Saturday Preview, Picks, & Predictions
NMPreps.com's guide to New Mexico high school football today. #nmpreps
PREVIEWS
Cleveland (3-0) vs Las Cruces (3-0). 4 pm, at the University of New Mexico. It is fitting that we have the new football power city taking on the original football power city in the unofficial 6A state championship. Cleveland is the defending state champions and sitting at 3-0 has looked phenomenal in their three games. They have more talent than I like an all-you-can-eat buffet at the casino. Las Cruces is playing the underdog title in this game, that is no secret, and quarterback Marcos Lopez (LCHS) will do battle against Jeff Davison of Cleveland, the two are also in the running for the quarterback of the year.
Los Lunas (2-0) at Belen (2-0). 1 pm. The Los Lunas Tigers have played up to their hype with a very impressive two wins over Capital and La Cueva. Belen on the other hand has been much improved with a pair of 50-0 shutout wins this season. Belen quarterback Ben Hirschfeld (2021) and running back Anthony Roybal (2021) have led the way. Hirschfeld with 213.5 total yards per game.
Rio Rancho (2-1) at Goddard (2-1). 2 pm. Rio Rancho travels to Roswell today and gets to experience the Wool Bowl. The Rams a talented 6A squad that owns a win over Clovis and the lone loss to Cleveland is traditionally a strong opponent. I feel the Rams are still getting accustomed to new head coach Gerry Pannoni. Nate Stone, Larry Luna, Sammy Zaragoza are players to watch for the home team today.
Roswell (2-1) at Clovis (2-2). 2 pm. I feel we could have squeezed another game in at UNM today, this could have been that game. Clovis brings their talented roster into the contest, more specifically defensive end Jaden Phillips (2021) who is an absolute beast on defense. Roswell has been the staple in 5A football and if any 5A is going to challenge a 6A it would be the Coyotes. Roswell's offense can score and that will create some issues for Clovis who hadn't looked sharp on offense (or to expectation) up until putting 55-points last week on Carlsbad. Maybe we get a shootout.
St. Michael's (2-0) at Raton (2-1). 1 pm. St. Michael's likely should have played on Thursday against Socorro, that would have been fun, but now we get the chance to see them against regional opponent Raton. St. Michael's has talent this season and could be one of their better teams of the last four years. Raton is experiencing the start of their most talented roster and has dudes like Cayden Walton, Dylan Quartieri, and Matthew Quartieri.
St. Pius X (1-2) at Portales (3-1). 1 pm, at Eastern New Mexico University. The Sartans of SPX enter the contest with the high-low type of season but both losses come to teams that were perfect up until last night. Portales dropped a late contest but the 2019 state champs still have a lot of hype to watch today and Baylor Diaz (2021/QB) and Braydon Mignard (2021/LB) are the reason. Diaz on offense is averaging 230 yards per game while Mignard is averaging a sack a game and around 9 tackles.
Other games to watch: Matthew Lopez (Santa Teresa) and Joey Reza (Deming) highlight the battle down south with Santa Teresa (2-0) traveling to Deming (2-1). Piedra Vista (2-2) will travel to Capital (2-1) to take on a Jaguars team that is either going to show up or be upset with a late shift of things. Johnny Herrera (Volcano Vista/2021) emerged as a top player this Spring and will help guide the Hawks (1-1) against a winless La Cueva Bears (0-2) team. Del Norte (2-0) has poured in points this season and has been somewhat under the radar, Highland (0-2) has yet to score a point and struggled through a Spring season.
Predictions
Los Lunas 42, Belen 13
Centennial 33, Carlsbad 20
Cibola 35, Eldorado 27
Del Norte 28, Highland 15
Cleveland 44, Las Cruces 36
Capital 28, Piedra Visa 20
Rio Rancho 24-21.
Clovis 21, Roswell 20
Deming 27, Santa Teresa 22
St. Michael's 35, Raton 34
Portales 37, St. Pius X 10
Valley 10, Valencia 0
Volcano Vista 26 La Cueva 20
Grine Picks
Los Lunas
Centennial
Cibola
Del Norte
Cleveland
Piedra Vista
Rio Rancho
Roswell
Deming
St. Mikes
Portales
Valley
Volcano Vista
NMPreps.com's guide to New Mexico high school football today. #nmpreps
PREVIEWS
Cleveland (3-0) vs Las Cruces (3-0). 4 pm, at the University of New Mexico. It is fitting that we have the new football power city taking on the original football power city in the unofficial 6A state championship. Cleveland is the defending state champions and sitting at 3-0 has looked phenomenal in their three games. They have more talent than I like an all-you-can-eat buffet at the casino. Las Cruces is playing the underdog title in this game, that is no secret, and quarterback Marcos Lopez (LCHS) will do battle against Jeff Davison of Cleveland, the two are also in the running for the quarterback of the year.
Los Lunas (2-0) at Belen (2-0). 1 pm. The Los Lunas Tigers have played up to their hype with a very impressive two wins over Capital and La Cueva. Belen on the other hand has been much improved with a pair of 50-0 shutout wins this season. Belen quarterback Ben Hirschfeld (2021) and running back Anthony Roybal (2021) have led the way. Hirschfeld with 213.5 total yards per game.
Rio Rancho (2-1) at Goddard (2-1). 2 pm. Rio Rancho travels to Roswell today and gets to experience the Wool Bowl. The Rams a talented 6A squad that owns a win over Clovis and the lone loss to Cleveland is traditionally a strong opponent. I feel the Rams are still getting accustomed to new head coach Gerry Pannoni. Nate Stone, Larry Luna, Sammy Zaragoza are players to watch for the home team today.
Roswell (2-1) at Clovis (2-2). 2 pm. I feel we could have squeezed another game in at UNM today, this could have been that game. Clovis brings their talented roster into the contest, more specifically defensive end Jaden Phillips (2021) who is an absolute beast on defense. Roswell has been the staple in 5A football and if any 5A is going to challenge a 6A it would be the Coyotes. Roswell's offense can score and that will create some issues for Clovis who hadn't looked sharp on offense (or to expectation) up until putting 55-points last week on Carlsbad. Maybe we get a shootout.
St. Michael's (2-0) at Raton (2-1). 1 pm. St. Michael's likely should have played on Thursday against Socorro, that would have been fun, but now we get the chance to see them against regional opponent Raton. St. Michael's has talent this season and could be one of their better teams of the last four years. Raton is experiencing the start of their most talented roster and has dudes like Cayden Walton, Dylan Quartieri, and Matthew Quartieri.
St. Pius X (1-2) at Portales (3-1). 1 pm, at Eastern New Mexico University. The Sartans of SPX enter the contest with the high-low type of season but both losses come to teams that were perfect up until last night. Portales dropped a late contest but the 2019 state champs still have a lot of hype to watch today and Baylor Diaz (2021/QB) and Braydon Mignard (2021/LB) are the reason. Diaz on offense is averaging 230 yards per game while Mignard is averaging a sack a game and around 9 tackles.
Other games to watch: Matthew Lopez (Santa Teresa) and Joey Reza (Deming) highlight the battle down south with Santa Teresa (2-0) traveling to Deming (2-1). Piedra Vista (2-2) will travel to Capital (2-1) to take on a Jaguars team that is either going to show up or be upset with a late shift of things. Johnny Herrera (Volcano Vista/2021) emerged as a top player this Spring and will help guide the Hawks (1-1) against a winless La Cueva Bears (0-2) team. Del Norte (2-0) has poured in points this season and has been somewhat under the radar, Highland (0-2) has yet to score a point and struggled through a Spring season.
Predictions
Los Lunas 42, Belen 13
Centennial 33, Carlsbad 20
Cibola 35, Eldorado 27
Del Norte 28, Highland 15
Cleveland 44, Las Cruces 36
Capital 28, Piedra Visa 20
Rio Rancho 24-21.
Clovis 21, Roswell 20
Deming 27, Santa Teresa 22
St. Michael's 35, Raton 34
Portales 37, St. Pius X 10
Valley 10, Valencia 0
Volcano Vista 26 La Cueva 20
Grine Picks
Los Lunas
Centennial
Cibola
Del Norte
Cleveland
Piedra Vista
Rio Rancho
Roswell
Deming
St. Mikes
Portales
Valley
Volcano Vista
