Estancia is looking for a game either week 2, 9/2/16 or week 7, 10/7/16. We need to travel year 1. Please contact Stewart Burnett at coachb58@hotmail.com or stewart.burnett@estancia.k12.nm.us or 505-267-8425.

Estancia is looking for a game either week 2, 9/2/16 or week 7, 10/7/16. We need to travel year 1. Please contact Stewart Burnett at coachb58@hotmail.com or stewart.burnett@estancia.k12.nm.us or 505-267-8425.

With most college and JuCo football seasons done, does anyone have current statuses on former NM football players? Such as Parker Johnson, David McGee, Patterson (Ruidoso), Lorenzo Rael (Taos), Tyler Sorenson, Dominic Lucero (Robertson), and many others.

Next on NMPreps.com. Got 6A All-State Completed. Will release 5A-Small School this weekend. Then Top 100 Football Player Rankings along with Player of the Years at each position. Top 100 should be fun!

Week Four: Tuesday Night Reactions
Joshua J Grine of NMPreps

Top-25 Bites
The No. 2 Bulldogs of Albuquerque High slobber all over unranked Valencia Jaguars, 59-22. Top dog was Yannick IIunga with 16 points. Clay Patterson had 23 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds as the No. 7 Rio Rancho Rams avoided a tough loss on the road at unranked Gallup, 72-63 (OT). The Hawks (No. 12 Volcano Vista) were the only bird taking flight as they beat unranked Eldorado Eagles, 52-49.

The No. 13 West Mesa Mustangs had no stampede as they were Bear clawed by No. 19 La Cueva in a 62-51 loss. Letting it fly from beyond the arch was Ray Griego with four 3-points. The first feline family was the No. 14 Cibola Cougars with a 52-38 win over unranked Manzano. Isaac Maldonado had a twenty (20 points) in the win. The Panthers of Gadsden (No. 15) were the better cat in this one as they beat unranked Tigers of Alamogordo, 57-42. Tomas Cano was the Panther with the 22 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks along with dishing 5 assists.

The battle of the night was St. Pius X (No. 24) beating the No. 23 Los Lunas Tigers 57-55 (OT) in a game that required extra time.

Other News
Hatch Valley needed two clutch FT's by Estevan Esparza, who had 15 points, to seal the win over Tularosa, 65-64.

In small school division news the biggest battle to date was that between two top 3A teams in Texico and Tucumcari. The Wolverines of Texico came out with a 62-51 win.

One team we are high on in 4A this season is the Robertson Cardinals and they open with a 15 point win over Santa Fe Indian, 60-45.

Top Players from Tuesday

Clay Patterson, Rio Rancho HS: 23 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.

Tomas Cano, Gadsden HS: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks and 5 assists.

Estevan Esparza, Hatch Valley HS: 15 points, 2 big FT's for the win.

More: Post Top Performances From Week Four

Scores | Week Four Scoreboard
Albuquerque 59, Valencia 22
Artesia 64, Ruidoso 34
Bernalillo 77, Miyamura 72
Carrizozo 61, Mescalero Apache 57
Cibola 52, Manzano 38
Corona 46, Cloudcroft 42
Dora / Elida 62, Tatum 42
Gadsden 57, Alamogordo 42
Goddard 66, NMMI 37
Hatch Valley 65, Tularosa64
Hondo 59, Capitan 40
La Cueva 62, West Mesa 51
Laguna-Acoma 70, Rehoboth 38
Lordsburg 51, Morenci, Ariz. 36
Navajo Prep 57, Bloomfield 55
Newcomb 44, Shiprock Northwest 32
Portales 55, Dexter 27
Rio Rancho 72, Gallup 63, OT
Robertson 60, Santa Fe Indian 45
Ruidoso 64, Artesia 34
St. Pius X 57, Los Lunas 55 OT
Texico 62 Tucumcari 51
Volcano Vista 52, Eldorado 49
West Las Vegas 70, Santa Fe Prep 35

Not so much anymore, at least not in big-school championship games. In the big-school final games since 2007, the average score has been 41-30. Three times, the losing team scored 35 points or more. In this day and age, you better score big to win – you score only three or four touchdowns, you’re going to get beat.


2015 Cleveland 48, Eldorado 35
2014 Rio Rancho 33, Mayfield 31
2013 Las Cruces 27, Mayfield 26
2012 Las Cruces 35, Sandia 28
2011 Cleveland 48, Mayfield 28
2010 Mayfield 69, Manzano 42
2009 La Cueva 31, Mayfield 14
2008 Las Cruces 26, Eldorado 21
2007 Mayfield 49, Clovis 48

La Cueva High School makes changes to holiday tradition after complaint about religion
By Mo Halder of KRQE

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – A 27-year-old holiday tradition surrounding a Christmas tree at La Cueva High School could be coming to an end after someone has complained there’s a religious element to any kind of Christmas tree. Every year La Cueva puts up a special tree to collect presents for children in need called the bear tree. But, now it is gone.

Full Link
http://krqe.com/2015/12/07/la-cueva...day-tradition-after-complaint-about-religion/

Post what you think are the three best NCAA BOWL FOOTBALL games and what are the two worst match ups.
Do not include the Cotton or Orange Bowls.

Top Three
Rose Bowl Iowa vs Stanford Go Hawkeyes
Las Vegas Bowl BYU vs Utah incredible matchup
Fiesta Bowl Norte Dame vs Ohio State will be grande Fiesta

Bottom Two
Cure Bowl San Jose State vs Georgia State not enough band aids to cure this one 5-7 San Jose state really
New Orleans Bowl Louisiana Tech vs Arkansas State the food will be good.

BOTTOM LINE TO MANY BOWLS

2016 Volcano Vista LHP has committed to Arizona State...assumming he will be signing in the next signing period in April.

So What Did We Learn In 2015? From The NM HS Football Season?

2015 High School Football Coaches of the Year, selected by NMPreps

This story is powered by the Tate Branch Auto Group


Eldorado Football Coach Charlie Dotson is 20-5 over the last two football seasons.

Class 6A
Charlie Dotson - Eldorado
The Eldorado Eagles went 10-3 on the season losing to Cleveland 48-35 in the 6A Finals. Dotson and company lead a team filled with top level seniors and juniors to an outstanding season outscoring the competition by a combined 591-265. Over the two seasons as Head Coach at Eldorado Dotson has a win/loss record of 20-5.

Class 5A
Miguel Medina - Espanola
Won an incredible 9 games at Espanola Valley, need we say more? Medina now in his 4th year as Head Coach at Espanola led the Sundevils to a District 2-5A Championship where they hosted a first round playoff game against Farmington losing 48-20.

Class 4A
Jack Cisco - Hatch Valley
The Hatch Valley Bears won their first Football State Championship since 2005 gong perfect on the year with a 13-0 record. Cisco, who is already a member of the New Mexico High School Ring of Honor won his second state championship, the first since he led the 2000 Roswell team to a 4A Title beating Piedra Vista 35-31.

Class 3A
Ken Stevens - Eunice
First Year Head Coach Ken Stevens led the Cardinals to a 8-4 season and led the Cardinals to back to the state title game for the first time since 2011. Stevens the former offensive coordinator a Carlsbad is the only first year coach to take his team to the title game this season.

Class 2A/8Man/6Man
Dusty Giles - Escalante
The Escalante Lobos won their second stat football championship game in two-years defeating the Ft. Sumner Foxes 28-20 in the finals. Since 2012 Dusty Giles has a career win/loss record of 43-5 with three state championships.

Most Underrated Team So Far?

Top Five Players You've Seen This Season?

I always find it interesting to see how New Mexico teams do against teams from other states. So, here are the results for New Mexico teams vs. Other Teams. (As of December 1)

New Mexico Boys vs. Texas (13-13)
Cathedral (El Paso) 39, Las Cruces 32 (OT)
Cathedral (El Paso) 35, Mayfield 34
Coronado 62, Lovington 47
Dora/ Elida 58, Sundown 35 (Dalton Privett 28 points, 9 rebounds)
Eastwood (El Paso) 61, Gadsden 46
Eastwood (El Paso) 80, Hobbs 70
El Dorado 55, Mayfield 29
El Paso Homeschool (El Paso) 76, Calvary West Christian 50
Fabens (Fabens) 57, Chaparral 31
Gadsden 76, Fabens (Fabens) 53
Hagerman 62, Morton 52
Hobbs 77, Dumas 58
Hobbs 52, Socorro (El Paso) 44
Mosquero 39, Texline 35
Mosquero 60, Adrian 22
Mosquero 49, Channing 47
Mosquero 44, Holy Cross Academy (Amarillo) 32
Odessa 74, Hobbs 73
Onate 70, Americas (El Paso) 62
Parkland (El Paso) 50, Lovington 40
Plainview 68, Lovington 47
Riverside (El Paso) 40, Chaparral 23
San Jon 55, Adrian 14
San Jon 68, Adrian 22
Southcrest Christian (El Paso) 37, Clovis Christian 25
Texico 42, Farwell 37
Lovington vs. Seminole (Missing Score)

New Mexico Boys vs. Utah (2-1)
Navajo Pine 86, Monument Valley 47
Newcomb 55, Monument Valley 41
San Juan (Blanding) 73, Shiprock 57
Northwest vs. Red Valley/ Cove (Missing Score)

New Mexico Boys vs. Colorado (7-8)
Bloomfield 47, Durango 39
Capital 53, Pueblo West 48
Center 43, Mesa Vista 40
Durango 62, Newcomb 18
Durango 55, Aztec 39
Mancos 50, Rehoboth 46
Mesa Vista 51, Sargent (Monte Vista) 48
Mesa Vista 60, Sangre De Cristo (Mosca) 48
Montezuma- Cortez (Cortez) 77, Aztec 39
Raton 65, Custer County (Westcliffe) 16
Rehoboth 54, Denver Christian 49
Primero 45, Raton 42
Pueblo West 74, Espanola 60
Tohatchi 61, Mancos 52
Trinidad 90, Raton 52

New Mexico Boys vs. California (0-2)
Ramona 55, Santa Fe 51
Ramona 67, Goddard 61

New Mexico Boys vs. Arizona (4-3)
Cibecue 58, Ramah 54
Cliff 47, Duncan 26
Cobre 69, Duncan 43
Duncan 66, Cobre 32
Ganado 62, Tohatchi 52
Tohatchi 89, Cibecue 49
Rehoboth 54, Cibecue 42
Ganado vs. Ramah (Missing Score)

New Mexico Boys vs. Massachusetts (1-0)
Bethany Christian 67, Grace Baptist 36

New Mexico Boys vs. Oregon (0-1)
St. Mary’s (Medford) 54, Del Norte 45

Who Will Retire First?

Once again, this weekend is filled with multiple tournaments and important games across the state.

Perhaps one of the biggest tournaments of the weekend takes place at Rio Rancho High School. Games begin Thursday at 1 as Roswell plays Las Cruces. Following that game, Mayfield plays Hobbs, then Clovis takes on Valencia. The final game of the first round will have the hosts, the Rams, battling it out against Albuquerque High.

Albuquerque Academy will host Del Norte in the first round of the Joe Armijo Classic. The first game of the day, is at 8 in the morning where Hope Christian takes on Valley. Espanola takes on Los Lunas at 9:45 and Onate plays Los Alamos at 11:30.

The City of Champions Classic takes place this weekend in Artesia. First round games feature Carlsbad vs. Aztec, Goddard vs. Ruidoso, Santa Teresa vs. Silver and Artesia vs. El Paso Bowie. The tournament will bring teams from different classifications together under one roof.

Santa Fe High hosts the Capital City tournament this weekend, where the Demons will host Pojoaque in the first round. The First game will tip off at 8 Thursday morning as Belen takes on Lovington. The other two games are at 11 and 2 with Capital playing Deming and St. Mikes battling Bernalillo.

The Cowbell tournament continues today. Yesterday, Springer took down Mosquero, while Penasco beat Cimarron. Today, Raton and Des Moines will fight and Questa will take on West Las Vegas JV. Semifinal game will take place on Friday, with Finals on Saturday.

The Elida Tiger Tournament commences this weekend. The order of Thursday’s games includes Hondo (1-3) vs. Floyd (1-3), Tatum vs. Bovina, Dexter vs. Dora and Roswell JV vs. San Jon. Elida and Melrose have a first round bye.

The undefeated Cibola Cougars (5-0) will take the court again this evening as they host the Sandia Matadors (2-2). Sandia has faced two losses to Volcano and Rio Rancho, while Cibola remains perfect.

New Mexico School for the Deaf will host the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind this weekend on both Friday and Saturday. NMSD (1-4) carries a 1 point victory over Desert Academy and 4 losses, their closest being a 1 point defeat to Desert Academy.

Grant Hermanns Decommits From Iowa State

Read More
https://nmpreps.n.rivals.com/news/grant-hermanns-decommits-from-iowa-state

Where will you be this week?

5A: I'm Buying Final Four Stock
Joshua J Grine of NMPreps

We hit on this topic when we took a look at our 6A Road to The PIT teams. Today, we take a stab at the four teams we are buying to making the 5A Final Four. Is it too early? Yes, it is far too early to predict teams but what fun would it be if we didn't.

Grants Pirates
NMPreps.com Top-25 Rank: #7
NMPreps.com 5A Ranking: #1
Record: 2-0
Why: Currently this is not a reach and we won't make millions on this pick as it could be one of the buys that will happen. The Pirates will lose a game or two along the way as they have a difficult schedule but for a team that was missing a next level player, Richie Lucero (2016/W) during the 2015 State Tournament, and they still made their way to the Final Four we like the pick. They are one of the deepest teams in 5A this season with the likes of Lucero, Matt Vail (2017/Guard) and Michael Chambers (2016/Guard).
Seed Predictions: 1-2

Roswell Coyotes
NMPreps.com Top-25 Rank: #10
NMPreps.com 5A Ranking: #2
Record: 2-0
Why: Okay, many of us have this pick at this point as well and nothing too exciting about this choice. Who knows, maybe you do have another team besides the Coyotes. The reason we go with the Coyotes is that a year after they fall short (upset last season as a 3-seed) they return to the PIT (WisePies) and go deep into March. This team again brings talent, head coach Cooper has placed himself among the best in 5A basketball and come March teams that create pressure and run go far in March.
Seed Predictions: 1-3

St. Pius X Sartans
NMPreps.com Top-25 Rank: #24
NMPreps.com 5A Ranking: #7
Record: 3-0
Why: This could look like a reach of a pick as the Sartans are ranked 7th in the classification. However, this might be a common pick among NMPreps Nation members. The Sartans are off and running to a 3-0 start this season and won a huge resume boosting game over Los Lunas High School (57-55 OT) during week four of the season.
Seed Predictions: 5-8

Belen Eagles
NMPreps.com Top-25 Rank: #25
NMPreps.com 5A Ranking: #8
Record: 3-0
Why: We had to go with a team not on the favorites list (and we missed a few teams that are favorites; I'm sure you will let me know which ones). The Eagles however are that upset team that could be the dark horse among the likely picks above. They have been impressive in their opening games and might be similar to a St. Pius team that will not be as up and down as Roswell or Grants.
Seed Prediction: 6-10

Who's Your Picks?

Week Four: What To Watch This Weekend
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com

No, we won't get to watch games in WisePies Arena aka The PIT until March 2016, when all corners of the state take the trip to the Duke City.

Fortunately, this weekend we get to have a jam filled weekend of non-stop basketball to kick-off the Holiday spirit.

Here's a look at tournament that will be played, we rank them, we highlight players and we give predictions!

No. 1 Joe Armijo Tournament (Albuquerque Academy)

Who: No. 1 Carlsbad High School, No. 3 Onate High School, No. 5 Hope Christian, No. 9 Valley High School, No. 23 Los Lunas High School, Albuquerque Academy, Del Notre High School, Clovis High School.

Why: Four Top-10 teams in the NMPreps.com Top-25 will make their way to the campus of Albuquerque Academy in the tiny but perfect gym. Nothing fancy but something special about this facility that draws me each year. I love watching games here and just something about the Joe Armijo that draws the top teams in the state each season.

Our winner: No. 1 Carlsbad over No. 5 Hope Christian.

Five Players: Brenden Boatwright (Carlsbad), Jordan Leake (Hope), Johnny McCants (Onate), Anthony Chavez (Valley) and Kayden Walker (Los Lunas).

No. 2 Hub City Tournament (Belen High School)

Who: No. 10 Roswell, No. 11 Rio Grande, No. 22 Centennial, No. 25 Belen, Miyamura, Bernalillo, Aztec, Rio Rancho (JV).

Why: Another tournament that features four teams in the NMPreps.com Top-25 this weekend. If you haven't been to a game at Belen you would love this gym. Built in the late 80's (I believe) but just a great facility with bleachers sitting in a horseshoe around the court. Very cool facility and it brings two of the top teams in 6A along with the defending 5A state Champions in Centennial along with the host team Belen being ranked in the Top-25 for the first time this season (maybe a few seasons).

Our winner: No. 10 Roswell over No. 11 Rio Grande.

Five Players: Marshall Moore (Rio Grande), Daniel Amador (Roswell), Ty Darnell (Bernalillo), Ryan Padilla (Belen), Jason Upshaw (Miyamura).

No. 3 City of Champions Tournament (Artesia High School)

Who: No. 6 Rio Rancho, Mayfield, Gallup, Goddard, Artesia, Pojoaque Valley, EP Austin (TX), Chaparral.

Why: For one, I will make my first visit to the Artesia gym this season. Secondly, this might miss on Top-25 teams minus No. 6 Rio Rancho but it's packed with names you will likely see in March playing in the state tournament. Goddard was ranked last week in the Top-25, Gallup was the 5A runner-up last March and Artesia an Elite Eight team last season. You can't count out Pojoaque Valley a 4A final four favorite along with a Mayfield team that is starting to breathe new air.

Our winner: No. 6 Rio Rancho over Artesia

Five players: Clay Patterson (Rio Rancho), Juan Hurt (Rio Rancho), Noah Waide (Goddard), Justin Houghtaling (Artesia), Jay Arnold (Mayfield).

No. 4 18th Annual J. May Classic (Tularosa High School)

Who: Hatch Valley, Dexter, Tularosa, NACA, Lordsburg, Santa Rosa, Cobre, Tucumcari.

Why: Okay, if you love small school hoops, GPS should be set for Tularosa this weekend. The field is stacked with top teams regardless of classification. Lordsburg an early favorite in 3A along with Tucumcari and Santa Rosa. Hatch Valley looking to be a playoff team in 4A this season mixed in with Dexter and Tularosa two teams that will play in March in each of their classifications.

Our winner: Lordsburg over Hatch Valley.

Five Players: Raymond Saucedo (Lordsburg), Jacob Esquivel (Lordsburg), Joseph Esquibel (Santa Rosa), Tony Carrillo (Tularosa), John Paul Garcia (Tucumcari).

No. 5 Capital City Tournament (Santa Fe High School)

Who: No. 15 Gadsden, No. 16 Capital, Desert Academy, Santa Fe Indian School, Deming, St. Michael's, Lovington, Santa Fe.

Why: Another top facility for New Mexico high school basketball is this basketball gym. I know this might sound redundant in this feature but I love this facility. Bleachers surround all four sides of the court and a huge gym that won't disappoint. Capital and Gadsden would be our pick minus the fact they sit on the same side of the bracket in a possible 3:30PM match up in the second round. What about the duo match-up to sell the tickets in Chayenne Barrientos (Gadsden)/Tomas Cano (Gadsden) taking on Eric Coca (Capital)/Jeremy Anaya (Capital). How about Santa Fe at home, they could make some waves this weekend. Deming has a stud sophomore but can he manage to put up a big game against one of New Mexico's legendary head coaches in Ron Geyer of St. Mikes in the first round.

Our Winner: No. 16 Capital over Santa Fe.

Five Players: Eric Coca (Capital), Tomas Cano (Gadsden), David Marquez (Santa Fe), Luke Archuleta (St. Mikes), Joseph Ochoa (Deming).

Thursday, December 10th
All Games at 7PM unless noted

ATC vs Tierra Encantada (4:30PM)
Aztec vs Belen
Bernalillo vs Roswell (4:30PM)
Chaparral vs Artesia (8PM)
Cibola vs Highland
Clovis Christian vs Fort Sumner (6PM)
Clovis vs Valley (8:15PM)
Cobre vs Tucumcari (6PM)
Del Norte vs Albuquerque Academy (3PM)
Deming vs St. Mike's (12:30PM)
Dexter vs Hatch Valley (1PM)
East Mountain vs Sandia Prep
EP Austin vs Pojoaque Valley (10AM)
EP Fabens vs Farmignton
Espanola Valley vs Valencia (5:30PM
Gadsden vs Santa Fe Indian School (9:30AM)
Gallup vs Goddard (4:30PM)
Hope Christain vs Onate (1:15PM)
Jemez Valley vs Zuni (12:30PM)
Kirtland Central vs Piedra Vista (5:30PM)
La Cueva vs Volcano Vista
Lordsburg vs Santa Rosa (2:30PM)
Los Alamos vs Silver (2PM)
Los Lunas vs Carlsbad (6:30PM)
Lovington vs Santa Fe
Menaul vs Santa Fe Prep (9:30AM)
Miyamura vs Centennial (6PM)
NACA vs Tularosa (7:30PM)
Ramah vs Laguna-Acoma
Reserve vs Alamo Navajo 6PM)
Rio Rancho vs Mayfield (1PM)
Santa Teresa vs EP Cathederal (TX) (2:30PM
Tatum vs San Jon (4:40PM)
Thoreau vs Rehoboth Christian (4PM)
To'hajiilee vs St. Michael's (AZ) (4PM)
Vaughn vs Grady (5PM)

RECAP: Rio Rancho Wins SW Duals Tournament
By: Kyle Henderson of NMPreps.com

1. Rio Rancho
2. Chapparal CO
3. La Cueva
4. Blue Valley KS
5. Carlsbad

Saturday Scores
Rio Rancho 43, Carlsbad 33
Rio Rancho 77, Deming 3
Atrisco Heritage 60, EP Del Valle 18
Atrisco Heritage 65, Deming 16
Atrisco Heritage 59, Blue Valley JV 15
EP Del Valle 48, Carlsbad 30
EP Del Valle 42, Deming 36
La Cueva 54, Hobbs 18
La Cueva 42, Santa Fe 31
La Cueva 57, St. Pius 19
Chapparal CO 54, Hobbs 22
Santa Fe 48, Hobbs 23
St. Pius 33, Hobbs 30
Blue Valley KS 43, Santa Fe 36
Chapparal CO 47, Santa Fe 34
Blue Valley KS 66, St. Pius 12
Chapparal CO 48, St. Pius 24

Friday Scores
Carlsbad 42, Atrisco Heritage 34
Carlsbad 54, Blue Valley, KS 26
Chaparral, CO 49, Blue Valley, KS 33
Blue Valley, KS 38, La Cueva 37
La Cueva 54, Hobbs 18
Rio Rancho 37, Atrisco Heritage 27
Rio Rancho 63, EP Del Valle 13
EP Del Valle 54, Blue Valley JV 29
Blue Valley JV 51, Deming 30
Blue Valley 38, La Cueva 37
Santa Fe 34, St. Pius 27
St. Pius 41, Rio Rancho JV 24

2 or 3 games to open the season at a top tier venue? Hobbs had one of these a while ago, what killed the idea?

I heard some rumors about a possible coaching change in Los Lunas. What if anything have you heard about this or any other coaching changes in 5A?

I was on a different forum and the topic of state playoff formats popped up. Another forum member posted something that opened my eyes and put some perspective into how our state functions vs other states. Below is what they shared:

"We have about 420 schools that play soccer in my state. (It is close to the same number for boys teams and girls teams.) Those 400 plus teams will play in something like 30 - 40 different leagues ranging in size from half a dozen schools to 40 schools. The larger leagues will have multiple divisions. Does the 5th place team in the second division of a large suburban league with a 500 record get in, because it could easily beat many of the first place teams from other parts of the state, or are they out? Should we just admit up front that the rural teams with no club players at all have no chance at winning so regardless of their regular season record they should be out - even if they won their league?

If everyone is in then there are no arguments."

The last statement refers to their state playoff format where all schools make the playoffs.

Ending is wow. Haha