Small School Football in Week 10
This week we take a look at the games around the state in 4A/3A/2A and 8-man along with 6-man football.
Ranked Teams in Week 10
No. 17 Moriarty (8-0) vs Portales (7-1): Last week the Pintos accomplished the task of being picked against by routing district opponent Hope Christian, 41-20. Portales (No. 30 NMPreps.com Fab 50) who sits outside the Top-25 have been a team on a mission since dropping a game to Dexter on September 23rd. They are on a 3-game win streak winning by a combined score of 158-33. Both teams are averaging around 41 points per game and the difference could be in the offense. Portales will need to stop the run for Moriarty, Moriarty will need to contain Junior Ramirez who can do both.
Prediction: Portales 35, Moriarty 34
No. 18 Robertson (8-0) vs West Las Vegas (6-2): One week ago this was shaping to be a must see game outside the city of Las Vegas. In Vegas this should still be a hot ticket but with West dropping one to Taos most assume a Robertson thrashing. Both are high scoring offenses (39 per) but Robertson will have the differene maker with a stout D, maybe one of the better (or best) in 4A. The guy we like as our x-factor is Connor Houdek on defense who averages around 12 tackles per game.
Prediction: Robertson 39, West Las Vegas 21
No. 21 Hatch Valley (7-1) vs Cobre (4-4): The Hatch Valley Bears are playing like a team on a mission and one has to like the Bears in this one having a 14-game home win streak. After a 1-4 start however he Cobre Indians (No. 41 NMPreps.com Fab 50) could be the biggest New Mexico test this season. The biggest questions heading into this contest is if the Cobre defense can stop a Hatch Valley offense with more weapons than any Bear hunter in New Mexico. Cade Hackey, mentioned in the running for wide receiver of the year is only one of those weapons who could be in store for a big game. The last time Hatch played against a pass heavy team with a WR stud was Aztec, a game they dropped 62-31.
Prediction: Hatch Valley 42, Cobre 28
No. 22 Estancia (7-1) vs Cuba (1-7): Estancia has allowed 7-points in their two district games, Cuba could be on an end of a 50-0 contest. The Bears not only have the difference makers, they have the x-factors and everything you associate with a win in this game. Expect NMPreps.com Mr. Football candidate Ezekiel Tapia to get in and out early in this contest, he has 1,881-yards on the season with 7 straight games with 100 yards or more.
Prediction: Estancia 50, Cuba 0
Rapid Fire for Week 10
Upset I wouldn't be shocked if it happend: Portales on Moriarty. Yes, I know we sang this tune last week (let me have it) but Portales is the toughest challenge the Pintos have met.
Upset I would be shocked if it happened: Socorro vs Silver. This one has playoff hopes for both teams, more for Socorro who strange enough needs this one at (6-2) on the season. Silver should be fine but can't afford a drop.
Best underrated game this week: Dexter vs Capitan. This game should have all the hype this week as both a true contenders for the title.
Should have all the hype and more: Escalante vs Fort Sumner. Adding to a weekend of contenders spreading their wings, this one puts two of the best teams in 2A against each other, both are 9-0.
Playoff Dreams? Taos vs Pojoaque Valley. Both bring a 4-4 record into the contest and still a chance to make the dance, Taos beating West Las Vegas last week was huge.
Under .500 but a game you want to see. Tucumcari vs Texico. Both are a combined 3-12 but if you take peak at the schedule you can understand that these teams should be playoffs teams and might win a game or two win they arrive to the dance.
Continuing to Flex: Gateway Christian vs Cloudcroft. We said to keep your upset radar on this contest last week (okay that was dumb). The Warriors should roll but a 5-3 Cloudcroft will hope to be the surprise in waiting.
Jocking for Position: Mesilla Valley vs Carrizozo. Both teams bring a 5-2 record to the table, both teams need a win to move up in the playoff seeding game.
Who Could Be Player of the Week: Darion Ontiveros, Portales. Has over 1,000 yards rushing, has the chance in one of the top games to watch this week. I know we mentioned Ramirez above as the X-factor but the duo could both be humming.
Player Who Has the Chance to Shine. Andru Sanchez, Cobre. The QB for the Indians has quietly playing among the best in the classification. He can play spoiler to a top Hatch Valley team.
Player Who Will Shut Up the Critics: Elijah Tapia. The running back for the Pintos has 876-yards on the season, this week he can run a win down our doubts.
This week we take a look at the games around the state in 4A/3A/2A and 8-man along with 6-man football.
Ranked Teams in Week 10
No. 17 Moriarty (8-0) vs Portales (7-1): Last week the Pintos accomplished the task of being picked against by routing district opponent Hope Christian, 41-20. Portales (No. 30 NMPreps.com Fab 50) who sits outside the Top-25 have been a team on a mission since dropping a game to Dexter on September 23rd. They are on a 3-game win streak winning by a combined score of 158-33. Both teams are averaging around 41 points per game and the difference could be in the offense. Portales will need to stop the run for Moriarty, Moriarty will need to contain Junior Ramirez who can do both.
Prediction: Portales 35, Moriarty 34
No. 18 Robertson (8-0) vs West Las Vegas (6-2): One week ago this was shaping to be a must see game outside the city of Las Vegas. In Vegas this should still be a hot ticket but with West dropping one to Taos most assume a Robertson thrashing. Both are high scoring offenses (39 per) but Robertson will have the differene maker with a stout D, maybe one of the better (or best) in 4A. The guy we like as our x-factor is Connor Houdek on defense who averages around 12 tackles per game.
Prediction: Robertson 39, West Las Vegas 21
No. 21 Hatch Valley (7-1) vs Cobre (4-4): The Hatch Valley Bears are playing like a team on a mission and one has to like the Bears in this one having a 14-game home win streak. After a 1-4 start however he Cobre Indians (No. 41 NMPreps.com Fab 50) could be the biggest New Mexico test this season. The biggest questions heading into this contest is if the Cobre defense can stop a Hatch Valley offense with more weapons than any Bear hunter in New Mexico. Cade Hackey, mentioned in the running for wide receiver of the year is only one of those weapons who could be in store for a big game. The last time Hatch played against a pass heavy team with a WR stud was Aztec, a game they dropped 62-31.
Prediction: Hatch Valley 42, Cobre 28
No. 22 Estancia (7-1) vs Cuba (1-7): Estancia has allowed 7-points in their two district games, Cuba could be on an end of a 50-0 contest. The Bears not only have the difference makers, they have the x-factors and everything you associate with a win in this game. Expect NMPreps.com Mr. Football candidate Ezekiel Tapia to get in and out early in this contest, he has 1,881-yards on the season with 7 straight games with 100 yards or more.
Prediction: Estancia 50, Cuba 0
Rapid Fire for Week 10
Upset I wouldn't be shocked if it happend: Portales on Moriarty. Yes, I know we sang this tune last week (let me have it) but Portales is the toughest challenge the Pintos have met.
Upset I would be shocked if it happened: Socorro vs Silver. This one has playoff hopes for both teams, more for Socorro who strange enough needs this one at (6-2) on the season. Silver should be fine but can't afford a drop.
Best underrated game this week: Dexter vs Capitan. This game should have all the hype this week as both a true contenders for the title.
Should have all the hype and more: Escalante vs Fort Sumner. Adding to a weekend of contenders spreading their wings, this one puts two of the best teams in 2A against each other, both are 9-0.
Playoff Dreams? Taos vs Pojoaque Valley. Both bring a 4-4 record into the contest and still a chance to make the dance, Taos beating West Las Vegas last week was huge.
Under .500 but a game you want to see. Tucumcari vs Texico. Both are a combined 3-12 but if you take peak at the schedule you can understand that these teams should be playoffs teams and might win a game or two win they arrive to the dance.
Continuing to Flex: Gateway Christian vs Cloudcroft. We said to keep your upset radar on this contest last week (okay that was dumb). The Warriors should roll but a 5-3 Cloudcroft will hope to be the surprise in waiting.
Jocking for Position: Mesilla Valley vs Carrizozo. Both teams bring a 5-2 record to the table, both teams need a win to move up in the playoff seeding game.
Who Could Be Player of the Week: Darion Ontiveros, Portales. Has over 1,000 yards rushing, has the chance in one of the top games to watch this week. I know we mentioned Ramirez above as the X-factor but the duo could both be humming.
Player Who Has the Chance to Shine. Andru Sanchez, Cobre. The QB for the Indians has quietly playing among the best in the classification. He can play spoiler to a top Hatch Valley team.
Player Who Will Shut Up the Critics: Elijah Tapia. The running back for the Pintos has 876-yards on the season, this week he can run a win down our doubts.
