New Mexico High School Football 6A Semifinal Preview & Prediction
NMPreps guide to the semifinals in New Mexico high school football. The 2022 6A semifinals take place on November 19th and 20th. #nmpreps
NO. 1 CLEVELAND STORM VS NO. 5 VOLCANO VISTA HAWKS
The race for the 2022 6A state championship and now Cleveland or Volcano Vista is looking to take the inside track as we enter the semifinals on Friday night. The district 1-6A members will square off for the second time this season after a Cleveland win early during district play.
The Volcano Vista Hawks are currently riding high after upsetting 4-seed Hobbs last week and winners of the last five games. The Hawks are 10-2 on the season, both losses to the 1-seed (Cleveland) and to the 2-seed La Cueva.
Cleveland sits at 9-2 on the season (8-1 vs New Mexico; 1-1 vs Texas) and haven't lost to a New Mexico team since following in the 4th quarter to Centennial on opening night (38-35). Since then the Storm captured a district 1-6A crown along with big wins over La Cueva (No. 2 in 6A), Artesia (No. 1 in 5A) and a 56-21 win over Volcano Vista.
Numbers
Score Prediction: Cleveland 41, Volcano Vista 36
Line: Cleveland, -4.5
Over/Under: 77.5
Records: Cleveland (9-2 overall), Volcano Vista (10-2 overall)
Home Record: Volcano Vista, (5-0 at Community Stadium)
Away Record: Cleveland (5-1, 1 loss was in Texas at Frenship High)
Players to Watch
Volcano Vista senior quarterback Elliot Pasket-Bell is approaching over 4,000 yards on the season (3,000 passing and 1,000 rushing) and 45 total touchdowns (33 passing). Pasket-Bell looks to be a finalist for the Mr. Football award this off-season along with other skilled players on the Hawks roster. Another next level talent comes in the form of senior WR Tristan Cordova who has over 1,100 yards receiving and 11 receiving touchdowns this season. Hunter Martinez (2024), Kian Vander-Wilt (2024), and Noah Wallin (2023) anchor the defense for the Hawks and will play pivotal roles in their upset bid this weekend. Wallin looks to be a finalist for LB of the Year with outstanding totals (105 total tackles, 7.5 sacks).
The Cleveland Storm are flooded with top level talent this season and we can list any player at any position that is likely to find a spot on a college roster and post season award list. The guy that makes things go for this Storm roster is Evan Wysong, a senior quarterback with over 1,800 yards passing, 27 passing touchdowns along with 860 yards rushing and 9 rushing touchdowns. Running back Josh Perry sits at 1,520 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, deserving more credit when discussing the top RB's in New Mexico. Other D-1 standouts are Nic Trujillo (2023/WR) with nearly 1,000-yards receiving and perhaps the top ranked player in Stratton Shufelt (2024/LB).
The final word: Volcano Vista has the momentum, has the talent, now can they get over the hill? Cleveland is loaded with talent, again, and they have everything that it takes to be a state champion, again. This one will be closer than the 56-21 score in the first game but Volcano Vista can't spot the Storm points and expect a comeback like they did Hobbs last week.
NMPreps guide to the semifinals in New Mexico high school football. The 2022 6A semifinals take place on November 19th and 20th. #nmpreps
NO. 1 CLEVELAND STORM VS NO. 5 VOLCANO VISTA HAWKS
The race for the 2022 6A state championship and now Cleveland or Volcano Vista is looking to take the inside track as we enter the semifinals on Friday night. The district 1-6A members will square off for the second time this season after a Cleveland win early during district play.
The Volcano Vista Hawks are currently riding high after upsetting 4-seed Hobbs last week and winners of the last five games. The Hawks are 10-2 on the season, both losses to the 1-seed (Cleveland) and to the 2-seed La Cueva.
Cleveland sits at 9-2 on the season (8-1 vs New Mexico; 1-1 vs Texas) and haven't lost to a New Mexico team since following in the 4th quarter to Centennial on opening night (38-35). Since then the Storm captured a district 1-6A crown along with big wins over La Cueva (No. 2 in 6A), Artesia (No. 1 in 5A) and a 56-21 win over Volcano Vista.
Numbers
Score Prediction: Cleveland 41, Volcano Vista 36
Line: Cleveland, -4.5
Over/Under: 77.5
Records: Cleveland (9-2 overall), Volcano Vista (10-2 overall)
Home Record: Volcano Vista, (5-0 at Community Stadium)
Away Record: Cleveland (5-1, 1 loss was in Texas at Frenship High)
Players to Watch
Volcano Vista senior quarterback Elliot Pasket-Bell is approaching over 4,000 yards on the season (3,000 passing and 1,000 rushing) and 45 total touchdowns (33 passing). Pasket-Bell looks to be a finalist for the Mr. Football award this off-season along with other skilled players on the Hawks roster. Another next level talent comes in the form of senior WR Tristan Cordova who has over 1,100 yards receiving and 11 receiving touchdowns this season. Hunter Martinez (2024), Kian Vander-Wilt (2024), and Noah Wallin (2023) anchor the defense for the Hawks and will play pivotal roles in their upset bid this weekend. Wallin looks to be a finalist for LB of the Year with outstanding totals (105 total tackles, 7.5 sacks).
The Cleveland Storm are flooded with top level talent this season and we can list any player at any position that is likely to find a spot on a college roster and post season award list. The guy that makes things go for this Storm roster is Evan Wysong, a senior quarterback with over 1,800 yards passing, 27 passing touchdowns along with 860 yards rushing and 9 rushing touchdowns. Running back Josh Perry sits at 1,520 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, deserving more credit when discussing the top RB's in New Mexico. Other D-1 standouts are Nic Trujillo (2023/WR) with nearly 1,000-yards receiving and perhaps the top ranked player in Stratton Shufelt (2024/LB).
The final word: Volcano Vista has the momentum, has the talent, now can they get over the hill? Cleveland is loaded with talent, again, and they have everything that it takes to be a state champion, again. This one will be closer than the 56-21 score in the first game but Volcano Vista can't spot the Storm points and expect a comeback like they did Hobbs last week.
