NMPreps Proposes Revised 6A New Mexico High School Football Districts for 2024 and 2025 Seasons
As anticipation builds for the upcoming 2024 and 2025 New Mexico high school football seasons, NMPreps has taken a closer look at the structure of the 6A class. While adhering to the 21 teams designated for the 6A class, our proposed changes focus on optimizing the district alignment for a more balanced and competitive landscape.
One of the primary modifications involves the adjustment of teams within each district. Recognizing the challenges posed by the decision to have one 8-team district instead of three 7-team districts, NMPreps seeks to address scheduling concerns. The changes are designed to maintain regional rivalries while introducing strategic shifts for certain teams.
Key Changes:
District 1-6A:
District 1-6A:
With 21 teams initially posing a scheduling challenge, we devised a solution by incorporating a designated "rival" game each week. This adjustment enables 20 teams to successfully schedule 10 games for the three non-district slots. While an alternative approach could involve relegating Santa Fe to 5A, creating two ten-team districts (an additional feature worth re-exploring, that I released prior to the season), the current solution somewhat addresses the issue. Though travel inconveniences persist, this model ensures competitive games and provides an opportunity to identify the 12 teams deserving of playoff spots.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming 2024 and 2025 New Mexico high school football seasons, NMPreps has taken a closer look at the structure of the 6A class. While adhering to the 21 teams designated for the 6A class, our proposed changes focus on optimizing the district alignment for a more balanced and competitive landscape.
One of the primary modifications involves the adjustment of teams within each district. Recognizing the challenges posed by the decision to have one 8-team district instead of three 7-team districts, NMPreps seeks to address scheduling concerns. The changes are designed to maintain regional rivalries while introducing strategic shifts for certain teams.
Key Changes:
- Hobbs and District 3-6A: Hobbs will be part of District 3-6A, joining teams in Albuquerque. This adjustment, despite requiring travel for Hobbs to Albuquerque, strategically aligns them with teams like Clovis, Alamogordo, and Carlsbad.
- Combining Las Cruces and Albuquerque in District 2-6A: Forming a 1-25 district, this change brings Las Cruces and Albuquerque teams together with Los Lunas in the middle. This alignment aims to foster competitive matchups and streamline travel logistics.
- Santa Fe to District 1-6A: Santa Fe transitions from District 2-6A to District 1-6A, giving them a 7-team district making three 7-team districts.
- Uniform 6A Schedule with Petitioned Rival Games: NMPreps proposes a uniform scheduling approach where all 6A teams adhere to the same schedule, except for petitioned rival games (Artesia vs Carlsbad; Mayfield vs Las Cruces as some examples). This method ensures fairness and consistency in scheduling.
- Annual Scheduling Meeting: Taking inspiration from successful practices in middle schools, NMPreps suggests an annual scheduling meeting where all 6A Athletic Directors convene to collectively schedule games. This collaborative approach aims to address scheduling challenges efficiently.
District 1-6A:
- Cibola
- Cleveland
- Rio Rancho
- Volcano Vista
- Farmington
- Piedra Vista
- Santa Fe
- La Cueva
- Eldorado
- Sandia
- Los Lunas
- Las Cruces
- Organ Mountain
- Centennial
- Albuquerque
- Atrisco Heritage
- West Mesa
- Alamogordo
- Clovis
- Hobbs
- Carlsbad
District 1-6A:
- Cibola
- Cleveland
- Farmington
- Piedra Vista
- Rio Rancho
- Volcano Vsita
- Albuquerque
- Atrisco Heritage
- Eldorado
- La Cueva
- Los Lunas
- Sandia
- Santa Fe
- West Mesa
- Alamogordo
- Carlsbad
- Centennial
- Clovis
- Hobbs
- Las Cruces
- Organ Mountain
With 21 teams initially posing a scheduling challenge, we devised a solution by incorporating a designated "rival" game each week. This adjustment enables 20 teams to successfully schedule 10 games for the three non-district slots. While an alternative approach could involve relegating Santa Fe to 5A, creating two ten-team districts (an additional feature worth re-exploring, that I released prior to the season), the current solution somewhat addresses the issue. Though travel inconveniences persist, this model ensures competitive games and provides an opportunity to identify the 12 teams deserving of playoff spots.
| Proposed Schedule for Non-District | ||
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 |
| Carlsbad vs Artesia (Rival Game) | Las Cruces vs Mayfield (Rival Game) | Santa Fe vs Capital/St. Mikes (Rival Game) |
| Cleveland vs La Cueva | Cleveland vs Centennial | Las Cruces vs Carlsbad |
| Rio Rancho vs Centennial | Rio Rancho vs La Cueva | Farmington vs La Cueva |
| Las Cruces vs Hobbs | Carlsbad vs Clovis | Piedra Vista vs Volcano Vista |
| Eldorado vs Clovis | Hobbs vs Eldorado | Cleveland vs Clovis |
| Los Lunas vs Alamogordo | Los Lunas vs Volcano Vista | Rio Rancho vs Hobbs |
| Volcano Vista vs Sandia | Alamogordo vs Sandia | Eldorado vs Los Lunas |
| Organ Mountain vs Cibola | Organ Mountain vs Santa Fe | Organ Mountain vs Albuquerque |
| Albuquerque vs Santa Fe | Albuquerque vs Cibola | West Mesa vs Centennial |
| Atrisco Heritage vs Piedra Vista | Piedra Vista vs West Mesa | Atrisco Heritage vs Sandia |
| West Mesa vs Farmington | Farmington vs Atrisco Heritage | Cibola vs Alamogordo |
