Football

Official Championship Name:

2024 Nusenda Credit Union State Football Championships

OFFICIAL Brackets Released via NMAA Website ONLY*:

6-Man & 8-Man: October 27, 2024 (8:00am)

2A-6A: November 3, 2024 (7:30am)

*Brackets will first be released via a seeding/selection show available at www.nmact.org.

Tickets:

Tickets can be purchased online only via GoFan (NO CASH SALES).

https://gofan.co/app/school/NMAA

Adults: $12.00*

Students (K-12) / Seniors (65+) / Military: $7.00*

*Ticket prices include transaction fees

Championship Locations:

TBD by matchups (host school sites; higher seed or past history depending on round)

Championship Dates:

November 16, 2024 6-Man Final

November 23, 2024 8-Man Final

November 30, 2024 Class 2A Final

November 30, 2024 Class 3A Final

November 30, 2024 Class 4A Final

November 30, 2024 Class 5A Final

November 30, 2024 Class 6A Final

Live Video Stream:

Championship games and select early round contests - www.nfhsnetwork.com

Championship Brackets/Results:

Brackets & Results will be updated at www.nmact.org.

Championship Merchandise:

The NMAA’s state championship souvenir vendor Northwest Designs Ink will be on site for the finals only, but merchandise is also available online (https://nwd.ink/)

Hey there! Watching the Wyoming game, 3rd QTR, 38-35. Rooting for you guys!

Hey, what is a good hotel that is in walking distance to University Stadium?

On game day, would prefer to walk to the game, (I'll check out your tailgating, campus, etc.) in lieu of driving to the stadium, assuming it's a day game, November 16th, COUGS.

I hear Rudy's and El Patio is a must!

Any suggestions regarding hotel locations?

I'm sure Grine will have this later on but what are the final district finishes?

*****WEEK 11 PICK 'EM (OCT 31-NOV 2)*****

You pick the winners, we track the points! Who among you is the best at predicting the outcomes of New Mexico high school football games each week? It’s simple: we select five games weekly, assign points for choosing favorites or upsets, and you submit your picks for each game. We’ll maintain a leaderboard throughout the season to see who comes out on top!

Cleveland at Rio Rancho, +11,000 (Rio Rancho is the upset +13000)
Las Cruces vs Centennial, +11,000 (Las Cruces is the upset +13000)
Legacy Academy at Santa Rosa, +11,000 (Santa Rosa is the upset +12000)
Robertson at St. Michael's, +11,000 (Robertson is the upset +12000)
Farmington at Piedra Vista, +11,000 (Piedra Vista is the upset +15000)
Gadsden vs Deming, +15,000 either way

Week 11: Friday Night Preview & Predictions

Week 11 in New Mexico high school football brings an exciting slate of games as teams battle for playoff positions and district titles.

FRIDAY'S SPECIALS: MUST-SEE GAMES TONIGHT​

No. 2 Centennial vs. No. 5 Las Cruces

• Details: 7 p.m., Field of Dreams
• Prediction: Centennial 38, Las Cruces 33
• Favorite: Centennial, -5.5 (O/U 61.5)
• Grine's Pick: Centennial

Preview: The marquee matchup of the night features the Centennial Hawks and Las Cruces Bulldawgs squaring off for the District 3-6A Championship. The second-ranked Centennial Hawks (9-0 overall, 5-0 district) are favored by 5.5 points and are considered strong contenders to face La Cueva in the state championship, led by NMSU commit Zaiden Davis (2025). Las Cruces (7-2 overall, 5-0 district) will look to play spoiler tonight, with junior standout running back Daniel Amaro aiming to lead his team to an upset.

No. 3 Cleveland vs. No. 6 Rio Rancho

• Details: 6 p.m., Lightning Bolt Stadium (Cleveland HS)
• Prediction: Cleveland 44, Rio Rancho 24
• Favorite: Cleveland, -19.5
• Grine's Pick: Cleveland

Preview: Cleveland has been one of the hottest teams heading into Selection Sunday, and this showdown with Rio Rancho will close out their regular season. Cleveland (8-1 overall, 4-0 district) has already clinched a share of the district championship and aims to win it outright tonight. The Storm, led by rising star Moses Sparks Jr. (2026), who recently received an offer from Nebraska, is determined to dominate. Rio Rancho (6-3 overall, 3-1 district) will challenge Cleveland’s momentum with a balanced offense featuring talented receivers led by Jace Pitt (2025).

WHO'S LOOKING LIKE A PLAYOFF TEAM: BUBBLE TEAMS

Piedra Vista: In our NMPreps Week 11 Playoff Predictions, the Panthers were left out of the bracket, marked as our first bubble team IN. However, tonight they have a chance to secure their spot with an upset over rival Farmington (4-5 overall, 1-3 District 1-6A). Despite a challenging season (2-7 overall, 1-3 district), last week’s 42-0 rout of Cibola gives Piedra Vista momentum. Their Week 1 win over Sandia also adds a layer of intrigue to their playoff resume.

Sandia: The Matadors find themselves in a must-win scenario to eliminate any doubt about their postseason eligibility. Entering the game as 6.5-point underdogs, Sandia has shown grit recently, clawing their way into playoff contention with clutch wins over fellow bubble teams West Mesa (41-7) and Albuquerque (26-17). Another victory tonight could solidify their position without question.

Carlsbad: The Cavemen (4-5 overall, 2-3 District 3-6A) sit deeper in the bubble but could make a case for the playoffs with a win over rival Hobbs (5-4 overall, 3-2 district). A Carlsbad victory would create a three-way tie in District 3-6A with Hobbs, Organ Mountain, and Carlsbad all at 3-3, likely securing a bid for one of them. This rivalry game could shake up the playoff landscape.

6A Football Predictions

• Cibola at Volcano Vista — Prediction: Volcano Vista 48, Cibola 7 (VV, -45.5)
• Clovis at Alamogordo — Prediction: Alamogordo 31, Clovis 10 (AHS, -30.5)
• Hobbs at Carlsbad — Prediction: Hobbs 27, Carlsbad 22 (HHS, -4.5)
• Piedra Vista at Farmington — Prediction: Farmington 20, Piedra Vista 18 (FHS, -2.5)
• Sandia at Los Lunas — Prediction: Los Lunas 29, Sandia 23 (LLHS, -6.5)

Poll: Week 11 Most Likely to Upset

What games?

The best halloween candy? The worst?

Please list

Offer from UNM.

6’4 240lbs OL

Top 2027 Quarterbacks: Spotlighting the Best Young Talent in New Mexico High School Football

The 2024 New Mexico high school football season has revealed an exciting new crop of quarterbacks emerging as future stars. Among the Class of 2027, several quarterbacks have showcased their skill, resilience, and leadership on the field, with some already putting up impressive numbers and defining games. Here, NMPreps highlights the top four quarterbacks from this class

In this feature, we take a closer look at the top talents—Jahleel Lewis (Sandia HS), Isaiah Carpenter (St. Pius X), CJ Granados (Dexter HS), and William Braun (Albuquerque Academy)—their performances, stats, and what sets them apart as rising stars.

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NMPreps Week 11 New Mexico High School Preview & Predictions​

Week 11 in New Mexico high school football brings us an exciting slate of games as teams fight for playoff positions and district titles.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31

No. 1 La Cueva (9-0, 6-0 District 2-6A) vs No. 24 Albuquerque (4-5, 2-4 District 2-6A)​

Preview: Albuquerque High made a surprising run early this season, surpassing expectations with a 4-1 start. However, the Bulldogs struggled down the stretch, losing their last four games and likely missing out on the playoffs. Despite this, they’ve shown growth under their current coaching staff. La Cueva, on the other hand, is the reigning state champion and remains undefeated. They’ve won their last two games by a combined score of 97-6 and are poised to close out the regular season with a perfect record.

Prediction: La Cueva 54, Albuquerque 7
Favorite: La Cueva -43.5 (O/U 61)
Grine: La Cueva

No. 23 West Mesa (4-5, 2-4 District 2-6A) vs Santa Fe (2-7, 0-6 District 2-6A)​

Preview: West Mesa had a promising season but recently faltered with losses to Eldorado (28-6) and Sandia (41-7). The Mustangs are on the bubble for a playoff spot, and a convincing win here could secure their place. Santa Fe has nothing to lose and may be fighting for pride in light of recent challenges and a pending police investigation. They had close games earlier in October, nearly beating Atrisco Heritage and Eldorado, so an upset isn’t entirely off the table, perhaps a radar game with tehir backs against the wall, and nothing to lose.

Prediction: West Mesa 24, Santa Fe 12
Favorite: West Mesa -11.5 (O/U 30.5)
Grine: West Mesa

Miyamura (6-3, 5-1 District 1-5A) vs Los Alamos (6-3, 6-0 District 1-5A)​

Preview: This game effectively serves as the District 1-5A Championship. Miyamura has turned things around under new leadership, now in contention for both a share of the district title and a playoff spot. Los Alamos, after an 0-3 start, has rallied for six straight wins. Quarterback Kyle Evenhus has been a standout for the Hilltoppers, and Miyamura’s Salid Rashid has equally impressed.

Prediction: Los Alamos 36, Miyamura 33
Favorite: Los Alamos -2.5 (O/U 66.5)
Grine: Los Alamos

St. Pius X (7-2, 5-0 District 2-4A) vs Manzano (5-4, 2-3 District 2-4A)​

Preview: St. Pius X’s young offense has shone this season, racking up 328 points over nine games. Running back Hershul Olloway Jr., a sophomore, is one to watch, showcasing agility and skill in the backfield. Manzano was strong early in the season but has recently hit a three-game losing streak after a 5-1 start to the season. They’ll need to overcome this slump to have any shot at an upset.

Prediction: St. Pius X 38, Manzano 21
Favorite: St. Pius X -16.5 (O/U 55.5)
Grine: St. Pius X

Valley (3-6, 3-3 District 1-4A) vs Rio Grande (0-8, 0-6 District 1-5A)​

Preview: Valley is eyeing a playoff spot, while Rio Grande is in rebuilding mode. This game is a must-win for Valley, which has shown flashes of solid play down the stretch.

Prediction: Valley 35, Rio Grande 6
Favorite: Valley -28.5 (O/U 42)
Grine: Valley

Pojoaque Valley (5-4, 0-3 District 2-3A) vs West Las Vegas (4-5, 1-2 District 2-3A)​

Preview: Pojoaque Valley is fighting for a playoff spot, and a win here could improve their seeding. West Las Vegas is in the debate for a 4-6 seed and just where that will be could hinge on a convincing win here.

Prediction: West Las Vegas 28, Pojoaque Valley 20
Favorite: West Las Vegas, -7.5 (O/U 48)
Grine: Pojoaque Valley

Shiprock (1-7, 1-4 District 1-3A) vs Gallup (1-8, 1-4 District 1-3A)​

Preview: With both teams out of the playoffs, this game offers a chance to finish the season on a positive note. Shiprock is coming off a big win, kudos to the athletes and coaches continuing to fight after a 0-7 start, and Gallup will be fighting to end on a win as well.

Prediction: Shiprock 22, Gallup 14
Favorite: Shiprock -4.5 (O/U 36)
Grine: Shiprock

Tohatchi (6-3, 4-1 District 1-3A) vs Zuni (2-7, 1-4 District 1-3A)​

Preview: Tohatchi has clinched a playoff spot and wants to head into the postseason strong. Zuni, facing a tough season, will be looking for a strong finish at home.

Prediction: Tohatchi 34, Zuni 10
Favorite: Tohatchi -14.5 (O/U 44)
Grine: Tohatchi

NMPreps Tuesday Truths: Who Plays for the 5A State Championship?

What we knew at the end of last season isn’t what we know now—or is it? With Roswell's earlier district loss to Lovington and their close 28-27 overtime win over Mayfield last weekend, should there be cause for concern with the Coyotes? Is 5A shaping up to be less predictable than the Roswell-Artesia final we anticipated?

If teams can contain Roswell's run game and force them to pass, could that lead to more close contests? There may be a sleeper team ready to make a deep run.

Then there’s Deming: questions swirl around their loss of their starting QB last weekend. Will he return, or is this an extended absence? And how vulnerable is Artesia after their loss to Roswell? Is 5A more open than we expected?

Gadsden’s offense was stymied against Roswell in a 48-7 loss, but they managed to score 38 against Artesia. Or was that just typical of Artesia's high-scoring, outpace-you style—until it isn’t enough?

And then there’s Mayfield. Thought to be out of the running, they've surged back, beating 6A Organ Mountain, losing closely to Gadsden, thrashing Santa Teresa, narrowly losing to Deming 29-27, beating Lovington 50-49, and defeating Goddard. Last week, they took Roswell to the brink. Can they keep it close against Artesia this week? November could be a thrill, especially in the quarterfinals.

While District 1-5A may be out of the championship conversation, District 2-5A is primed for an intense quarterfinal, semifinal, and final. Who will survive, stay healthy, and get hot? And what about Lovington? After a 5-0 start and a win over Roswell, they've dropped four straight. They should handle Santa Teresa this weekend—will that reinsert them into the conversation? Could they win their first-round game and upset Roswell again in the quarterfinals? And then the young Rockets--Goddard a quarterfinal team?

Get ready for a wild finish in 5A football.

Any takers?

What do you have?

The final week has crept up on us and is now here.

1400-2618


709-1366


688-83

Las Cruces and New Mexico umpire Doug Eddings will be calling balks and strikes behind homevplate tonight on game 4 of the world series in New York.
Awesome for Doug. Congrats

Post here or text to 505-414-4313

What do you have?

Go!!

Poll: Team of the Week for Week 10.