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Most Likely to Upset in Week One

Most Likely to Upset

  • Centennial over Rio Rancho

    Votes: 24 33.3%
  • Carlsbad over Artesia

    Votes: 13 18.1%
  • Manzano over Las Cruces

    Votes: 8 11.1%
  • Piedra Vista over Los Lunas

    Votes: 18 25.0%
  • St. Pius over Goddard

    Votes: 9 12.5%
  • Other

    Votes: 7 9.7%

  • Total voters
    72

J Grine

NMPreps Hall Of Fame
Staff
Oct 31, 2010
43,927
16,008
113
37
Rio Rancho
Week One: Most Likely to Upset This Week
J Grine | NMPreps

BIG THREE FOR WEEK ONE

No. 7 Centennial at No. 4 Rio Rancho (Fri., 7pm): The Centennial Hawks will have to go on the road to upset the Rams but in Hawks fashion they will start as an underdog in 2019, like they did in 2018. The Rio Rancho Rams look to avenge a 29-14 loss last season in Las Cruces. Here is the issue for the Hawks; can the defense resemble anything from the 2018 season. The Hawks defense was wildly underrated last season and the loss of Guy Dunivan, Damian Davila, and Omar Moreno will be a task for a defense that only allowed 13 points per game. Rio Rancho went under .500 last season but looking to bounce back behind the arm of two-year starter Isaiah Chavez at QB. Both teams are somewhat unknowns but Rio Rancho, ranked 4th, has some early buy-in as a potential title contender.

No. 13 Manzano vs No. 5 Las Cruces (Fri., 7pm): Another north vs south contest in the Albuquerque-Metro are that will have plenty of interest. The common theme that we have as we head into week one is which teams will teams have the potential to be good. Las Cruces is riding on the sleeper theme and returning one of the top quarterbacks in the state - Marcos Lopez - they have reason to want to prove doubters wrong. Manzano, a little higher up in the rankings sitting outside the top-10, are ready to make an even bigger statement heading into the opening weekend. Austin Erickson (2020) and new quarterback Jace Melfi (2020) are eager to jump on the highlight scene this week.

No. 16 Carlsbad at No. 10 Artesia (Fri., 7pm): The Eddy County War takes place on opening week and the Cavemen looking to maintain the bragging rights after a 28-14 win in 2018. The win last season snapped a 4-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. This season the rivalry could swing either way as both teams will use opening weekend as an introductory to the plenty of new faces on both sides. Carlsbad replaces plenty of what they did last season in a depleted line, RB, and new QB. Artesia also fills holes but hope to ride the arm of Clay Houghtaling this season.

Others to Consider
No. 17 Piedra Vista at No. 8 Los Lunas
No. 19 St. Pius X at No. 15 Goddard
 
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