Predicting The Rest of the 5A Field
J Grine of NMPreps.com
Today, we continue releasing our features as we gaze into our NMPreps.com crystal ball. We are giving our way to early predictions for the 2016 State Tournament.
More: 6A Predictions | Top 50 Countdown | NMPreps.com Combine | 2016 Coaching Hires
Making The Cut: Predicting The Rest of the Field
Aztec Tigers (4-7): Buy
The district has a shake-up, one that favors the Tigers. Gone is Piedra Vista who reached the semi-finals last season and a team that will be a force in it's new classification. The Tigers now return some talent as mentioned in the NMPreps.com Top 50 Countdown as they come in ranked 39th in the state of New Mexico. I say buy now as they could be an under-the-radar buy low with a big payout type of team. Cody Smith is the QB and as a sophomore he passed for 2,841-yards.
Del Norte (4-6): Buy
The Knights have the star power to make a stride into the playoffs as we remember the 2015 parting gift to the season that they handed Los Alamos, 42-0. They return enough to make a run at the District Championship in what could be a two bid league again in 2016. Avery See, RB, is the 6-foot-1 beast that could be in for a highlight type of season. We say buy as they have the roster to be successful in a low ceiling type of district.
Goddard (6-6): Buy
The Rockets have a new head coach this season but they stay within the family to continue the tradition. What they might lack in the must know position names they make up with a handful of athletes. The district will be tough but even at 4-6 wins they should be rewarded with a bid.
Alamogordo (6-4): Buy
What is not to like about the Tigers as they drop to 5A football. The Tigers have plenty of hype going into this season and for good reason. They should be the hands down favorite in District 3-5A and will be a 1-3 loss team at the most with a clean slate in district play. Buy now but you know that.
Roswell (8-5): Buy
The Coyotes are improving and after an 8-win season you have to like the direction head coach David Lynn has the Coyotes moving. I believe they will only surprise more folks as this is my medium buy with a heavy payout. The issue is getting beat up in the best district in 5A will that hurt or help come November? If we are only talking bids then yes.
Farmington (8-4): Buy
Hard to not want to buy up all of the Scorpions stock as they return a quarterback who threw for 3,277-yards in K. Becenti along with several key pieces to the roster last season. They could be the favorite for the District 1-5A title now that crosstown rival Piedra Vista has to battle in 6A.
Belen (3-7): Hold
We had our reserves with the Eagles as they enter the first year under new head coach Greg Hennington. The Eagles have some youth returning from a 3-win season and they could likely hang around .500 mark this season but the district race has the opportunity to make noise for a bid.
Deming (4-6): Hold
Not getting the limelight like Alamogordo for moving down into 5A from 6A. However, this could be a buy low team as they went 4-6 last season and could make a run as a district runner up. They will have to be more consistent as their offensive production dropped drastically as they season progressed against top competition. All wins came against under .500 teams. The jury is still out for now.
Capital (7-4): Hold
Once a doormat or the homecoming game for most teams in New Mexico. What head coach Bill Moon has done should be highlighted over and over again. The Jaguars reached the 2015 playoffs, a fate I wouldn't have imagined years back. The bad news is they lose a do-it-all player like Augie Larrangaga that could be too much to replace.
The Rest of the Field
Miyamura - Sell
Bloomfield - Sell
Grants - Sell
Gallup - Sell
Kirtland Central - Sell
Los Alamos - Sell
Recap: Team Bought
Artesia
Los Lunas
St. Pius X
Valencia
Recap: Teams Sold
Espanola Valley
Santa Teresa
Recap: Teams on Hold
Lovington
J Grine of NMPreps.com
Today, we continue releasing our features as we gaze into our NMPreps.com crystal ball. We are giving our way to early predictions for the 2016 State Tournament.
More: 6A Predictions | Top 50 Countdown | NMPreps.com Combine | 2016 Coaching Hires
Making The Cut: Predicting The Rest of the Field
Aztec Tigers (4-7): Buy
The district has a shake-up, one that favors the Tigers. Gone is Piedra Vista who reached the semi-finals last season and a team that will be a force in it's new classification. The Tigers now return some talent as mentioned in the NMPreps.com Top 50 Countdown as they come in ranked 39th in the state of New Mexico. I say buy now as they could be an under-the-radar buy low with a big payout type of team. Cody Smith is the QB and as a sophomore he passed for 2,841-yards.
Del Norte (4-6): Buy
The Knights have the star power to make a stride into the playoffs as we remember the 2015 parting gift to the season that they handed Los Alamos, 42-0. They return enough to make a run at the District Championship in what could be a two bid league again in 2016. Avery See, RB, is the 6-foot-1 beast that could be in for a highlight type of season. We say buy as they have the roster to be successful in a low ceiling type of district.
Goddard (6-6): Buy
The Rockets have a new head coach this season but they stay within the family to continue the tradition. What they might lack in the must know position names they make up with a handful of athletes. The district will be tough but even at 4-6 wins they should be rewarded with a bid.
Alamogordo (6-4): Buy
What is not to like about the Tigers as they drop to 5A football. The Tigers have plenty of hype going into this season and for good reason. They should be the hands down favorite in District 3-5A and will be a 1-3 loss team at the most with a clean slate in district play. Buy now but you know that.
Roswell (8-5): Buy
The Coyotes are improving and after an 8-win season you have to like the direction head coach David Lynn has the Coyotes moving. I believe they will only surprise more folks as this is my medium buy with a heavy payout. The issue is getting beat up in the best district in 5A will that hurt or help come November? If we are only talking bids then yes.
Farmington (8-4): Buy
Hard to not want to buy up all of the Scorpions stock as they return a quarterback who threw for 3,277-yards in K. Becenti along with several key pieces to the roster last season. They could be the favorite for the District 1-5A title now that crosstown rival Piedra Vista has to battle in 6A.
Belen (3-7): Hold
We had our reserves with the Eagles as they enter the first year under new head coach Greg Hennington. The Eagles have some youth returning from a 3-win season and they could likely hang around .500 mark this season but the district race has the opportunity to make noise for a bid.
Deming (4-6): Hold
Not getting the limelight like Alamogordo for moving down into 5A from 6A. However, this could be a buy low team as they went 4-6 last season and could make a run as a district runner up. They will have to be more consistent as their offensive production dropped drastically as they season progressed against top competition. All wins came against under .500 teams. The jury is still out for now.
Capital (7-4): Hold
Once a doormat or the homecoming game for most teams in New Mexico. What head coach Bill Moon has done should be highlighted over and over again. The Jaguars reached the 2015 playoffs, a fate I wouldn't have imagined years back. The bad news is they lose a do-it-all player like Augie Larrangaga that could be too much to replace.
The Rest of the Field
Miyamura - Sell
Bloomfield - Sell
Grants - Sell
Gallup - Sell
Kirtland Central - Sell
Los Alamos - Sell
Recap: Team Bought
Artesia
Los Lunas
St. Pius X
Valencia
Recap: Teams Sold
Espanola Valley
Santa Teresa
Recap: Teams on Hold
Lovington