Previews and Predictions: 6A Quarterfinals
The quarterfinals of the state playoffs is here and we preview the slate of games for week 13 of the New Mexico High School football season.
More: 4A Previews | Small School Previews
6A - Schedule & Times
No. 8 Onate @ No. 1 Rio Rancho, Friday, Nov. 18th, 7PM
No. 5 Manzano @ No. 4 Centennial, Saturday, Nov. 19th, 1PM
No. 6 Clovis @ No. 3 Las Cruces, Friday, Nov. 18th, 7PM
No. 10 Mayfield @ No. 2 Cleveland, Friday, Nov. 18th, 7PM
Previews
No. 1 Rio Rancho (10-0) vs No. 8 Onate (7-4): The Onate Knights move into the quarterfinals after an opening round victory over La Cueva. The Knights and Rams of Rio Rancho met early this season on September 16th, a 38-10 win by Rio Rancho. The Rams one of the deeper programs in New Mexico have Mr. Football candidate Josh Foley as the must see player plus the x-factor. Easy to put a player that is averaging 155 rushing yards per game but stopping Foley is a task that doesn't come easy but he did have 63-rushing yards on 13 carries in the first meeting. Onate has a possible candidate of their own in Forest Mckee, MLB, who could be the factor for the Knights in this contest. McKee is coming off an impressive opening round game both defensively and offensively.
Prediction: Rio Rancho 31, Onate 27
No. 2 Cleveland (9-1) vs No. 10 Mayfield (6-5): As a ten seed the Mayfield Trojans are unlike any team seeded this low. The Trojans have a reach history of playing well late into the season. Both teams haven't met this season and the differences will be a Storm offense putting up 40 plus points per game, along with allowing 27 points per game. Mayfield is averaging 32 points per game and only allowing 22 per game. Mayfield at times is inconsistently in a game having sound quarters but also let down quarters. Cleveland has weapons, plenty of them. College level prospects are on both ends. Cleveland gets the x-factor in the trenches with an experienced and talented bunch.
Prediction: Cleveland 39, Mayfield 23
No. 3 Las Cruces (9-1) vs No. 6 Clovis (8-3): Maybe to some surprise, just by the fact of how well they have played and grew up so fast is the Las Cruces Bulldawgs. They have a new head coach, junior quarterback taking over in Payton Ball who is on the radar for being a candidate for the NMPreps.com Mr. Football award and a handful of new talent on this roster. Many thought it would be a rebuild/reload learning type of year that is on a fast track. Clovis comes in with talent, experience and a legendary head coach. Look for another Mr. Football candidate in Micah Gray coming into the contest, with a possibility for an upset. Where to turn to for an x-factor? Las Cruces O-Line is stout, Clovis D-Line is among the best so we settle on some of the experience factor. Will it play into the favor for Clovis or the know-no-better Las Cruces young Dawgs?
Prediction: Las Cruces 38, Clovis 30
No. 4 Centennial (8-2) vs No. 5 Manzano (9-2): Who is the fourth ranked team in New Mexico? Centennnial took the first round but this fight has a second round and we get to settle the conversation on Saturday afternoon (1pm). Centennial has the under-appreicated head coach in Aaron Ocampo who is the king of building programs. Manzano has head coach Chad Adcox who could be on the fast track for Coach of the Year taking a Manzano team that was predicted to finish fourth/fifth in District Play (not in the state). The X-factor in this contest is in the hands of a Manzano defense that is only allowing 13 points per game. This was marked as the upset possibility and the line is in favor of Manzano. The two met early in the season a 28-21 come from behind win by Centennial after trailing 21-7 at halftime. Our game player to wait and hear from is Alejandro Vallejos (Manzano).
Prediction: Manzano 28, Centennial 27
The quarterfinals of the state playoffs is here and we preview the slate of games for week 13 of the New Mexico High School football season.
More: 4A Previews | Small School Previews
6A - Schedule & Times
No. 8 Onate @ No. 1 Rio Rancho, Friday, Nov. 18th, 7PM
No. 5 Manzano @ No. 4 Centennial, Saturday, Nov. 19th, 1PM
No. 6 Clovis @ No. 3 Las Cruces, Friday, Nov. 18th, 7PM
No. 10 Mayfield @ No. 2 Cleveland, Friday, Nov. 18th, 7PM
Previews
No. 1 Rio Rancho (10-0) vs No. 8 Onate (7-4): The Onate Knights move into the quarterfinals after an opening round victory over La Cueva. The Knights and Rams of Rio Rancho met early this season on September 16th, a 38-10 win by Rio Rancho. The Rams one of the deeper programs in New Mexico have Mr. Football candidate Josh Foley as the must see player plus the x-factor. Easy to put a player that is averaging 155 rushing yards per game but stopping Foley is a task that doesn't come easy but he did have 63-rushing yards on 13 carries in the first meeting. Onate has a possible candidate of their own in Forest Mckee, MLB, who could be the factor for the Knights in this contest. McKee is coming off an impressive opening round game both defensively and offensively.
Prediction: Rio Rancho 31, Onate 27
No. 2 Cleveland (9-1) vs No. 10 Mayfield (6-5): As a ten seed the Mayfield Trojans are unlike any team seeded this low. The Trojans have a reach history of playing well late into the season. Both teams haven't met this season and the differences will be a Storm offense putting up 40 plus points per game, along with allowing 27 points per game. Mayfield is averaging 32 points per game and only allowing 22 per game. Mayfield at times is inconsistently in a game having sound quarters but also let down quarters. Cleveland has weapons, plenty of them. College level prospects are on both ends. Cleveland gets the x-factor in the trenches with an experienced and talented bunch.
Prediction: Cleveland 39, Mayfield 23
No. 3 Las Cruces (9-1) vs No. 6 Clovis (8-3): Maybe to some surprise, just by the fact of how well they have played and grew up so fast is the Las Cruces Bulldawgs. They have a new head coach, junior quarterback taking over in Payton Ball who is on the radar for being a candidate for the NMPreps.com Mr. Football award and a handful of new talent on this roster. Many thought it would be a rebuild/reload learning type of year that is on a fast track. Clovis comes in with talent, experience and a legendary head coach. Look for another Mr. Football candidate in Micah Gray coming into the contest, with a possibility for an upset. Where to turn to for an x-factor? Las Cruces O-Line is stout, Clovis D-Line is among the best so we settle on some of the experience factor. Will it play into the favor for Clovis or the know-no-better Las Cruces young Dawgs?
Prediction: Las Cruces 38, Clovis 30
No. 4 Centennial (8-2) vs No. 5 Manzano (9-2): Who is the fourth ranked team in New Mexico? Centennnial took the first round but this fight has a second round and we get to settle the conversation on Saturday afternoon (1pm). Centennial has the under-appreicated head coach in Aaron Ocampo who is the king of building programs. Manzano has head coach Chad Adcox who could be on the fast track for Coach of the Year taking a Manzano team that was predicted to finish fourth/fifth in District Play (not in the state). The X-factor in this contest is in the hands of a Manzano defense that is only allowing 13 points per game. This was marked as the upset possibility and the line is in favor of Manzano. The two met early in the season a 28-21 come from behind win by Centennial after trailing 21-7 at halftime. Our game player to wait and hear from is Alejandro Vallejos (Manzano).
Prediction: Manzano 28, Centennial 27
