New Mexico High School Football Preview: 2A Football matchups and predictions
NMPreps preview and predictions for the opening round of the 2A New Mexico high school football 2022 State Playoffs. #nmpreps
No. 1 Jal Panthers (10-0) vs No. 8 Escalante Lobos (5-5)
Saturday, November 5th (1:00 p.m.)
Jal's offense runs through the dynamic duo of Alexavier Carreon (2023) and Jacob Lujan (2023), who are legitimate Mr. Football contenders. Carreon is averaging 9.5 yards per carry this season totaling 638 yards on 67 runs. Lujan is sitting at 531 yards on 51 carries (10.4 per) and 12 rushing touchdowns. The 8-seed Lobos will look to do-all quarterback Trey Archuleta who has over 1,300 offensive yards (951 rushing) and 20 total touchdowns (14 rushing).
Prediction: Jal 48, Escalante 10
No. 2 Texico Wolverines (7-3) vs No. 7 Tularosa Wildcats (4-6)
Friday, November 4th (7:00 p.m.)
For the Wolverines it will be junior quarterback Cade Figg and running back Alex Fuentes taking the lead in the post season. On defense Kyle Gonser (2024) will look to shutdown the Wildcats offense. After a 1-4 start the Tularosa Wildcats won 3 of the final five games to earn a playoff spot. The Texico Wolverines have too much fire power and will likely cruise to victory.
Prediction: Texico 38, Tularosa 14
No. 3 Santa Rosa Lions (8-2) vs No. 6 Loving Falcons (7-3)
Friday, November 4th (7:00 p.m.)
The strength of Santa Rosa's offense is its running backs. Andres Madrid (2023) leads the way this season with 1,327 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. Marcos Chavez (2023), 994 yards, and Auriello Gonzales (2023), 421 yards, also putting in solid numbers this season. Loving will focus on its 1-2 punch of Kalen Rodriguez (QB-2024) and Amari Benavidez (WR-2023). Rodriguez has hit his targets for 1,375 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns.
Prediction: Santa Rosa 40, Loving 18
No. 4 Eunice Cardinals (6-3) vs No. 5 Estancia Bears (6-4)
Friday, November 4th (7:00 p.m.)
This will be a rematch from an August 26th Eunice, 41-12 win. The Cardinals have plenty of weapons to make another run at a state championship after winning the last four state championships, hoping to make it a five-peat. Freshman quarterback Elijah Melancon has passed for 1,800-yards and 27-passing touchdowns to guide the offense. The Bears also have some key players in quarterback Ja'Brae Boyer (2023) along with running backs Josh Calhoon (2024) and Aiden Boyle (2023). Calhoon leads the team in rushing yards with 1,206-yards. It will be close ultimately Eunice does just enough to pull off a victory.
Prediction: Eunice 33, Estancia 26
NMPreps preview and predictions for the opening round of the 2A New Mexico high school football 2022 State Playoffs. #nmpreps
No. 1 Jal Panthers (10-0) vs No. 8 Escalante Lobos (5-5)
Saturday, November 5th (1:00 p.m.)
Jal's offense runs through the dynamic duo of Alexavier Carreon (2023) and Jacob Lujan (2023), who are legitimate Mr. Football contenders. Carreon is averaging 9.5 yards per carry this season totaling 638 yards on 67 runs. Lujan is sitting at 531 yards on 51 carries (10.4 per) and 12 rushing touchdowns. The 8-seed Lobos will look to do-all quarterback Trey Archuleta who has over 1,300 offensive yards (951 rushing) and 20 total touchdowns (14 rushing).
Prediction: Jal 48, Escalante 10
No. 2 Texico Wolverines (7-3) vs No. 7 Tularosa Wildcats (4-6)
Friday, November 4th (7:00 p.m.)
For the Wolverines it will be junior quarterback Cade Figg and running back Alex Fuentes taking the lead in the post season. On defense Kyle Gonser (2024) will look to shutdown the Wildcats offense. After a 1-4 start the Tularosa Wildcats won 3 of the final five games to earn a playoff spot. The Texico Wolverines have too much fire power and will likely cruise to victory.
Prediction: Texico 38, Tularosa 14
No. 3 Santa Rosa Lions (8-2) vs No. 6 Loving Falcons (7-3)
Friday, November 4th (7:00 p.m.)
The strength of Santa Rosa's offense is its running backs. Andres Madrid (2023) leads the way this season with 1,327 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns. Marcos Chavez (2023), 994 yards, and Auriello Gonzales (2023), 421 yards, also putting in solid numbers this season. Loving will focus on its 1-2 punch of Kalen Rodriguez (QB-2024) and Amari Benavidez (WR-2023). Rodriguez has hit his targets for 1,375 passing yards and 16 passing touchdowns.
Prediction: Santa Rosa 40, Loving 18
No. 4 Eunice Cardinals (6-3) vs No. 5 Estancia Bears (6-4)
Friday, November 4th (7:00 p.m.)
This will be a rematch from an August 26th Eunice, 41-12 win. The Cardinals have plenty of weapons to make another run at a state championship after winning the last four state championships, hoping to make it a five-peat. Freshman quarterback Elijah Melancon has passed for 1,800-yards and 27-passing touchdowns to guide the offense. The Bears also have some key players in quarterback Ja'Brae Boyer (2023) along with running backs Josh Calhoon (2024) and Aiden Boyle (2023). Calhoon leads the team in rushing yards with 1,206-yards. It will be close ultimately Eunice does just enough to pull off a victory.
Prediction: Eunice 33, Estancia 26
