NMPreps: Ranking the Must-See Games in Week 2
J. Grine | NMPreps
Each week on NMPreps.com we discuss which games you should watch and which could provide the best picture for the top teams in New Mexico. Week 2 provides us with many of the top teams leaving the state or hosting an out-of-state team.
1) No. 8 Los Lunas (1-0) at No. 10 Clovis (1-0): The game puts a two top-10 ranked teams against each other in eastern New Mexico. The Los Lunas Tigers (No. 8) and Clovis Wildcats (No. 10) also give us one of the most evenly match games of the night. Both feature a quarterback that can let it fly - Kade Benavidez (LL) and Chance Harris (CHS) and both have a defense that could rank among the best. The quarterback battle could be a later conversation as the debate for QB of the Year is discussed.
2) No. 1 Cleveland (1-0) at EP-Franklin, TX (0-0): The two meet in the later of a two-game series, last season Cleveland took the contest 35-21 in Rio Rancho. Now the top ranked Storm travel south to El Paso, Texas with hopes of maintaining the edge. Dorian Lewis, the top ranked running back in New Mexico also returns to El Paso where he played his sophomore and freshman years.
3) No. 4 Las Cruces (1-0) at No. 9 Eldorado (1-0): This could secretly be the best game this weekend and one that will light up the scoreboard. Personally, I like what both offenses bring to the table and it could make for a very high scoring contest - take the over in this one. Las Cruces brings the duo of quarterback Marcos Lopez who accounted for three touchdowns along with running back Johnny Terrazas who is the new guy on the block. Terrazas rushed for 180 yards and four touchdowns. The Eldorado Eagles had a warm-up against a young West Mesa team. This week will allow us a true picture but they had four or five different players reach the end zone last week. Quarterback Nick Petty looked comfortable and could be an x-factor player this season.
4) No. 11 Mayfield (0-0) vs Del Valle, TX (0-0): Round four between the schools; the Del Valle High School Conquistadores lead the series 2-1, winning the last two. Del Valle (TX) is coming off an 8-3 season and will feature a new quarterback this season after do-everything Raymond Martinez graduated. For Mayfield it is the "opener" as they enjoyed the rain last week, cancelling their contest with Atrisco Heritage Academy.
5) No. 12 Carlsbad (1-0) at No. 14 Goddard (1-0): This one is an exciting one for the folks in southeastern New Mexico. The Cavemen are coming off a win in the Eddy County War and riding high hopes of finally reaching the playoffs. That journey will require a win in this one. Carlsbad received a big game from Nate Najar last week as he crossed the goal line with five rushing touchdowns. The story for the Rockets is a high powered defense that shutout a St. Pius X team last week. We could list a handful of stars from the defense last week but keep an eye up front as Larry Luna, Ray Downs, and Hunter Beene look to shutdown the running game.
Best of the Rest
6) No. 7 Rio Rancho (0-1) at Pine Creek, CO (0-0)
7) Hatch Valley (1-0) at Ruidoso (0-1)
8) Belen (1-0) at No. 24 Farmington (1-0)
9) No. 6 Roswell (1-0) at Lovington (1-0)
10) No. 17 Piedra Vista (0-1) at No. 22 St. Pius X (0-1)
Other's To Keep an Eye On
No. 16 Hobbs (0-1) at No. 13 Artesia (0-1)
No. 19 Portales (1-0) at St. Michael's (0-1)
Aztec (1-0) at Newcomb (1-0)
Silver (0-0) vs Bowie, TX (0-0)
Bloomfield (1-0) at Escalante (1-0)
Cobre (0-0) at Robertson (1-0)
No. 25 Eunice (1-0) at Estancia (0-1)
Dexter (1-0) at Texico (1-0)
What are your top games to watch this week?
J. Grine | NMPreps
Each week on NMPreps.com we discuss which games you should watch and which could provide the best picture for the top teams in New Mexico. Week 2 provides us with many of the top teams leaving the state or hosting an out-of-state team.
1) No. 8 Los Lunas (1-0) at No. 10 Clovis (1-0): The game puts a two top-10 ranked teams against each other in eastern New Mexico. The Los Lunas Tigers (No. 8) and Clovis Wildcats (No. 10) also give us one of the most evenly match games of the night. Both feature a quarterback that can let it fly - Kade Benavidez (LL) and Chance Harris (CHS) and both have a defense that could rank among the best. The quarterback battle could be a later conversation as the debate for QB of the Year is discussed.
2) No. 1 Cleveland (1-0) at EP-Franklin, TX (0-0): The two meet in the later of a two-game series, last season Cleveland took the contest 35-21 in Rio Rancho. Now the top ranked Storm travel south to El Paso, Texas with hopes of maintaining the edge. Dorian Lewis, the top ranked running back in New Mexico also returns to El Paso where he played his sophomore and freshman years.
3) No. 4 Las Cruces (1-0) at No. 9 Eldorado (1-0): This could secretly be the best game this weekend and one that will light up the scoreboard. Personally, I like what both offenses bring to the table and it could make for a very high scoring contest - take the over in this one. Las Cruces brings the duo of quarterback Marcos Lopez who accounted for three touchdowns along with running back Johnny Terrazas who is the new guy on the block. Terrazas rushed for 180 yards and four touchdowns. The Eldorado Eagles had a warm-up against a young West Mesa team. This week will allow us a true picture but they had four or five different players reach the end zone last week. Quarterback Nick Petty looked comfortable and could be an x-factor player this season.
4) No. 11 Mayfield (0-0) vs Del Valle, TX (0-0): Round four between the schools; the Del Valle High School Conquistadores lead the series 2-1, winning the last two. Del Valle (TX) is coming off an 8-3 season and will feature a new quarterback this season after do-everything Raymond Martinez graduated. For Mayfield it is the "opener" as they enjoyed the rain last week, cancelling their contest with Atrisco Heritage Academy.
5) No. 12 Carlsbad (1-0) at No. 14 Goddard (1-0): This one is an exciting one for the folks in southeastern New Mexico. The Cavemen are coming off a win in the Eddy County War and riding high hopes of finally reaching the playoffs. That journey will require a win in this one. Carlsbad received a big game from Nate Najar last week as he crossed the goal line with five rushing touchdowns. The story for the Rockets is a high powered defense that shutout a St. Pius X team last week. We could list a handful of stars from the defense last week but keep an eye up front as Larry Luna, Ray Downs, and Hunter Beene look to shutdown the running game.
Best of the Rest
6) No. 7 Rio Rancho (0-1) at Pine Creek, CO (0-0)
7) Hatch Valley (1-0) at Ruidoso (0-1)
8) Belen (1-0) at No. 24 Farmington (1-0)
9) No. 6 Roswell (1-0) at Lovington (1-0)
10) No. 17 Piedra Vista (0-1) at No. 22 St. Pius X (0-1)
Other's To Keep an Eye On
No. 16 Hobbs (0-1) at No. 13 Artesia (0-1)
No. 19 Portales (1-0) at St. Michael's (0-1)
Aztec (1-0) at Newcomb (1-0)
Silver (0-0) vs Bowie, TX (0-0)
Bloomfield (1-0) at Escalante (1-0)
Cobre (0-0) at Robertson (1-0)
No. 25 Eunice (1-0) at Estancia (0-1)
Dexter (1-0) at Texico (1-0)
What are your top games to watch this week?
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