6A 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 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
Atrisco Heritage (1-0) at West Mesa (1-0): 7pm. It's been sometime that we've seen both Atrisco Heritage and West Mesa with a winning record. Both teams looking sharp in the opener as both have new head coaches changing things up - Knezevich (AHA; first year) and Ansotgue (WMHS; second year). Both bring next level talent into the game as Jaden Cowley (AHA/2021) hit the scene with 166-rushing yards last week will battle against Eastern New Mexico commit Ja'Calvin Newsom (WMHS/RB) who went for 146-yards and 2 touchdowns last week. The winner could actually find themselves ranked in the Top-20, that would be huge!
Grine's Pick: Atrisco Heritage
Line: Atrisco Heritage - 8.5
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. 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
La Cueva (0-1) at Eldorado (0-1): 7pm. The 18th ranked La Cueva Bears (NMPreps Top-20) will look to wipe away their opening game loss to Los Lunas (No. 7). The Bears will look to senior WR Brad Thomas again who had a pair of touchdown catches last week. Eldorado (No. 17), also coming off a loss in the opener in what some could call the game of the night (47-43 loss to Volcano Vista) is looking to rebound. Nick Petty (QB) and Elijah Goree (RB) combo is one to see.
Grine's Pick: Eldorado
Line: Eldorado -2.5
Las Cruces (2-0) at Centennial (1-1): 7pm. The Bulldawgs of Las Cruces enter the contest ranked 3rd in the state and looking to lock up a perfect start to the season before a possible bowl game. Centennial (No. 8) coming off a loss to the top ranked Cleveland Storm is looking to get back on the winning side. Both teams can score putting in more than 30 points per game, Las Cruces defense could be the x-factor.
Grine's Pick: Centennial - upset watch?
Line: Las Cruces -6.5
Rio Rancho (2-0) at Cleveland (2-0): 7pm. Could this be the unofficial state championship game for 6A football this season? The is a high possibility unless the winner takes on a Las Cruces team (granted they win on Friday night too). Cleveland ranked No. 1 in the state vs Rio Rancho ranked No. 2 in the state is also the headline for tonight. Jeff Davison (CHS/2021) put his arm on display last week and looking to continue the winning ways for the Storm. New Rio Rancho QB Joey Cave is coming off a nice second half showing last week, can he overcome a stout Cleveland defense this week? Well, this is the rematch we've all wanted, lets hope the streams work or they allow enough of us in.
Grine's Pick: Cleveland
Line: Cleveland -1
Saturday, March 27th
Albuquerque (0-1) at Rio Grande (0-1): 5pm - Milne Stadium. An evenly match contest taking place at Milne as both teams searching for the win of the season. A few Top 250 players to watch in this contest like Luke Mummert (AHS/LB/2021) who is an unsigned talent that could breakout here. Rio Grande fell 30-6 in the game to 5A Del Norte last week and looking to have some success on the football field.
Grine's Pick: Albuquerque
Line: Albuquerque -10.5
Cibola (0-0) at Volcano Vista (1-0): 5pm - Community Stadium. The Metro-West neighbors will square off in what could be a game of the weekend, in an underrated way. Without the game last week, Cibola, with top rated quarterback Aden Chavez (2023) are outside the NMPreps Power-20. That likely changes with a game under their belt but that doesn't mean the Cougars wouldn't love to upset No. 9 Volcano Vista Hawks this Saturday. The Hawks are coming off perhaps the game of the week, last week, beating Eldorado (No. 17), 47-43 in the final seconds. We also said hello to Johnny Herrera whom passed for 316-yards with 5 TDs, in the win and rushed for another 50. Acen Aguilar (RB/2022) also had a showing out party with 117-yards rushing in the win and we can't forgot the WR performance by Kaden Valdez with 137-yards.
Grine's Pick: Volcano Vista
Line: Volcano Vista -8
Clovis (1-2) vs Carlsbad (2-1): 5pm. This could be the statement game for both teams as we look to end the Spring season. Clovis (No. 5 NMPreps Top-20) has dropped the last two games to the top ranked Cleveland Storm (No. 1) and last week to Rio Rancho (No. 2). Carlsbad enters the game ranked 10th in the state and looking to end the season on a positive note and above .500. The Cavemen are coming off a win over Hobbs at home last week, 27-21.
Grine's Pick: Carlsbad
Line: Clovis -3.5
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
Sandia (0-0) at Manzano (0-1): 5pm - Wilson Stadium. The Manzano Monarchs are looking for some answers after a 53-8 loss during their opening weekend. Sandia didn't get to play last week and hoping to hit the field this week to get a season or game under their belt.
Grine's Pick: Sandia
Line: Sandia -10
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 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
Atrisco Heritage (1-0) at West Mesa (1-0): 7pm. It's been sometime that we've seen both Atrisco Heritage and West Mesa with a winning record. Both teams looking sharp in the opener as both have new head coaches changing things up - Knezevich (AHA; first year) and Ansotgue (WMHS; second year). Both bring next level talent into the game as Jaden Cowley (AHA/2021) hit the scene with 166-rushing yards last week will battle against Eastern New Mexico commit Ja'Calvin Newsom (WMHS/RB) who went for 146-yards and 2 touchdowns last week. The winner could actually find themselves ranked in the Top-20, that would be huge!
Grine's Pick: Atrisco Heritage
Line: Atrisco Heritage - 8.5
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. 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
La Cueva (0-1) at Eldorado (0-1): 7pm. The 18th ranked La Cueva Bears (NMPreps Top-20) will look to wipe away their opening game loss to Los Lunas (No. 7). The Bears will look to senior WR Brad Thomas again who had a pair of touchdown catches last week. Eldorado (No. 17), also coming off a loss in the opener in what some could call the game of the night (47-43 loss to Volcano Vista) is looking to rebound. Nick Petty (QB) and Elijah Goree (RB) combo is one to see.
Grine's Pick: Eldorado
Line: Eldorado -2.5
Las Cruces (2-0) at Centennial (1-1): 7pm. The Bulldawgs of Las Cruces enter the contest ranked 3rd in the state and looking to lock up a perfect start to the season before a possible bowl game. Centennial (No. 8) coming off a loss to the top ranked Cleveland Storm is looking to get back on the winning side. Both teams can score putting in more than 30 points per game, Las Cruces defense could be the x-factor.
Grine's Pick: Centennial - upset watch?
Line: Las Cruces -6.5
Rio Rancho (2-0) at Cleveland (2-0): 7pm. Could this be the unofficial state championship game for 6A football this season? The is a high possibility unless the winner takes on a Las Cruces team (granted they win on Friday night too). Cleveland ranked No. 1 in the state vs Rio Rancho ranked No. 2 in the state is also the headline for tonight. Jeff Davison (CHS/2021) put his arm on display last week and looking to continue the winning ways for the Storm. New Rio Rancho QB Joey Cave is coming off a nice second half showing last week, can he overcome a stout Cleveland defense this week? Well, this is the rematch we've all wanted, lets hope the streams work or they allow enough of us in.
Grine's Pick: Cleveland
Line: Cleveland -1
Saturday, March 27th
Albuquerque (0-1) at Rio Grande (0-1): 5pm - Milne Stadium. An evenly match contest taking place at Milne as both teams searching for the win of the season. A few Top 250 players to watch in this contest like Luke Mummert (AHS/LB/2021) who is an unsigned talent that could breakout here. Rio Grande fell 30-6 in the game to 5A Del Norte last week and looking to have some success on the football field.
Grine's Pick: Albuquerque
Line: Albuquerque -10.5
Cibola (0-0) at Volcano Vista (1-0): 5pm - Community Stadium. The Metro-West neighbors will square off in what could be a game of the weekend, in an underrated way. Without the game last week, Cibola, with top rated quarterback Aden Chavez (2023) are outside the NMPreps Power-20. That likely changes with a game under their belt but that doesn't mean the Cougars wouldn't love to upset No. 9 Volcano Vista Hawks this Saturday. The Hawks are coming off perhaps the game of the week, last week, beating Eldorado (No. 17), 47-43 in the final seconds. We also said hello to Johnny Herrera whom passed for 316-yards with 5 TDs, in the win and rushed for another 50. Acen Aguilar (RB/2022) also had a showing out party with 117-yards rushing in the win and we can't forgot the WR performance by Kaden Valdez with 137-yards.
Grine's Pick: Volcano Vista
Line: Volcano Vista -8
Clovis (1-2) vs Carlsbad (2-1): 5pm. This could be the statement game for both teams as we look to end the Spring season. Clovis (No. 5 NMPreps Top-20) has dropped the last two games to the top ranked Cleveland Storm (No. 1) and last week to Rio Rancho (No. 2). Carlsbad enters the game ranked 10th in the state and looking to end the season on a positive note and above .500. The Cavemen are coming off a win over Hobbs at home last week, 27-21.
Grine's Pick: Carlsbad
Line: Clovis -3.5
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
Sandia (0-0) at Manzano (0-1): 5pm - Wilson Stadium. The Manzano Monarchs are looking for some answers after a 53-8 loss during their opening weekend. Sandia didn't get to play last week and hoping to hit the field this week to get a season or game under their belt.
Grine's Pick: Sandia
Line: Sandia -10
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