New Mexico High School Football First Round Preview
NMPreps guide to the first round of the 3A New Mexico high school football playoffs. #nmpreps
No. 5 Thoreau Hawks (8-2) vs No. 12 Hope Christian (4-5-1)
Saturday, November 5th (1:00 p.m.)
The Thoreau Hawks had themselves an historic season winning 8-games and earning a 5-seed in the 2022 playoffs. Ray Long (2024) has carried the Hawks forward with 809 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. Well, the 5-game win streak is predicted to come to an end as the host visiting 12-seed Hope Christian on Saturday afternoon. Although the Huskies were the last team selected and dropped three of the final five games are favored to win this game. Brent Miller (2023) continues to play well for the Huskies leading the team in rushing yards -- 777-yards. Jacob Baca (2024) is a defensive force leading the way with 78 total tackles and 13-sacks, expect him to have a big day.
Prediction: Hope Christian 35, Thoreau 12
No. 6 Raton Tigers (7-3) vs No. 11 Hatch Valley Bears (6-3-1)
Saturday, November 5th (1:00 p.m.)
If you love the run attack, Saturday afternoon will have two of the state's leaders in rushing yards squaring off. Raton's Cayden Walton leads the state with 2,472 yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. For the Hatch Bears it is Layton Gillis (2023) ranked in the top three with 1,482 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. Walton and Anderson Weese (2023) provide the x-factor in this contest as they guide a stout defense. Weese leads the team in total tackles with 92 along with 2 INTs.
Prediction: Raton 24, Hatch Valley 13
No. 7 West Las Vegas Dons (5-5) vs No. 10 Newcomb Skyhawks (8-2)
Friday, November 4th (6:00 p.m.)
West Las Vegas enters the post season after another brutal battle in the tough District 2-3A. The Dons have dropped three of the final four games but hopeful to secure a playoff win as a heavy favorite. Dons quarterback CJ Perea (2025) has 1,578-yards and 14-touchdowns this season; look for go-to targets Jaydin Vigil (2023) and Ethan Montano (2023) to continue their success. The duo have over 1,000 combined receiving yards and 10-touchdowns. Newcomb enters the post season with an automatic bid after winning the District 4-3A championship. The three names to know for the Skyhawks start with Javarius John (2023) who has rushed for over 1,000-yards on the season -- quarterback Matthew Barber (2023/QB) and Rashaad Keedah (2023/RB) are the other two offensive threats.
Prediction: West Las Vegas 33, Newcomb 18
No. 8 Dexter Demons (5-5) vs No. 9 Cobre Indians (4-6)
Saturday, November 5th (1:00 p.m.)
A rematch from a September 24th Dexter win, 18-12. Already expected to be the matchup to watch the fact that the two met this season will add to the excitement. That win for the Demons was the first of four straight wins that led them to an 8-seed. The Demons started the season 1-4 before then. Quarterback Kevin Villalobos (2024) and running back Kaesen George (2025) are the top players to watch on offense for the Demons. Villalobos has over 500-yards passing and 400-yards rushing. The Cobre Indians finished runner up in district play behind top-seed Socorro and will look to junior quarterback Caleb Martinez. Defense will lean on Eric Harrington (2024) and Gabe Gutierrez (2023).
Prediction: Dexter 21, Cobre 20
NMPreps guide to the first round of the 3A New Mexico high school football playoffs. #nmpreps
No. 5 Thoreau Hawks (8-2) vs No. 12 Hope Christian (4-5-1)
Saturday, November 5th (1:00 p.m.)
The Thoreau Hawks had themselves an historic season winning 8-games and earning a 5-seed in the 2022 playoffs. Ray Long (2024) has carried the Hawks forward with 809 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. Well, the 5-game win streak is predicted to come to an end as the host visiting 12-seed Hope Christian on Saturday afternoon. Although the Huskies were the last team selected and dropped three of the final five games are favored to win this game. Brent Miller (2023) continues to play well for the Huskies leading the team in rushing yards -- 777-yards. Jacob Baca (2024) is a defensive force leading the way with 78 total tackles and 13-sacks, expect him to have a big day.
Prediction: Hope Christian 35, Thoreau 12
No. 6 Raton Tigers (7-3) vs No. 11 Hatch Valley Bears (6-3-1)
Saturday, November 5th (1:00 p.m.)
If you love the run attack, Saturday afternoon will have two of the state's leaders in rushing yards squaring off. Raton's Cayden Walton leads the state with 2,472 yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. For the Hatch Bears it is Layton Gillis (2023) ranked in the top three with 1,482 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. Walton and Anderson Weese (2023) provide the x-factor in this contest as they guide a stout defense. Weese leads the team in total tackles with 92 along with 2 INTs.
Prediction: Raton 24, Hatch Valley 13
No. 7 West Las Vegas Dons (5-5) vs No. 10 Newcomb Skyhawks (8-2)
Friday, November 4th (6:00 p.m.)
West Las Vegas enters the post season after another brutal battle in the tough District 2-3A. The Dons have dropped three of the final four games but hopeful to secure a playoff win as a heavy favorite. Dons quarterback CJ Perea (2025) has 1,578-yards and 14-touchdowns this season; look for go-to targets Jaydin Vigil (2023) and Ethan Montano (2023) to continue their success. The duo have over 1,000 combined receiving yards and 10-touchdowns. Newcomb enters the post season with an automatic bid after winning the District 4-3A championship. The three names to know for the Skyhawks start with Javarius John (2023) who has rushed for over 1,000-yards on the season -- quarterback Matthew Barber (2023/QB) and Rashaad Keedah (2023/RB) are the other two offensive threats.
Prediction: West Las Vegas 33, Newcomb 18
No. 8 Dexter Demons (5-5) vs No. 9 Cobre Indians (4-6)
Saturday, November 5th (1:00 p.m.)
A rematch from a September 24th Dexter win, 18-12. Already expected to be the matchup to watch the fact that the two met this season will add to the excitement. That win for the Demons was the first of four straight wins that led them to an 8-seed. The Demons started the season 1-4 before then. Quarterback Kevin Villalobos (2024) and running back Kaesen George (2025) are the top players to watch on offense for the Demons. Villalobos has over 500-yards passing and 400-yards rushing. The Cobre Indians finished runner up in district play behind top-seed Socorro and will look to junior quarterback Caleb Martinez. Defense will lean on Eric Harrington (2024) and Gabe Gutierrez (2023).
Prediction: Dexter 21, Cobre 20
Last edited:
