5A Football: Preview, Picks, & Predictions
Friday, March 26th
Artesia (1-2) at Hobbs (0-3): The 13th ranked Artesia Bulldogs (5A) is coming off a much needed win over Roswell last week. Running back Jake Barrera (2022) with a coming out party rushing for 180-yards and three touchdowns in the win is a name to follow. Hobbs (6A) is struggling as of late, finding themselves unranked this week, looking for one last splash to end the season. Junior Colton Graham (QB) has played well and one to keep an eye on heading into the off-season.
Grine's Pick: Artesia
Line: Artesia -10
Capital (2-0) at Santa Fe (1-1): 7pm. The battle in Santa Fe as the 20th ranked Capital Jaguars (5A) will look to hold off Santa Fe High School (6A). The Santa Fe Demons have been on the uptrend and after years of both teams in the cellar, we have one ranked, and plenty of meaningful football in this contest. Santa Fe will need to contain a Capital team that is averaging over 50-points per game.
Grine's Pick: Capital
Line: Capital -12.5
Del Norte (1-0) at Valley (1-0): 7pm. The Del Norte Knights came out swinging against Rio Grande last week winning 30-6 and looking to make case for the top 5A team in Albuquerque. The task this week will be against Valley, which is also coming off a much-much needed win over Highland, 8-0. You can expect the clock to be moving in this one as running back Isaiah Ortiz, Del Norte (2021) will be looking to get plenty of touches. Valley will also stay the course of a ground and pound but points will be needed to keep up with Del Norte in this one.
Grine's Pick: Del Norte
Line: Del Norte -9
Deming (1-1) at Alamogordo (3-0): 7pm. We knew Alamogordo would be solid this season and now they have the opportunity of going 4-0 and adding to the hype for the fall. Sean Hays leads the way for running backs with 376-yards on the season and could have a breakout performance against a Deming team that has shown troubles against the run at times. Deming does bring Joey Reza (2022/RB) and Marcos Aguilar (2023/QB) into the contest. Reza is coming off a solid performance last week against Mayfield.
Grine's Pick: Alamogordo
Line: Alamogordo -10.5
Gallup (0-3) at Miyamura (0-3): 7pm. Well, the good news for Gallup is that one team will have a win before they head to the hardwood. Miyamura has had much of the success in this contest and right now it's a coin flip on what could happen. Taking a winner, I am going with Miyamura as Gallup has still yet to find the endzone this season.
Grine's Pick: Miyamura
Line: Miyamura -4.5
Goddard (2-0) at Roswell (1-1): 7pm. This could have been the unofficial state championship had Roswell beat Artesia last week. Now we will just settle for a VERY good match-up between crosstown rivals. Goddard right now is looking like they take the crown as best team in 5A football. Roswell, well they still have one of the top head coaches in the state and have talent surrounding the roster. This one will be physical but it will be that second half adjustment that could determine it all.
Grine's Pick: Roswell
Line: Goddard -8.5
Piedra Vista (2-1) at Farmington (3-0): 12pm. The sixth ranked Farmington Scorpions (No. 2 in 5A) enters this contest with plenty of eyes watching this very talented squad. The have Caleb Carrillo (2022/QB), Macen Alley (2021/RB), Peyton Halliburton (2021/WR) and Chance Carrillo (2021/WR) that have this squad looking like one of the best. Maybe, we could get a Goddard and Farmington game, if they both win. We remember who won in the last state championship between the two. Back to this one, Piedra Vista is going to come out looking for an upset to end the season. Watch for Michael Candelaria to get his name in the known among the others from the region.
Grine's Pick: Farmington
Line: Farmington - 8
Taos (1-1) at Los Alamos (0-2): 7pm. The Taos are back? Taos is coming off a loss but looked impressive in their opener. They should control this contest as the Los Alamos Hilltoppers have given up 95 points and only seen the lights on the scoreboard once.
Grine's Pick: Taos
Line: Taos -18.5
Saturday, March 27th
Highland (0-1) at Belen (1-0): 1pm. The Belen Eagles, much improved in year two under head coach Ty House, coming off a 50-0 win over Valencia High School. The Eagles will again look to a quietly good roster that returned quarterback Ben Hirschfield (2021) but the story last week was Emmanuel Aragon (2022/RB) who finished with three TDs last week in the win. Another name for the Eagles is sophomore Elijah Romero (WR) who reached the endzone last week. Highland, the success story from 2019, fell in their opener 8 to 0 against Valley.
Grine's Pick: Belen
Line: Belen -12.5
Mayfield (1-1) at Onate (0-2): 1pm. With 2021 being 2021 could we consider this the trap game of the day? No. 11 Mayfield (5A) had it's one bad season a few years back but something about how this short Spring season bring weird outcomes could a recharged Onate squad pull the upset? Mayfield has the duo in the backfield however, in Calvin Cox (2022) and Derrick Martinez (2021) that can brake lose at any moment for a touchdown. Daniel Granados (2021/QB) and JJ Davis (2022/WR) also a connection to watch for the Trojans. Can the defense, led by Aiden Rosser (2022/SS) and Joseph Johnson (2022/LB) carry the Onate Knights to the win? Also, watch out for receiver Beto Garcia (2022/WR) who will make the Knights a dark horse in the fall with the 2022 class of talent.
Grine's Pick: Mayfield
Line: Mayfield -15.5
Friday, March 26th
Artesia (1-2) at Hobbs (0-3): The 13th ranked Artesia Bulldogs (5A) is coming off a much needed win over Roswell last week. Running back Jake Barrera (2022) with a coming out party rushing for 180-yards and three touchdowns in the win is a name to follow. Hobbs (6A) is struggling as of late, finding themselves unranked this week, looking for one last splash to end the season. Junior Colton Graham (QB) has played well and one to keep an eye on heading into the off-season.
Grine's Pick: Artesia
Line: Artesia -10
Capital (2-0) at Santa Fe (1-1): 7pm. The battle in Santa Fe as the 20th ranked Capital Jaguars (5A) will look to hold off Santa Fe High School (6A). The Santa Fe Demons have been on the uptrend and after years of both teams in the cellar, we have one ranked, and plenty of meaningful football in this contest. Santa Fe will need to contain a Capital team that is averaging over 50-points per game.
Grine's Pick: Capital
Line: Capital -12.5
Del Norte (1-0) at Valley (1-0): 7pm. The Del Norte Knights came out swinging against Rio Grande last week winning 30-6 and looking to make case for the top 5A team in Albuquerque. The task this week will be against Valley, which is also coming off a much-much needed win over Highland, 8-0. You can expect the clock to be moving in this one as running back Isaiah Ortiz, Del Norte (2021) will be looking to get plenty of touches. Valley will also stay the course of a ground and pound but points will be needed to keep up with Del Norte in this one.
Grine's Pick: Del Norte
Line: Del Norte -9
Deming (1-1) at Alamogordo (3-0): 7pm. We knew Alamogordo would be solid this season and now they have the opportunity of going 4-0 and adding to the hype for the fall. Sean Hays leads the way for running backs with 376-yards on the season and could have a breakout performance against a Deming team that has shown troubles against the run at times. Deming does bring Joey Reza (2022/RB) and Marcos Aguilar (2023/QB) into the contest. Reza is coming off a solid performance last week against Mayfield.
Grine's Pick: Alamogordo
Line: Alamogordo -10.5
Gallup (0-3) at Miyamura (0-3): 7pm. Well, the good news for Gallup is that one team will have a win before they head to the hardwood. Miyamura has had much of the success in this contest and right now it's a coin flip on what could happen. Taking a winner, I am going with Miyamura as Gallup has still yet to find the endzone this season.
Grine's Pick: Miyamura
Line: Miyamura -4.5
Goddard (2-0) at Roswell (1-1): 7pm. This could have been the unofficial state championship had Roswell beat Artesia last week. Now we will just settle for a VERY good match-up between crosstown rivals. Goddard right now is looking like they take the crown as best team in 5A football. Roswell, well they still have one of the top head coaches in the state and have talent surrounding the roster. This one will be physical but it will be that second half adjustment that could determine it all.
Grine's Pick: Roswell
Line: Goddard -8.5
Piedra Vista (2-1) at Farmington (3-0): 12pm. The sixth ranked Farmington Scorpions (No. 2 in 5A) enters this contest with plenty of eyes watching this very talented squad. The have Caleb Carrillo (2022/QB), Macen Alley (2021/RB), Peyton Halliburton (2021/WR) and Chance Carrillo (2021/WR) that have this squad looking like one of the best. Maybe, we could get a Goddard and Farmington game, if they both win. We remember who won in the last state championship between the two. Back to this one, Piedra Vista is going to come out looking for an upset to end the season. Watch for Michael Candelaria to get his name in the known among the others from the region.
Grine's Pick: Farmington
Line: Farmington - 8
Taos (1-1) at Los Alamos (0-2): 7pm. The Taos are back? Taos is coming off a loss but looked impressive in their opener. They should control this contest as the Los Alamos Hilltoppers have given up 95 points and only seen the lights on the scoreboard once.
Grine's Pick: Taos
Line: Taos -18.5
Saturday, March 27th
Highland (0-1) at Belen (1-0): 1pm. The Belen Eagles, much improved in year two under head coach Ty House, coming off a 50-0 win over Valencia High School. The Eagles will again look to a quietly good roster that returned quarterback Ben Hirschfield (2021) but the story last week was Emmanuel Aragon (2022/RB) who finished with three TDs last week in the win. Another name for the Eagles is sophomore Elijah Romero (WR) who reached the endzone last week. Highland, the success story from 2019, fell in their opener 8 to 0 against Valley.
Grine's Pick: Belen
Line: Belen -12.5
Mayfield (1-1) at Onate (0-2): 1pm. With 2021 being 2021 could we consider this the trap game of the day? No. 11 Mayfield (5A) had it's one bad season a few years back but something about how this short Spring season bring weird outcomes could a recharged Onate squad pull the upset? Mayfield has the duo in the backfield however, in Calvin Cox (2022) and Derrick Martinez (2021) that can brake lose at any moment for a touchdown. Daniel Granados (2021/QB) and JJ Davis (2022/WR) also a connection to watch for the Trojans. Can the defense, led by Aiden Rosser (2022/SS) and Joseph Johnson (2022/LB) carry the Onate Knights to the win? Also, watch out for receiver Beto Garcia (2022/WR) who will make the Knights a dark horse in the fall with the 2022 class of talent.
Grine's Pick: Mayfield
Line: Mayfield -15.5
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