https://www.abqjournal.com/1358313/prep-soccer-2019-capsule-previews-for-metro-area-boys-teams.html

https://www.abqjournal.com/1358295/parity-is-ridiculous-in-class-5a-boys-soccer.html

https://www.abqjournal.com/1358293/boys-prep-soccer-metro-area-players-to-watch-2019.html

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Most Intriguing Score From Friday Night

State Championship Games

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in New Mexico high school football

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22ND
Albuquerque 17, Valley 7
Clovis-JV 24, Clayton 8
Eldorado 51, West Mesa 0
Eunice 48, Hobbs-JV 12
Santa Fe Indian 20, Cuba 14
Volcano Vista 36, La Cueva 25

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23RD
Alamogordo 8, Valencia 0 - Cancelled due to weather
Albuquerque Academy 9, Tohatchi 0 - F
Aztec 40, Miyamura 7 - F
Belen 24, Del Norte 21 - F
Bloomfield 56, Raton 14 - F
Capital 55, Crownpoint 0 - F
Carlsbad 42, Artesia 35 - F
Centennial 54, Rio Rancho 53 - F/OT
Cibola 40, Sandia 35 - F
Cleveland 50, Onate 0 - F
Clovis 42 Hobbs 16 - F
Deming 26, Gadsden 19 - F
Dexter 28, Santa Rosa 0 - F
Elida 61, Lake Arthur 6 - F
Escalante 40, Tucumcari 14 - F
Farmington 55, Kirtland 33
Gallup 20, Bernalillo 6 - F
Grants 50, Zuni 0 - F
Hagerman 16, Capitan 8 - F
Hatch Valley 50, Estancia 0 - F
Highland 42, Rio Grande 18 - F
Las Cruces 55, Manzano 27 - F
Los Alamos 21, Espanola Valley 6 - F
Los Lunas 28, Piedra Vista 0 - F
Lovington 53, Chaparral 0 - F
Mayfield 2, Atrisco Heritage 0- Cancelled due to weather
Melrose 54, Dulce 0 - F
Mountainair 40, Logan 14 - F
Newcomb 38, Navajo Prep 0 - F
NMMI 23, Fort Sumner 19 - F
Robertson 6 Santa Fe 0 - F
Roswell 53, Ruidoso 13 - F
Santa Teresa 0, Cobre 0 - Cancelled due to weather
Shiprock 30, Pojoaque Valley 27 - F
Socorro 54, Thoreau 0 - F
Springer/Maxwell 63, Carrizozo 12 - F
Taos 33, St. Michael's 19 - F
Tatum 56, Gateway Christian 6 - F
Tularosa 46, Hot Springs 6 - F
West Las Vegas 25, Moriarty 6 - F
Wilcox, AZ 26, Lordsburg 20 - F
Window Rock, AZ 48, Wingate 0 - F

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24TH
Goddard at St. Pius X
JV Team at Loving
Mission Achievement & Success at Mescalero Apache
Navajo Pine at Tse'Yi'Gai
Portales at Hope Christian

6A FOOTBALL

1-6A
Cleveland Storm 1-0
Volcano Vista Hawks 1-0
Cibola Cougars 1-0
Atrisco Heritage 0-0
Rio Rancho 0-1
West Mesa 0-1

2-6A
Clovis 1-0
Eldorado 1-0
La Cueva 0-1
Sandia 0-1
Manzano 0-1

3-6A
Centennial 1-0
Las Cruces 1-0
Carlsbad 1-0
Mayfield 0-0
Hobbs 0-1
Onate 0-1
Gadsden 0-1

5A FOOTBALL

1-5A
Highland 1-0
Farmington 1-0
Piedra Vista 0-1
Miyamura 0-1

2-5A
Capital 1-0
Los Alamos 1-0
Santa Fe 0-1
Del Norte 0-1

3-5A
Deming 1-0
Chaparral 0-1
Santa Teresa 0-0
Silver 0-0

4-5A
Roswell 1-0
Artesia 0-1
Goddard 1-0
Alamogordo 0-0

5-5A
Los Lunas 1-0
Belen 1-0
Valley 0-1
Valencia 0-0

4A FOOTBALL

1-4A
Gallup 1-0
Aztec 1-0
Bloomfield 1-0
Kirtland Central 0-1

2-4A
Grants 1-0
Taos 1-0
Bernalillo 0-1
Espanola Valley 0-1
Pojoaque Valley 0-1
St. Pius X 0-1

3-4A
Lovington 1-0
Moriarty 0-1
Ruidoso 0-1
Portales 1-0

3A FOOTBALL

1-3A
Tohatchi 0-1
Wingate 0-1
Zuni 0-1
Thoreau 0-1
Crownpoint 0-1

2-3A
Robertson 1-0
West Las Vegas 1-0
Santa Fe Indian 1-0
St. Michael's 0-1
Raton 0-1

3-3A
Socorro 1-0
Hatch Valley 1-0
Hot Springs 0-1
Cobre 0-0

4-3A
Dexter 1-0
Tularosa 1-0
NMMI 1-0
Tucumcari 0-1

5-3A
Cuba 0-1
Navajo Prep 0-1
Hope Christian 0-1
Laguna-Acoma 0-0

2A FOOTBALL

1-2A
Newcomb 1-0
Esclante 1-0
Questa 0-0

2-2A
Capitan 0-1
Lordsburg 0-1
Estancia 0-1
Cloudcroft 0-0
Mescalero Apache 0-0

3-2A
Hagerman 1-0
Eunice 1-0
Jal 0-1
Loving 0-0

4-2A
Texico 1-0
Fort Sumner 0-1
Clayton 0-1
Santa Rosa 0-1

Post all of your reactions to the games this week

Centennial 54 Rio Rancho 53 final. RR scored first and CHS blocked the extra point kick. CHS then scores and kicks the extra point for the win. Great game to watch. - via Scoreboard post

Thoughts

Week One: Most Likely to Upset This Week
J Grine | NMPreps

BIG THREE FOR WEEK ONE

No. 7 Centennial at No. 4 Rio Rancho (Fri., 7pm): The Centennial Hawks will have to go on the road to upset the Rams but in Hawks fashion they will start as an underdog in 2019, like they did in 2018. The Rio Rancho Rams look to avenge a 29-14 loss last season in Las Cruces. Here is the issue for the Hawks; can the defense resemble anything from the 2018 season. The Hawks defense was wildly underrated last season and the loss of Guy Dunivan, Damian Davila, and Omar Moreno will be a task for a defense that only allowed 13 points per game. Rio Rancho went under .500 last season but looking to bounce back behind the arm of two-year starter Isaiah Chavez at QB. Both teams are somewhat unknowns but Rio Rancho, ranked 4th, has some early buy-in as a potential title contender.

No. 13 Manzano vs No. 5 Las Cruces (Fri., 7pm): Another north vs south contest in the Albuquerque-Metro are that will have plenty of interest. The common theme that we have as we head into week one is which teams will teams have the potential to be good. Las Cruces is riding on the sleeper theme and returning one of the top quarterbacks in the state - Marcos Lopez - they have reason to want to prove doubters wrong. Manzano, a little higher up in the rankings sitting outside the top-10, are ready to make an even bigger statement heading into the opening weekend. Austin Erickson (2020) and new quarterback Jace Melfi (2020) are eager to jump on the highlight scene this week.

No. 16 Carlsbad at No. 10 Artesia (Fri., 7pm): The Eddy County War takes place on opening week and the Cavemen looking to maintain the bragging rights after a 28-14 win in 2018. The win last season snapped a 4-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. This season the rivalry could swing either way as both teams will use opening weekend as an introductory to the plenty of new faces on both sides. Carlsbad replaces plenty of what they did last season in a depleted line, RB, and new QB. Artesia also fills holes but hope to ride the arm of Clay Houghtaling this season.

Others to Consider
No. 17 Piedra Vista at No. 8 Los Lunas
No. 19 St. Pius X at No. 15 Goddard

James Yodice of the ABQ Journal started his Metro area football previews today starting with Highland High. He writes that it is conceivable that this could be the last year Highland is able to field an 11-man football team until their numbers rise again, if ever. They have 17 seniors this year and will not have a JV. I know Highland has not been a force for sometime but for someone who has followed HS football in this City for years, they used to be a tough program that produced great athletes - Bobby Newcomb and Mark Walters to name a few. They used to play hardnosed, smash mouth football. I know their demographics have changed considerably in the past decade but if they do not field a team or drop football all together, it's too bad for a school with their legacy, at least as far as ABQ football is concerned.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1345224/prep-football-preview-highland-hornets-2.html

What games are you watching this week?

A heads up: FB field at Pojoaque was vandalized overnight. School plans on playing game at home or possibly at Los Alamos

You pick the winners, we track the points all season long.

THURSDAY
La Cueva @ Volcano Vista +100 pts (VV is the upset 150 pts)

FRIDAY
Miyamura @ Aztec +125 pts either way
Las Cruces @ Manzano +115 pts (Manz is the upset 150 pts)
Texico @ Jal +100 pts either way
Farmington @ Kirtland Central + 100 pts (KC is the upset 125 ps)
Hobbs @ Clovis, +100 pts (Hobbs is the upset +125 pts)
Artesia @ Carlsbad +125 pts (Cbad is the upset 175 pts)
Centennial @ Rio Rancho +125 pts either way
Del Norte @ Belen +100 pts (DN is the upset +125 pts)

SATURDAY
Goddard @ St Pius X +125 pts either way

Oñate to score on Cleveland or Hobbs beating Clovis?

Closer game: Ruidoso on Roswell or Moriarty on West Las Vegas

Closer game: Manzano on Las Cruces or Carlsbad on Artesia.

Has the biggest night on offense: _____________

Has the biggest night on defense: ____________

Scores the most touchdowns tonight: ______________

Biggest crowd tonight: ________________

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22ND
Albuquerque at Valley (-15)
Cuba at Santa Fe Indian (-8)
Eunice at JV Team
JV Team at Clayton
La Cueva at Volcano Vista (+3)
West Mesa at Eldorado (-50)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23RD
Albuquerque Academy at Tohatchi
Artesia at Carlsbad (+7.5)
Atrisco Heritage at Mayfield (-50)
Bernalillo at Gallup (+9.5)
Carrizozo at Springer/Maxwell
Centennial at Rio Rancho (-3.5)
Chaparral at Lovington (-18)
Cobre and Santa Teresa (-8)
Crownpoint at Capital (-20)
Del Norte at Belen (-7)
Escalante at Tucumcari (+8)
Farmington at Kirtland Central (+10)
Foothill at Ramah
Gadsden at Deming (-13)
Gateway Christian at Tatum
Grants at Zuni (+25)
Hagerman at Capitan
Highland at Rio Grande (+6.5)
Hobbs at Clovis (-15)
Hondo Valley at Roy/Mosquero
Lake Arthur at Elida
Las Cruces at Manzano (+12)
Los Alamos at Espanola Valley (+3)
Los Lunas at Piedra Vista (+14.5)
Melrose at Dulce
Miyamura at Aztec (-3)
Moriarty at West Las Vegas (-28)
Mountainair at Logan
New Mexico Military at Fort Sumner/House
Newcomb at Navajo Prep
Onate at Cleveland (-5)
Raton at Bloomfield (-17)
Robertson at Santa Fe (+15)
Roswell at Ruidoso (+20)
Sandia at Cibola (-1)
Santa Rosa at Dexter (-1)
Shiprock at Pojoaque Valley (-5)
Socorro at Thoreau (+45)
St. Michael's at Taos (+1)
Texico at Jal (+1)
Tularosa at Hot Springs (+8)
Valencia at Alamogordo (+7)
Willcox, AZ at Lordsburg
Wingate at Window Rock (AZ)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24TH
Goddard at St. Pius X (+3.5)
JV Team at Loving
Mission Achievement & Success at Mescalero Apache
Navajo Pine at Tse'Yi'Gai
Portales at Hope Christian (+12)

Awesome Wildcats pump-up video!! Well done!!

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TOP-10 QUICK HIT

No. 1 Cleveland vs Onate: The top ranked Cleveland Storm welcome unranked Onate and new head coach Steve Castille into town. Look for the Storm to get into the end zone early and often with a trio like Dorian Lewis (RB), Jeff Davison (QB), and Tre Watson (WR). We could also see a wealth of new rising prospects hit the scene for the Storm. Prediction: Cleveland 54, Onate 0

No. 4 Rio Rancho vs No. 7 Centennial: The top game of the night with a Rio Rancho vs Las Cruces showdown; the former football power city to the new one? Centennial ushers in new QB Aiden Trujillo, one of the top athletes in the class, as Aaron Ocampo looks to work his magic for the Hawks. Rio Rancho looks to two-year QB Isaiah Chavez who tossed for over 2,000 yards last season. Prediction: Rio Rancho 35, Centennial 34

No. 5 Las Cruces vs No. 13 Manzano: The Las Cruces Bulldawgs are looking to build off a 7-5 season from a year back. They return a top quarterback in Marcos Lopez as they look to make some noise early. The Manzano Monarchs are out to prove doubters wrong and have some next level players that could make it happen with the likes of Austin Erickson. Prediction: Las Cruces 28, Manzano 21

No. 6 Roswell vs No. 24 Ruidoso: The top ranked 5A team in New Mexico opens their defending championship season against 4A Ruidoso (No. 24). The Roswell Coyotes feature a talented bunch that has them as the favorite again - look for Jasia Reese (RB/2020) to have a night. The Ruidoso Warriors feature a a talented bunch on the other side with Grant Obrehu (TE/2021) being a name to remember along with QB Gage Guardiola (2020). Prediction: Roswell 42, Ruidoso 29

No. 8 Los Lunas at No. 17 Piedra Vista: A game being are calling as a potential opening night upset has the Los Lunas Tigers traveling to the northeast to take on the Panthers. Los Lunas features 2021 top ranked prospect Tyler Kiehne (DE) who will have all eyes on him this season. Prediction: Los Lunas 33, Piedra Vista 20

No. 10 Artesia vs No. 16 Carlsbad: The Eddy County War! Get there early on you may have to listen on the radio. The Bulldogs travel south the take on their regional rival on Friday night. Artesia turns to a familiar name in Houghtaling (Clay) under center while the Cavemen go to Kaden Smith who led the Cavemen to a win last season in the war. Prediction: Artesia 37, Carlsbad 34

REST OF THE 25

11. Mayfield High School (0-0): Up Next: Atrisco Heritage

12. Clovis High School (0-0): Up Next: No. 14 Hobbs

14. Hobbs High School (0-0): Up Next: No. 12 Clovis

15. Goddard High School (0-0): Up Next: No. 19 St. Pius X

17. Piedra Vista High School (0-0): Up Next: No. 8 Los Lunas

18. Deming High School (0-0): Up Next: Gadsden

19. St. Pius X School (0-0): Up Next: No. 15 Goddard

20. Portales High School (0-0): Up Next: Hope Christian

21. West Las Vegas (0-0): Up Next: Moriarty

22. Cibola High School (0-0): Up Next: No. 23 Sandia

23. Sandia High School (0-0): Up Next: No. 22 Cibola

24. Ruidoso High School (0-0): Up Next: No. 6 Roswell

3A - 2A GUIDE

Escalante vs Tucumcari: Could be an intriguing contest and give insight to what both squads bring this season.

Hagerman vs Capitan: Which team is a top-10 team in their class? Hagerman back on the rise of the football season?

Santa Rosa gets an early shot at the defending champ Dexter Demons. Both lost plenty to graduation.

No. 3 Volcano Vista 36, No. 2 La Cueva 25: The defending champs jumped out to an early 10-0 lead to open the 2019 season against the Hawks of Volcano Vista. Dominic Camacho the La Cueva kicker would put in three field goals for the Bears that struggled to get into the end zone after moving the ball well. Austin Smith would hit Connor O'Toole for a few long, nice catches with two touchdowns. Volcano Vista would respond however and received four rushing touchdowns from new quarterback Diego Pavia. The Hawks are a run first team this season and between the backs along with a mobile quarterback, it's definitely their strength. Third string QB Nathan Sanchez also became a story as he filled in and closed out the win for the Hawks as Pavia went out with an injury. The La Cueva Bears fall to 0-1 on the season with the Hawks moving to 1-0.

1st Q (Dominic Camacho, FG (3-0 LC), Austin Smith to Connor O'Toole, LC, 28-yard TD pass (10-0 LC), Diego Pavia, VV, 6 yard rushing TD (10-7 LC), 2nd Q (Dominic Camacho, LC, 23 yard FG (13-7 LC), Diego Pavia, VV, 7 yard rushing TD (14-13 VV), Dominic Camacho, LC, 32 yard FG (16-14 LC). 3rd Q Diego Pavia, VV, 13 yard TD rush (21-16 VV). Smith to O'toole, LC (22-21 LC). 4th Q Pavia rushing TD, Jimmy Gallegos 2-point conversion (29-22 VV). Camacho FG (29-25 VV). Braxton Padilla, VV 12 yard rushing TD (36-25 VV).

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No. 9 Eldorado 51, West Mesa 0
As predicted this one was all ninth ranked Eldorado as they would route the younger West Mesa squad, 51-0 ending things early at Milne. Quarterback Nick Petty would toss a few touchdown passes (44 yard to Xavier Gibson & 57 yard to Zack Hoffman) showing some new flashes of their new OC. Elijah Goree (44 yard rushing TD), Frankie Halayay (20 yard pick six), Ben West (3 yard rushing TD) would all get into the end zone for the Eagles. Hoffman also scored on an 8-yard TD run in the first, getting into the end zone twice. Eldorado moves to 1-0 on the season with West Mesa dropping to 0-1.

No. 25 Eunice 48, Hobbs-JV 12
The season opened with a 60 yard touchdown pass be Mason Caperton to player of the night in Avante Stevens. The two connected again a few plays later for the second score of the night. Stevens then went to work on defense with a pick-6 for the Eunice Cardinals who extend their win streak to 26-games with the win. Stevens who scored six touchdowns would end the night with a 80-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals are now 1-0 on the season.

Scores
Albuquerque 17, Valley 7
Clovis-JV 24, Clayton 8
Eldorado 51, West Mesa 0
Eunice 48, Hobbs-JV 12
Santa Fe Indian 20, Cuba 14
Volcano Vista 36, La Cueva 25

Week One: Thursday Night Preview
J. Grine | NMPreps

Three top-25 teams are in action tonight in New Mexico. The opening night of the 2019 season features the marquee game of the week with the La Cueva Bears (No. 2) and the Volcano Vista Hawks (No. 3).

TOP-25 GAMES

No. 2 La Cueva (0-0) at No. 3 Volcano Vista (0-0): In a showdown on opening night of the New Mexico high school football season the 6A defending champion La Cueva Bears (No. 2) will face off with the #3 Volcano Vista Hawks. The all Albuquerque marquee game puts two title contenders up in the opening game.

For Volcano Vista they feature quarterback Diego Pavia (2020) who sat out last season due to transfer rules (transferred from St. Pius X). The Hawks also have top prospect Jimmy Gallegos (2020/RB) who is looking to have a breakout season. The Hawks also feature a top defense led by Jacob Gellhausen (2020) and Brandon Padilla (2020).

La Cueva brings a wealth of talent of their own that includes a wide receiving group that is unmatched. The highest recruit in New Mexico Connor O'Toole (2020) is the name we will all have our eyes on this season. Add in Prince Robertson (2020) who led the team in receiving yards with 1,020 and Ja'Shon Lowery (2021). We also get the answer to our question if Austin Smith (2020) can get things going as the new QB-1 for the Bears this season.

Prediction: La Cueva 35, Volcano Vista 30
Line: La Cueva, -3
Over/Under: 62
Last Meeting: La Cueva 38, Volcano Vista 26 (8/24/18)

No. 9 Eldorado (0-0) vs West Mesa (0-0): The ninth ranked Eldorado Eagles opening the season against unranked West Mesa. The Eagles feature a handful of key prospects to watch this season including Nic Petty (QB/2021), Elijah Goree (RB/2021), and Ben West (RB/2020). The intriguing factor for the Eagles is that the offense that averaged 35 points per game could be even better this season.

Prediction: Eldorado 55, West Mesa 0
Line: Eldorado -50
Over/Under: 50
Last Meeting: Eldorado 43, West Mesa 3 (8/24/18)

No. 25 Eunice (0-0) vs Hobbs-JV: The Eunice Cardinals feature a new head coach as they look to extend their 25-game win streak. The Cardinals feature top ranked quarterback Mason Caperton (2020). The Cardinals moved along with ease last season in this contest, 56-14 and the same should happen in 2019. The Cardinals will also feature Avante Stevens (2020/ATH) and Felix Gonzales (2020/LB). Stevens has plenty of intrigue to him as he excels on defense, out of the backfield (rushed for 500 yards), and receiving (over 600 yards receiving).

Prediction: Eunice 54, Hobbs JV 10
Line: Eunice -44
Over/Under: 60
Last Meeting: Eunice 56, Hobbs JV 14 (8/24/19)

OUTSIDE THE 25

Albuquerque (0-0) at Valley (0-0)
Clayton (0-0) vs Clovis-JV
Cuba (0-0) at Santa Fe Indian (0-0)


RELATED
Week 1: New Mexico High School Team Rankings
Week 1: Biggest Questions This Week
Week 1: Most Likely to Upset
Week 1: Top 10 Games to Watch This Week
Week 1: Bold Statements
Wee 1: Lines

1. Metro Showdown: Biggest game of the season on opening night? La Cueva is ranked No. 2 and Volcano Vista No. 3 as we head into the post season.Our readers feel that Volcano Vista is the number one contender picking them to play in the State Championship this season. La Cueva, although they won it all last season and have only lost two games in two years is somehow the pick against this season. Also, add in the fact that La Cueva features maybe one of the best WR cores we've seen. Volcano Vista does feature it's best team in the program history but they do have a tall task in the opening weekend. Will this be the first meeting with a late November/early December sequel?

2. Eddy County War Has New-ish Quarterbacks: Artesia will feature Clay Houghtaling under center this season from the get-go. Houghtaling started out as QB-2 behind Trent Taylor last season but would eventually throw for 1,402 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. For the Cavemen they return to quarterback Kaden Smith who won a pair of games, including the ECW last season, returns as QB-1 after suffering an injury last season. Which quarterback has the bigger outing? Smith likely to use his legs more and Houghtaling his arm; Smith will be under a new OL and Houghtaling returns a couple quality WR but many will be new.

3. New era in Hobbs. Can Stevens continue winning? The Clovis Wildcats have won the last five meetings and pretty much controlled this regional rivalry. The last Hobbs won in this series back in 2013, a 30-28 win. The Hobbs Eagles have a new head coach in Ken Stevens who led the Eunice Cardinals to consecutive titles and has won the last 25 games as a head coach. Just beat Clovis. The Eagles will have plenty of new this season replacing their quarterback along with a senior heavy defense from last season. This could be more of a shopping list this season for the Eagles as the Stevens era begins with a bare cupboard.

4. Real or No Deal: Folks were quick to jump on our way too early rankings that Hope Christian will reload instead of rebuild. This is what they have to replace: Nick Henry, who passed for 1,500 yards, Vince Quezada who did everything from throwing, receiving, kicking and rushing. The defense does have some pieces but overall the Huskies may have graduated one of their best teams. Here is what they get in week one: the second ranked team in 4A football in the Portales Rams that features one of the best defensive lines in the state. A new Hope offense could struggle early against the Rams.