35, Espanola Valley 0 - F
Loving 34, Carlsbad (JV) 7 - F
Robertson 28, Socorro 13 - F
Santa Rosa 68, Cleveland (JV) 35 - F

What do you have this week?

Goddard is looking for some Fall Baseball games. Willing to travel. JV/Varsity level for sure. Can host also. Will share cost of umpires if need be or have coaches call balls/Strikes

Three reports now that Aztec has once again suspended coach Strauss. Waiting on confirmation