Ranking The Best Week One Games
Joshua J Grine
August is right around the corner and we head to turning to our computers or getting the tailgate food ready and catch all of the action. As you know its never too early to look at the games and we give our ranking of the week one games for the week of August 24th - 27th.
Top 5 Games In 6A
1. Rio Rancho at Mayfield
Both of these teams will be favorites ranked somewhere in the top-5 when the season officially kicks off. Rio Rancho the 2014 State Champ and Mayfield in the 5-year title drought (yeah not a drought) but could be a possible State Title game match-up.
2. Las Cruces vs Eldorado
Much like the game above this game could feature a true state champion contender, shoot it does have the contender but I could see one win it all. Both are ranked high this preseason and will feature some of the top prospects in the state.
3. Carlsbad vs Artesia
Maybe, a bit high and you have another game above this one but what is not to like with a rivalry. Artesia is the two-time defending 5A champ and Carlsbad a team on the rise. No matter what the records this game is big in the area for both town bragging rights.
4. Onate vs Cleveland
Maybe not the highlight headline as the top two on the ranking but this game will show us how good the defending state champs are. Onate was one of the most improved teams last season but we will have to wait and see. I like this match up with the Storm athletes, especially the QB and solid line, against the stellar Linebacker core from Onate.
5. La Cueva vs Cibola
This one falls in line with other "pretender/contender" games like Highland vs St. Pius X, Manzano vs Atrisco Heritage and West Mesa vs Del Norte. Highland looking to improve from their 2-win season with some athletes. Pius is a possible 5A title contender, Manzano and Atrisco both bubble teams with a loss being a deal breaker even in week one. West Mesa and Del Norte in the same boat. I like La Cueva vs Cibola however as the match up looks to be a scoring affair. La Cueva has a solid QB and athletes that are under the radar as they switch to the spread. Cibola has Kayzan Martin to run. Expect the score to be high.
6A - Week One Schedule
8/24 - La Cueva vs Cibola
8/25 - Manzano vs Atrisco Heritage Academy
8/26 - Albuquerque vs Centennial
8/26 - Carlsbad vs Artesia
8/26 - Las Cruces at Eldorado
8/26 - Deming vs Gadsden
8/26 - Mayfield vs Rio Rancho
8/26 - Farmington vs Piedra Vista
8/26 - Rio Grande vs Sandia
8/26 - West Mesa vs Del Norte
8/26 - St Mikes vs Santa Fe
8/27 - Onate vs Cleveland
8/27 - Highland vs St. Pius X
8/27 - Valley vs Volcano Vista
Ranking 5A Week One Games
1. Capital vs Goddard: The Jaguars and Rockets played last season in the state tournament, the Jaguars get another chance to prove the rags to riches stories in high school football.
2. Alamogordo vs Valencia: Alamogordo the big dogs (or cats) that move down to 5A. Valencia gets the chance to play spoiler or we get to see Alamogordo as the true title contender. The headline is the Tigers hit the hair while the Jaguars ground and pound. Cat Fight!
3. Aztec vs Los Lunas: Maybe, more the headline of this cat fight is that we get to see another potential title contender in Los Lunas taking on the Aztec Tigers who are eager to return to the top tier in 5A football.
4. Roswell vs Ruidoso: Maybe, more of a favorite to Roswell but I add it because we get to see how could the Coyotes will be. Ruidoso a year removed from their title is a quality opponent and could create an early scare to make some believers.
5. Belen vs Bloomfield: This is more of a excitement to see a new era and what the former Mayfield OC will do with his own program. The Eagles have some returning players that could get them back on the rise. Bloomfield moving up to 5A from 4A is no slouch though and well coached as it comes.
Note: I didn't add any games mentioned above in the 6A/5A challenge games. If it was mentioned above we left it off.
5A - Week One Schedule
8/26 - Alamogordo at Valencia
8/26 - Aztec vs Los Lunas
8/26 - Belen vs Bloomfield
8/26 - Capital vs Goddard
8/26 - Carlsbad vs Artesia
8/26 - Chaparral vs EP Mountain View (TX)
8/26 - Del Norte vs West Mesa (Community Stadium)
8/26 - Deming vs Gadsden
8/26 - Farmington vs Piedra Vista
8/26 - Grants vs Miyamura
8/26 - Kirtland Central vs Navajo Prep
8/26 - Los Alamos vs Pojoaque Valley
8/26 - Lovington at Denver City (Texas)
8/26 - Roswell vs Ruidoso
8/26 - St. Pius X at Highland (Community Stadium)
8/26 - Santa Teresa at Clint (Texas)
8/27 - Albuquerque Academy vs Hope Christian
Joshua J Grine
August is right around the corner and we head to turning to our computers or getting the tailgate food ready and catch all of the action. As you know its never too early to look at the games and we give our ranking of the week one games for the week of August 24th - 27th.
Top 5 Games In 6A
1. Rio Rancho at Mayfield
Both of these teams will be favorites ranked somewhere in the top-5 when the season officially kicks off. Rio Rancho the 2014 State Champ and Mayfield in the 5-year title drought (yeah not a drought) but could be a possible State Title game match-up.
2. Las Cruces vs Eldorado
Much like the game above this game could feature a true state champion contender, shoot it does have the contender but I could see one win it all. Both are ranked high this preseason and will feature some of the top prospects in the state.
3. Carlsbad vs Artesia
Maybe, a bit high and you have another game above this one but what is not to like with a rivalry. Artesia is the two-time defending 5A champ and Carlsbad a team on the rise. No matter what the records this game is big in the area for both town bragging rights.
4. Onate vs Cleveland
Maybe not the highlight headline as the top two on the ranking but this game will show us how good the defending state champs are. Onate was one of the most improved teams last season but we will have to wait and see. I like this match up with the Storm athletes, especially the QB and solid line, against the stellar Linebacker core from Onate.
5. La Cueva vs Cibola
This one falls in line with other "pretender/contender" games like Highland vs St. Pius X, Manzano vs Atrisco Heritage and West Mesa vs Del Norte. Highland looking to improve from their 2-win season with some athletes. Pius is a possible 5A title contender, Manzano and Atrisco both bubble teams with a loss being a deal breaker even in week one. West Mesa and Del Norte in the same boat. I like La Cueva vs Cibola however as the match up looks to be a scoring affair. La Cueva has a solid QB and athletes that are under the radar as they switch to the spread. Cibola has Kayzan Martin to run. Expect the score to be high.
6A - Week One Schedule
8/24 - La Cueva vs Cibola
8/25 - Manzano vs Atrisco Heritage Academy
8/26 - Albuquerque vs Centennial
8/26 - Carlsbad vs Artesia
8/26 - Las Cruces at Eldorado
8/26 - Deming vs Gadsden
8/26 - Mayfield vs Rio Rancho
8/26 - Farmington vs Piedra Vista
8/26 - Rio Grande vs Sandia
8/26 - West Mesa vs Del Norte
8/26 - St Mikes vs Santa Fe
8/27 - Onate vs Cleveland
8/27 - Highland vs St. Pius X
8/27 - Valley vs Volcano Vista
Ranking 5A Week One Games
1. Capital vs Goddard: The Jaguars and Rockets played last season in the state tournament, the Jaguars get another chance to prove the rags to riches stories in high school football.
2. Alamogordo vs Valencia: Alamogordo the big dogs (or cats) that move down to 5A. Valencia gets the chance to play spoiler or we get to see Alamogordo as the true title contender. The headline is the Tigers hit the hair while the Jaguars ground and pound. Cat Fight!
3. Aztec vs Los Lunas: Maybe, more the headline of this cat fight is that we get to see another potential title contender in Los Lunas taking on the Aztec Tigers who are eager to return to the top tier in 5A football.
4. Roswell vs Ruidoso: Maybe, more of a favorite to Roswell but I add it because we get to see how could the Coyotes will be. Ruidoso a year removed from their title is a quality opponent and could create an early scare to make some believers.
5. Belen vs Bloomfield: This is more of a excitement to see a new era and what the former Mayfield OC will do with his own program. The Eagles have some returning players that could get them back on the rise. Bloomfield moving up to 5A from 4A is no slouch though and well coached as it comes.
Note: I didn't add any games mentioned above in the 6A/5A challenge games. If it was mentioned above we left it off.
5A - Week One Schedule
8/26 - Alamogordo at Valencia
8/26 - Aztec vs Los Lunas
8/26 - Belen vs Bloomfield
8/26 - Capital vs Goddard
8/26 - Carlsbad vs Artesia
8/26 - Chaparral vs EP Mountain View (TX)
8/26 - Del Norte vs West Mesa (Community Stadium)
8/26 - Deming vs Gadsden
8/26 - Farmington vs Piedra Vista
8/26 - Grants vs Miyamura
8/26 - Kirtland Central vs Navajo Prep
8/26 - Los Alamos vs Pojoaque Valley
8/26 - Lovington at Denver City (Texas)
8/26 - Roswell vs Ruidoso
8/26 - St. Pius X at Highland (Community Stadium)
8/26 - Santa Teresa at Clint (Texas)
8/27 - Albuquerque Academy vs Hope Christian
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