4A Football: Preview, Picks, & Predictions
NMPreps.com's guide to every game taking place this week in New Mexico high school football. We provide our picks, preview, and predictions. Week 2 Schedule | Week 2 Lines | Week 2 Rankings
Friday, March 12th
No. 13 Alamogordo (1-0) at Ruidoso (0-1): The Ruidoso Warriors coming off a week one loss 54-20 to No. 25 Lovington, now turn around and have to face the 13th ranked Alamogordo Tigers who are coming off a narrow win over Bloomfield. The Warriors entered the Spring season losing top 35 player Grant Oberheu who enrolled early at New Mexico State University. They also had a new quarterback and much of their skilled position players from a 5-7 team in 2019. Bracxton Hall (2022/RB) is a new name on the scene who rushed for over 100 yards in week one. Alamogordo looks to be the heavy favorite entering this contest and most eyes will be on star running back Sean Hays in this game as he builds of 85-yards rushing in the opening game. New quarterback Anthony Mello (2022) also coming off his first game at QB-1 throwing for 88-yards and 1-touchdown. Prediction: Alamogordo 43, Ruidoso 7. Grine's Pick: Alamogordo Line. Alamogordo -39
Dexter (1-0) at No. 15 Portales (1-0): The Dexter Demons are just two years removed from winning the state championship in 3A football. Last season they still went a solid 8-3 but they are looking to a few key contributors to help them return to the top. Marco and Ricardo show in 2021 is the headline heading into this contest. Marco Munoz (2021/QB) took most of the snaps at quarterback tossing for 450 while rushing for another 450. Ricardo Contreras rushed for 450 in a backfield that shared the ball with a handful of backs. Dexter came out strong last week getting two touchdowns in the first quarter and would end up beating NMMI, 17-2. It was Munoz getting into the endzone twice last week for the Demons, one rushing and one passing. The test grows this week as they visit 4A defending state champion Portales Rams (No. 15 NMPreps Top-25) who are coming off a week one win over Moriarty, 21-0. Eyes will be on one of the top quarterbacks in 4A, Baylor Diaz, but if the Rams are looking to repeat they will need some options outside of Diaz. The Rams have graduated some serious talent over the last few years and this could be a transition year but Diaz is good enough to keep them near the top. He rushed for over 100-yards last week and tossed for 56. Although it's been all Portales in the last three meetings, the smaller school Dexter did have a major upset over Portales in 2016 when the Rams were ranked in the Top-25. Prediction: Portales 18, Dexter 15. Grine's Pick: Portales. Line: Portales -8.5
No. 17 Grants (0-0) at No. 18 St. Pius X (0-0): In Bernalillo. The two district opponents will square off in Bernalillo on Friday evening (7 p.m.). The Pirates took the contest and district championship last season on their way to playing for the 4A semifinals. The Pirates lost All-State running back Isaiah Johnson to graduation but have plenty of depth returning, kudos to the continued development of this once dormant program. The Pirates turn to Class of 2022 top ranked quarterback Brandon Furbee, top 50 players Bryan Hernández (WR-SS/2021) and Terrell Hocker (WR/2021) and this could be one of the better Pirate teams. Add in Mike Trujillo (T-DE/2021) and Cyler Aragon (G-DT/2021) and that's five next level players. The Sartans also bring a handful of prospects of their own and create the must-see game of the night. Marco Ybarra (2022/RB) and Aaron Deller (T-DT/2021) are two of the top prospects in New Mexico and will look to guide the Sartans this season. Ybarra, only had four games last season but rushed for 233-yards and 4 touchdowns as a sophomore. Another to watch is Nic Pascuzzi (2021/WR) who had over 200-yards receiving last season. Prediction: Grants 24, SPX 21. Grine's Pick: Grants. Line: Grants -3.5
No. 25 Lovington (1-0) at No. 9 Hobbs (0-1): The 25th ranked Lovington Wildcats enter the game after an impressive opening weekend win 54-20 over Ruidoso. The test now turns to the bigger brother down the road in Hobbs. The Eagles are coming off a rivalry loss, but sound showing, to the second ranked team in the state in Clovis (14-10). The excitement could come in the air attack with two new quarterbacks looking to build off their first starts. Colton Graham (Hobbs) passed for 114 yards and had 180 total yards. Jared Jeffrey (Lovington) threw for an eye opening 230 yards in the opening game. The big question mark in this game will be trying to evade a Hobbs DL that could create issues for the Wildcats. Prediction: Hobbs 25, Lovington 18. Grine's Pick: Hobbs. Line: Hobbs -10.5
No. 14 Piedra Vista (1-0) at Bloomfield (0-1): The 4A Bloomfield Bobcats are coming off a close loss to 5A Alamogordo (No. 13) last week, 16-14, and turn around to take on another top-25 ranked 5A opponent in Piedra Vista (No. 14 NMPreps Top-25). Marc Armenta (2022) and Diego Snell-Montoya (2022/RB) are the new names for a Bloomfield team that graduated several all-state players. The Piedra Vista Panthers enter the contest as favorites after winning last week 42-0 over Miyamura. The Panthers bring several new faces - Michael Candelaria (2021/RB), Aidan Etsitty (2022/RB) - this season that have the Panthers looking strong out the gate. Prediction: Piedra Vista 28, Bloomfield 15. Grine's Pick: PV. Line: PV -12
NMPreps.com's guide to every game taking place this week in New Mexico high school football. We provide our picks, preview, and predictions. Week 2 Schedule | Week 2 Lines | Week 2 Rankings
Friday, March 12th
No. 13 Alamogordo (1-0) at Ruidoso (0-1): The Ruidoso Warriors coming off a week one loss 54-20 to No. 25 Lovington, now turn around and have to face the 13th ranked Alamogordo Tigers who are coming off a narrow win over Bloomfield. The Warriors entered the Spring season losing top 35 player Grant Oberheu who enrolled early at New Mexico State University. They also had a new quarterback and much of their skilled position players from a 5-7 team in 2019. Bracxton Hall (2022/RB) is a new name on the scene who rushed for over 100 yards in week one. Alamogordo looks to be the heavy favorite entering this contest and most eyes will be on star running back Sean Hays in this game as he builds of 85-yards rushing in the opening game. New quarterback Anthony Mello (2022) also coming off his first game at QB-1 throwing for 88-yards and 1-touchdown. Prediction: Alamogordo 43, Ruidoso 7. Grine's Pick: Alamogordo Line. Alamogordo -39
Dexter (1-0) at No. 15 Portales (1-0): The Dexter Demons are just two years removed from winning the state championship in 3A football. Last season they still went a solid 8-3 but they are looking to a few key contributors to help them return to the top. Marco and Ricardo show in 2021 is the headline heading into this contest. Marco Munoz (2021/QB) took most of the snaps at quarterback tossing for 450 while rushing for another 450. Ricardo Contreras rushed for 450 in a backfield that shared the ball with a handful of backs. Dexter came out strong last week getting two touchdowns in the first quarter and would end up beating NMMI, 17-2. It was Munoz getting into the endzone twice last week for the Demons, one rushing and one passing. The test grows this week as they visit 4A defending state champion Portales Rams (No. 15 NMPreps Top-25) who are coming off a week one win over Moriarty, 21-0. Eyes will be on one of the top quarterbacks in 4A, Baylor Diaz, but if the Rams are looking to repeat they will need some options outside of Diaz. The Rams have graduated some serious talent over the last few years and this could be a transition year but Diaz is good enough to keep them near the top. He rushed for over 100-yards last week and tossed for 56. Although it's been all Portales in the last three meetings, the smaller school Dexter did have a major upset over Portales in 2016 when the Rams were ranked in the Top-25. Prediction: Portales 18, Dexter 15. Grine's Pick: Portales. Line: Portales -8.5
No. 17 Grants (0-0) at No. 18 St. Pius X (0-0): In Bernalillo. The two district opponents will square off in Bernalillo on Friday evening (7 p.m.). The Pirates took the contest and district championship last season on their way to playing for the 4A semifinals. The Pirates lost All-State running back Isaiah Johnson to graduation but have plenty of depth returning, kudos to the continued development of this once dormant program. The Pirates turn to Class of 2022 top ranked quarterback Brandon Furbee, top 50 players Bryan Hernández (WR-SS/2021) and Terrell Hocker (WR/2021) and this could be one of the better Pirate teams. Add in Mike Trujillo (T-DE/2021) and Cyler Aragon (G-DT/2021) and that's five next level players. The Sartans also bring a handful of prospects of their own and create the must-see game of the night. Marco Ybarra (2022/RB) and Aaron Deller (T-DT/2021) are two of the top prospects in New Mexico and will look to guide the Sartans this season. Ybarra, only had four games last season but rushed for 233-yards and 4 touchdowns as a sophomore. Another to watch is Nic Pascuzzi (2021/WR) who had over 200-yards receiving last season. Prediction: Grants 24, SPX 21. Grine's Pick: Grants. Line: Grants -3.5
No. 25 Lovington (1-0) at No. 9 Hobbs (0-1): The 25th ranked Lovington Wildcats enter the game after an impressive opening weekend win 54-20 over Ruidoso. The test now turns to the bigger brother down the road in Hobbs. The Eagles are coming off a rivalry loss, but sound showing, to the second ranked team in the state in Clovis (14-10). The excitement could come in the air attack with two new quarterbacks looking to build off their first starts. Colton Graham (Hobbs) passed for 114 yards and had 180 total yards. Jared Jeffrey (Lovington) threw for an eye opening 230 yards in the opening game. The big question mark in this game will be trying to evade a Hobbs DL that could create issues for the Wildcats. Prediction: Hobbs 25, Lovington 18. Grine's Pick: Hobbs. Line: Hobbs -10.5
No. 14 Piedra Vista (1-0) at Bloomfield (0-1): The 4A Bloomfield Bobcats are coming off a close loss to 5A Alamogordo (No. 13) last week, 16-14, and turn around to take on another top-25 ranked 5A opponent in Piedra Vista (No. 14 NMPreps Top-25). Marc Armenta (2022) and Diego Snell-Montoya (2022/RB) are the new names for a Bloomfield team that graduated several all-state players. The Piedra Vista Panthers enter the contest as favorites after winning last week 42-0 over Miyamura. The Panthers bring several new faces - Michael Candelaria (2021/RB), Aidan Etsitty (2022/RB) - this season that have the Panthers looking strong out the gate. Prediction: Piedra Vista 28, Bloomfield 15. Grine's Pick: PV. Line: PV -12
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