6A Quarterfinals: #4 Rio Rancho vs #5 Las Cruces
Location: Rio Rancho High School (Rio Rancho, NM)
Date: Friday
Time: 7PM
NO. 4 RIO RANCHO RAMS
Record: 6-4
Head Coach: David Howes
Bid: At-Large, District Third Place
Home Record: 3-2
Streak: 1L
PF: 399 (39.9 ppg)
PA: 301 (30.1 ppg)
Why the Rams: After a 0-2 start the Rams were being questioned as a playoff team. They reeled off six straight wins, including wins over 2-seed Clovis, 7-seed La Cueva and current quarterfinal opponent 5-Las Cruces. The first meeting between the Rams and Bulldawgs took place in Las Cruces and the Rams came out on top 26-21. Rio Rancho features top quarterback Isaiah Chavez (2020) a 6-foot-1 senior that has passed for 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns this season along with rushing for another 964 yards. Chavez passed for 200 yards, 3 touchdowns during the first meeting. Also, keep an eye on rising running back Zach Vigil (2022) who has 844 and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Jeremiah Esquibel (2020) leads the charge on defense with a team high 82 tackles and 5 sacks on the season.
NO. 5 LAS CRUCES BULLDAWGS
Record: 9-2
Head Coach: Mark Lopez
Bid: Automatic, District Champ
Away Record: 4-0
Streak: 7W
PF: 442 (40.1 ppg)
PA: 181 (16.4 ppg)
Why the Dawgs: The Las Cruces Bulldawgs are currently riding a seven game win, the last loss against their quarterfinal opponent in Rio Rancho. The Bulldawgs under head coach Mark Lopez are 4-3 in the playoffs but in the last two have gone 1-1 in each. Can they breakout and get another win and continue their current win streak? The difference with this years team is an improved and high powered offense. That offense is lead by the duo in Johnny Terrazas, RB (2020) who is coming off a 111-yard and 3 touchdown game in the first round. The quarterback for the Dawgs is junior Marcos Lopez who is also coming off a 2 rushing touchdown game in the first round. Rio Rancho allows points, if the Dawgs could get rolling early they have a shot at pulling this one out and limiting any late mistakes.
NMPreps Score Predictor: Rio Rancho 28, Las Cruces 27
NMPreps Grine Line: Rio Rancho -1
Over/Under: 60
Location: Rio Rancho High School (Rio Rancho, NM)
Date: Friday
Time: 7PM
NO. 4 RIO RANCHO RAMS
Record: 6-4
Head Coach: David Howes
Bid: At-Large, District Third Place
Home Record: 3-2
Streak: 1L
PF: 399 (39.9 ppg)
PA: 301 (30.1 ppg)
Why the Rams: After a 0-2 start the Rams were being questioned as a playoff team. They reeled off six straight wins, including wins over 2-seed Clovis, 7-seed La Cueva and current quarterfinal opponent 5-Las Cruces. The first meeting between the Rams and Bulldawgs took place in Las Cruces and the Rams came out on top 26-21. Rio Rancho features top quarterback Isaiah Chavez (2020) a 6-foot-1 senior that has passed for 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns this season along with rushing for another 964 yards. Chavez passed for 200 yards, 3 touchdowns during the first meeting. Also, keep an eye on rising running back Zach Vigil (2022) who has 844 and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Jeremiah Esquibel (2020) leads the charge on defense with a team high 82 tackles and 5 sacks on the season.
NO. 5 LAS CRUCES BULLDAWGS
Record: 9-2
Head Coach: Mark Lopez
Bid: Automatic, District Champ
Away Record: 4-0
Streak: 7W
PF: 442 (40.1 ppg)
PA: 181 (16.4 ppg)
Why the Dawgs: The Las Cruces Bulldawgs are currently riding a seven game win, the last loss against their quarterfinal opponent in Rio Rancho. The Bulldawgs under head coach Mark Lopez are 4-3 in the playoffs but in the last two have gone 1-1 in each. Can they breakout and get another win and continue their current win streak? The difference with this years team is an improved and high powered offense. That offense is lead by the duo in Johnny Terrazas, RB (2020) who is coming off a 111-yard and 3 touchdown game in the first round. The quarterback for the Dawgs is junior Marcos Lopez who is also coming off a 2 rushing touchdown game in the first round. Rio Rancho allows points, if the Dawgs could get rolling early they have a shot at pulling this one out and limiting any late mistakes.
NMPreps Score Predictor: Rio Rancho 28, Las Cruces 27
NMPreps Grine Line: Rio Rancho -1
Over/Under: 60
