State Playoffs: 4A Preview
The New Mexico Athletic Association met and released the bracket for the 2016 state playoffs in New Mexico. 12-teams in each classification from 6A (largest enrollment) to 3A (enrollment) found their fate on Saturday night at 10:30 p.m.
Today, we take a look at each bracket, the match-ups and the must see prospects in each classification.
First Round Schedule
No. 5 Hatch Valley vs No. 12 NMMI, Friday, 6pm
No. 6 St. Michael's vs No. 11 West Las Vegas, Saturday, 1:30pm
No. 7 Shiprock vs No. 10 Silver, Saturday, 1pm
No. 8 Ruidoso vs No. 9 Taos, Friday, 6pm
4A Overview
When the bracket was released on Saturday night it received plenty of attention for the seed and last teams in the bracket. In fact two of the favorites to win State in 4A football are on the same side of the bracket with one team having to play in the first round.
The top seed went to the undefeated Robertson Cardinals who went (10-0) this season. The Cardinals a favorite this season return after finishing as tournament runner-up's in 2015. With the second seed in the tournament is the Portales Rams (9-1) who won District 4-4A. Rounding out the top-4 seeds is Moriarty (9-1), also from 4-4A and the big surprise Cobre (6-4) who won 3-4A over defending champ Hatch Valley. The Cobre Indians who started the season losing their first three games ended the season on a five game winning streak.
Looking at the opening round the favorite on the north side of the bracket has to be the defending champs - Hatch Valley (8-2). Another team to keep a close eye on is the St. Michael's Horsemen (7-3) who finished the season winning five of their last six games.
Five Players to Watch
Andru Sanchez, QB (Cobre): From unknown to known Andru Sanchez hit the scene midway in the season and has since put up impressive numbers. Minus the opening game to El Paso, Sanchez has passed for over 100-yards in each game this season and over 200-yards in the final to games for a season total of 1,728-yards and 21-passing touchdowns. The 5-foot-8 senior quarterback has the Indians with a 5-seed, winning their first district title since 2003.
Saul Trujillo, RB (Hatch Valley): One of the top running backs in 4A football this season has been the 5-foot-9 junior from Hatch Valley. Trujillo who has an impressive three games over 200-yards rushing has a season total and classification leading 1,611-rushing yards this season. Trujillo has also rushed for 25-touchdowns this season.
Isaiah Otero, WR (Ruidoso): Maybe the surprise name on the list hails from the 8-seed Ruidoso Warriors who host Taos in the opening round. Otero, currently leads the state in receiving yards with 989-yards and 9-touchdowns. The 5-foot-8 junior has a pair of games where he caught for over 100-yards including four games over 100-yards. Otero has also rushed for 464-yards this season, with a game for 156-rushing yards during district play.
Jeremie Karngbaye, DE (Portales): We have heard the name in 4A athletics for three years now, Jeremie Karngbaye might be the top college level prospect in the classification. The 6-foot-5 defensive end has a classification leading 10-sacks this season with 72-total tackles. The Rams are the 2-seed in the state tournament this season.
Connor Houdek, LB (Robertson): The leader for the 1-seed Robertson Cardinals has 113-total tackles, 3-sacks and 1-interception this season. Connor Houdek, a 5-foot-9 160 pound linebacker is one to watch. Houdek plays for one of the top defensive teams in 4A football as the Cardinals have allowed 10 points per game and are currently 10-0 on the season.
Dark Horse
St. Michael's: This years theme for the state tournament has dark horse programs who have had great success in the state playoffs and could be back on the rise to top. The St. Michael's Horsemen are (7-3) on the season and looking to make headlines in the post season. The second round has a potential re-match with 3-seed Moriarty who they faced during week three of the season a 20-7 loss.
Upset Alert
Silver: I think we are with the majority with the pick in taking Silver in the opening round of the playoffs. The Colts are 4-6 on the season and a 10-seed having to take the long journey on Saturday to play the 7-seed Shiprock Chieftains. District 1-4A has not fared well in the playoffs a (1-4) record in the past three playoffs, the lone win coming last season with the now 5A team Bloomfield getting an opening round win. Silver on the other had has a state championship (2013), a semi-final appearance and a 4-2 record in the past three playoffs.
5-12 Seed That Could Make The Semi-Finals
Hatch Valley: Again I think we are picking with what most members agree with in a world of predictions. Hatch Valley as we have mentioned won the state title last season. The Bears also get a re-match with Cobre whom they lost to two weeks ago. We know beating a team twice, especially when close is a difficult task. If we had to pick the Bears are our pick.
First Round Predictions
Hatch over NMMI
St. Michael's over West Las Vegas
Silver over Shiprock *Upset
Ruidoso over Taos
The New Mexico Athletic Association met and released the bracket for the 2016 state playoffs in New Mexico. 12-teams in each classification from 6A (largest enrollment) to 3A (enrollment) found their fate on Saturday night at 10:30 p.m.
Today, we take a look at each bracket, the match-ups and the must see prospects in each classification.
First Round Schedule
No. 5 Hatch Valley vs No. 12 NMMI, Friday, 6pm
No. 6 St. Michael's vs No. 11 West Las Vegas, Saturday, 1:30pm
No. 7 Shiprock vs No. 10 Silver, Saturday, 1pm
No. 8 Ruidoso vs No. 9 Taos, Friday, 6pm
4A Overview
When the bracket was released on Saturday night it received plenty of attention for the seed and last teams in the bracket. In fact two of the favorites to win State in 4A football are on the same side of the bracket with one team having to play in the first round.
The top seed went to the undefeated Robertson Cardinals who went (10-0) this season. The Cardinals a favorite this season return after finishing as tournament runner-up's in 2015. With the second seed in the tournament is the Portales Rams (9-1) who won District 4-4A. Rounding out the top-4 seeds is Moriarty (9-1), also from 4-4A and the big surprise Cobre (6-4) who won 3-4A over defending champ Hatch Valley. The Cobre Indians who started the season losing their first three games ended the season on a five game winning streak.
Looking at the opening round the favorite on the north side of the bracket has to be the defending champs - Hatch Valley (8-2). Another team to keep a close eye on is the St. Michael's Horsemen (7-3) who finished the season winning five of their last six games.
Five Players to Watch
Andru Sanchez, QB (Cobre): From unknown to known Andru Sanchez hit the scene midway in the season and has since put up impressive numbers. Minus the opening game to El Paso, Sanchez has passed for over 100-yards in each game this season and over 200-yards in the final to games for a season total of 1,728-yards and 21-passing touchdowns. The 5-foot-8 senior quarterback has the Indians with a 5-seed, winning their first district title since 2003.
Saul Trujillo, RB (Hatch Valley): One of the top running backs in 4A football this season has been the 5-foot-9 junior from Hatch Valley. Trujillo who has an impressive three games over 200-yards rushing has a season total and classification leading 1,611-rushing yards this season. Trujillo has also rushed for 25-touchdowns this season.
Isaiah Otero, WR (Ruidoso): Maybe the surprise name on the list hails from the 8-seed Ruidoso Warriors who host Taos in the opening round. Otero, currently leads the state in receiving yards with 989-yards and 9-touchdowns. The 5-foot-8 junior has a pair of games where he caught for over 100-yards including four games over 100-yards. Otero has also rushed for 464-yards this season, with a game for 156-rushing yards during district play.
Jeremie Karngbaye, DE (Portales): We have heard the name in 4A athletics for three years now, Jeremie Karngbaye might be the top college level prospect in the classification. The 6-foot-5 defensive end has a classification leading 10-sacks this season with 72-total tackles. The Rams are the 2-seed in the state tournament this season.
Connor Houdek, LB (Robertson): The leader for the 1-seed Robertson Cardinals has 113-total tackles, 3-sacks and 1-interception this season. Connor Houdek, a 5-foot-9 160 pound linebacker is one to watch. Houdek plays for one of the top defensive teams in 4A football as the Cardinals have allowed 10 points per game and are currently 10-0 on the season.
Dark Horse
St. Michael's: This years theme for the state tournament has dark horse programs who have had great success in the state playoffs and could be back on the rise to top. The St. Michael's Horsemen are (7-3) on the season and looking to make headlines in the post season. The second round has a potential re-match with 3-seed Moriarty who they faced during week three of the season a 20-7 loss.
Upset Alert
Silver: I think we are with the majority with the pick in taking Silver in the opening round of the playoffs. The Colts are 4-6 on the season and a 10-seed having to take the long journey on Saturday to play the 7-seed Shiprock Chieftains. District 1-4A has not fared well in the playoffs a (1-4) record in the past three playoffs, the lone win coming last season with the now 5A team Bloomfield getting an opening round win. Silver on the other had has a state championship (2013), a semi-final appearance and a 4-2 record in the past three playoffs.
5-12 Seed That Could Make The Semi-Finals
Hatch Valley: Again I think we are picking with what most members agree with in a world of predictions. Hatch Valley as we have mentioned won the state title last season. The Bears also get a re-match with Cobre whom they lost to two weeks ago. We know beating a team twice, especially when close is a difficult task. If we had to pick the Bears are our pick.
First Round Predictions
Hatch over NMMI
St. Michael's over West Las Vegas
Silver over Shiprock *Upset
Ruidoso over Taos
