**New Mexico High School Football 8-Man Semifinals Preview**
Today, we present the comprehensive NMPreps 2023 New Mexico High School Football 8-Man State Playoff Preview and Predictions. NMPreps Publisher, Joshua Grine, offers an in-depth analysis of the four teams in the semifinals, offering predictions and spotlighting key players to watch this postseason. #nmpreps
Melrose Buffaloes (No. 1) vs Fort Sumner/House (No. 5)
Overview: Melrose, under the leadership of Coach Drew Hatley in his second season, has transformed from a 7-5 record last year to an impressive 10-1 this season. They seek revenge after last season's 38-14 loss to Fort Sumner/House in the playoffs semifinals. Meanwhile, Fort Sumner/House, the defending 8-man football state champions, remains a formidable force with a 6-2 record. Coach Brad Holland, who has two state championships with the program, is determined to defend their title.
Date: Friday, November 3rd
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Melrose High School
The Path to the Semifinals:
Melrose: The Buffaloes secured the top seed in the 2023 8-Man state playoffs after posting a 10-1 season record. Their sole loss was against Mancos High School (Colorado), 58-28 during week 2. They boast a perfect 9-0 record against New Mexico teams, with seven of those wins resulting in shutouts. Their impressive season statistics include outscoring opponents 562 to 96, with only 12 points conceded against New Mexico teams. In the opening round, they convincingly defeated Tatum with a score of 56-6, finishing the regular season at 9-1 overall and 4-0 in district play.
Fort Sumner/House: In the first round, they dominated the 4-seed Logan Longhorns with a score of 52-0. Fort Sumner/House closed the season with a 6-2 overall record, with losses to Melrose (50-0) and Logan (38-34). Notably, their victory over Logan in the first round reversed a recent loss to the same team just three weeks prior. They've outscored opponents 358 points to 118 points this season. Fort Sumner started the season strong with a 5-0 record before suffering their first loss and ended the regular season with a two-game losing streak, making their first-round victory over Logan particularly significant. In the regular season, they went 5-2 overall and 2-2 in district play.
Players to Watch:
Melrose: Junior quarterback Josiah Roybal leads the Buffaloes' offense, supported by a wealth of talented receivers in Jaxon Odom (2026), Carson Jones (2026), and Michael Cardonita (2024). Brayden Elridge (2024) adds to their offensive strength as a capable runner. On the defensive side, Gray Brandon (2024) excels on both ends, and Dathan Yeary (2024) presents a formidable challenge to any opposing offense.
Fort Sumner/House: This team entered the 2023 season with a roster full of talent, including players who won the state championship last year. Quarterback Joaquin Segura (2024) stands out as a versatile athlete, leading the offense and contributing as an exceptional defensive back. Other key two-way players include Cash Burney (OL/DL), Junior Vigil (LB), Seth Saiz (DE/TE), and Tomas Sena (DL/OL).
Prediction:
This District 3 rematch, happening just a few weeks after their first encounter, features Melrose, the district champion, and Fort Sumner. Melrose previously dominated Fort Sumner 50-0 in their first matchup, but Fort Sumner has shown significant improvement since then and is poised to present a formidable challenge. While Melrose remains a strong contender, a win is not guaranteed, and the final score prediction for NMPreps is Melrose 66, Fort Sumner/House 14.
Today, we present the comprehensive NMPreps 2023 New Mexico High School Football 8-Man State Playoff Preview and Predictions. NMPreps Publisher, Joshua Grine, offers an in-depth analysis of the four teams in the semifinals, offering predictions and spotlighting key players to watch this postseason. #nmpreps
Melrose Buffaloes (No. 1) vs Fort Sumner/House (No. 5)
Overview: Melrose, under the leadership of Coach Drew Hatley in his second season, has transformed from a 7-5 record last year to an impressive 10-1 this season. They seek revenge after last season's 38-14 loss to Fort Sumner/House in the playoffs semifinals. Meanwhile, Fort Sumner/House, the defending 8-man football state champions, remains a formidable force with a 6-2 record. Coach Brad Holland, who has two state championships with the program, is determined to defend their title.
Date: Friday, November 3rd
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Melrose High School
The Path to the Semifinals:
Melrose: The Buffaloes secured the top seed in the 2023 8-Man state playoffs after posting a 10-1 season record. Their sole loss was against Mancos High School (Colorado), 58-28 during week 2. They boast a perfect 9-0 record against New Mexico teams, with seven of those wins resulting in shutouts. Their impressive season statistics include outscoring opponents 562 to 96, with only 12 points conceded against New Mexico teams. In the opening round, they convincingly defeated Tatum with a score of 56-6, finishing the regular season at 9-1 overall and 4-0 in district play.
Fort Sumner/House: In the first round, they dominated the 4-seed Logan Longhorns with a score of 52-0. Fort Sumner/House closed the season with a 6-2 overall record, with losses to Melrose (50-0) and Logan (38-34). Notably, their victory over Logan in the first round reversed a recent loss to the same team just three weeks prior. They've outscored opponents 358 points to 118 points this season. Fort Sumner started the season strong with a 5-0 record before suffering their first loss and ended the regular season with a two-game losing streak, making their first-round victory over Logan particularly significant. In the regular season, they went 5-2 overall and 2-2 in district play.
Players to Watch:
Melrose: Junior quarterback Josiah Roybal leads the Buffaloes' offense, supported by a wealth of talented receivers in Jaxon Odom (2026), Carson Jones (2026), and Michael Cardonita (2024). Brayden Elridge (2024) adds to their offensive strength as a capable runner. On the defensive side, Gray Brandon (2024) excels on both ends, and Dathan Yeary (2024) presents a formidable challenge to any opposing offense.
Fort Sumner/House: This team entered the 2023 season with a roster full of talent, including players who won the state championship last year. Quarterback Joaquin Segura (2024) stands out as a versatile athlete, leading the offense and contributing as an exceptional defensive back. Other key two-way players include Cash Burney (OL/DL), Junior Vigil (LB), Seth Saiz (DE/TE), and Tomas Sena (DL/OL).
Prediction:
This District 3 rematch, happening just a few weeks after their first encounter, features Melrose, the district champion, and Fort Sumner. Melrose previously dominated Fort Sumner 50-0 in their first matchup, but Fort Sumner has shown significant improvement since then and is poised to present a formidable challenge. While Melrose remains a strong contender, a win is not guaranteed, and the final score prediction for NMPreps is Melrose 66, Fort Sumner/House 14.
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