3A State Championship: Preview, Picks, & Predictions
NMPreps.com's guide to the 2019 3A New Mexico high school football state championship game.
NO. 1 SOCORRO WARRIORS (11-1) vs NO. 2 HOPE CHRISTIAN HUSKIES (10-2)
1) Socorro Warriors
Record: 11-1 overall (3-0 district)
Road to the SC: Quarterfinals (W, Raton, 52-15); Semifinals (W, Tularosa, 21-14).
Head Coach: Damien Ocampo
PF: 517 (43 ppg)
PA: 107 (8.9 ppg)
Streak: 10 wins
Quarterback: Payson Hicks (2020). The stat line for Hicks has been an impressive one during his career. In 2019 Hicks has passed for 2,204-yards and 26 passing touchdowns. You can also add 337 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns this season. Under Hicks the last two years has totaled for a 20-3 record and over 3,300 yards passing.
Defense: Maxamus Jaramillo, MLB (2020). Jaramillo has led the Socorro defense this season with 106 total tackles this season. He totaled 16-total tackles last week in a semifinal win over Tularosa.
Preview: The Warriors have won 10-straight game with their last loss coming in August. One of the most consistent facts about the Socorro Warriors this season has been on the defensive end of the ball. Outside of a game against Robertson in mid-September they have held most teams in single digits or under 15-points. Only, three times did teams outscore their 9 points per game allowed on defense.
2) Hope Christian Huskies
Record: 10-2 overall (3-0 district)
Road to the SC: Quarterfinals (W, Cobre 61-7); Semifinals (W, Robertson 36-0)
Head coach: Gary Beck
PF: 466 (35.8 ppg)
PA: 72 (5.5 ppg)
Streak: 7 wins
Quarterback: Collin Evans (2020). First-year starter Collin Evans has played extremely well taking over at quarterback. The basketball stud has tossed for 2,158 yards and 27 touchdowns this season for the Huskies. Evans is coming off a 269-yard 4 touchdown game against Cobre in quarterfinals.
Defense: Zach Griego, DL (2020). Griego has been one of the best players not mentioned in 3A football this season. Griego has 49-total tackles for the Huskies with 11-sacks. The Huskies have only allowed 72-total points this season (5.5 average).
Preview: The Huskies have one of the most underrated defensive teams in the state. This sets up a defensive showdown with Socorro in the state championship. The most impressive part about their defense is a shutout win last week in the semifinals against Robertson, the 3-seed in the playoffs.
NMPreps By The Numbers
Score Prediction: Socorro 22, Hope 21
Grine Line: Socorro -1.5
Grine Pick: Socorro
Over/Under: 41
HC's SC: 0 (This will be a first title as a HC for one of the two).
Last Title: Socorro (1977?) Hope (Never)
NMPreps.com's guide to the 2019 3A New Mexico high school football state championship game.
NO. 1 SOCORRO WARRIORS (11-1) vs NO. 2 HOPE CHRISTIAN HUSKIES (10-2)
1) Socorro Warriors
Record: 11-1 overall (3-0 district)
Road to the SC: Quarterfinals (W, Raton, 52-15); Semifinals (W, Tularosa, 21-14).
Head Coach: Damien Ocampo
PF: 517 (43 ppg)
PA: 107 (8.9 ppg)
Streak: 10 wins
Quarterback: Payson Hicks (2020). The stat line for Hicks has been an impressive one during his career. In 2019 Hicks has passed for 2,204-yards and 26 passing touchdowns. You can also add 337 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns this season. Under Hicks the last two years has totaled for a 20-3 record and over 3,300 yards passing.
Defense: Maxamus Jaramillo, MLB (2020). Jaramillo has led the Socorro defense this season with 106 total tackles this season. He totaled 16-total tackles last week in a semifinal win over Tularosa.
Preview: The Warriors have won 10-straight game with their last loss coming in August. One of the most consistent facts about the Socorro Warriors this season has been on the defensive end of the ball. Outside of a game against Robertson in mid-September they have held most teams in single digits or under 15-points. Only, three times did teams outscore their 9 points per game allowed on defense.
2) Hope Christian Huskies
Record: 10-2 overall (3-0 district)
Road to the SC: Quarterfinals (W, Cobre 61-7); Semifinals (W, Robertson 36-0)
Head coach: Gary Beck
PF: 466 (35.8 ppg)
PA: 72 (5.5 ppg)
Streak: 7 wins
Quarterback: Collin Evans (2020). First-year starter Collin Evans has played extremely well taking over at quarterback. The basketball stud has tossed for 2,158 yards and 27 touchdowns this season for the Huskies. Evans is coming off a 269-yard 4 touchdown game against Cobre in quarterfinals.
Defense: Zach Griego, DL (2020). Griego has been one of the best players not mentioned in 3A football this season. Griego has 49-total tackles for the Huskies with 11-sacks. The Huskies have only allowed 72-total points this season (5.5 average).
Preview: The Huskies have one of the most underrated defensive teams in the state. This sets up a defensive showdown with Socorro in the state championship. The most impressive part about their defense is a shutout win last week in the semifinals against Robertson, the 3-seed in the playoffs.
NMPreps By The Numbers
Score Prediction: Socorro 22, Hope 21
Grine Line: Socorro -1.5
Grine Pick: Socorro
Over/Under: 41
HC's SC: 0 (This will be a first title as a HC for one of the two).
Last Title: Socorro (1977?) Hope (Never)
