Today, for the third week we will ask 5-questions for the teams ranked in the Top-25. This will be the Thursday feature and feel free to add your own or chime along with the conversation.
1. Thursday: Can No. 12 Sandia Avoid a 50-Point Mercy Rule?
The No. 1 Cleveland Storm will take on the No. 12 Matadors. The Matadors (3-1) are currently ranked 12th in the state but are currently 0-1 against Top-10 teams, a 37-3 loss to Volcano Vista during week one. The other three opponents for the Matadors, all wins, are a low 2-10. Also, a 0-4 Valley team put 20 points on the Matadors last week (yes, most came in the fourth quarter) but if they want to make this one last 4-quarters they have to stop an unstoppable team. My over under is this one ends in the third quarter.
2. Can No. 4 Las Cruces win as an "underdog" and is this team more vulnerable than we thought?
Okay maybe this will spark you to disagree and go at me. The Bulldawgs are the No. 4 team in New Mexico this week, taking on the No. 3 Centennial Hawks. The Bulldawgs however are coming into the contest narrowly avoiding two upsets to Volcano Vista (24-21) and Rio Rancho (34-31). So is this team not as dominate as we may have projected? Or have they been finishing the games against quality teams along with having a huge target?
3. Is No. 6 Eldorado a true contender?
We have the chance to get a definite answer, well we hope we get one after this weekends contest. The Eagles take on No. 7 Mayfield down in Las Cruces in a game that will provide viewers another Top-10 bash down south. However, the Eagles have played opponents 3-13 combined. Yes, Last week I asked a similar question to the Eagles in a showdown with Volcano. The upset factor in this one could be defense. Mayfield, minus Carlsbad, has allowed teams to put up points (34-Hobbs, 49-Franklin and 46-Alamogordo). I mention that because the Eagles can score, granted the level of opponent. The thing with the Eagles is the most points allowed was 21 by Volcano. Maybe that is the X-factor, maybe not.
4. No. 9 Rio Rancho only getting better?
We know that they played Las Cruces close last week only falling 34-31. They take on a Clovis team that lost it's first game last weekend. Both teams manage the game well and have Clovis was able to close out the close call against Cibola. This one is a big coin flip and Clovis, even though they lost by 30, didn't get mercy ruled against Cleveland. Rio Rancho played the No. 4 team close and offense seems to be getting better each night. This question was hard to write about as both teams are "odd" right now and I have contradicted myself on who has the edge. Who just jumps out early and holds on to the lead wins. Rio Rancho does seem to be getting stronger as the year goes on, Clovis maybe a roller coaster.
5. Should they be this close at 14 and 13?
On one side the No. 13 Cibola Cougars are the cinderella-underdog-team on set this season. The Manzano Monarchs not so much even at 2-2. The Cougars seem to have the edge and at 3-1 for the right reasons. Maybe you don't agree with that but Clovis still debated by folks as a top-5 team barely escaped the loss with Cibola (14-6). Manzano on the other hand escaped with a win over 1-3 West Mesa last week.
Oh yeah will the NMAA go to 5-classifications?
Okay, this thread took off and fun to see the debates going on. My opinion is yes 5 would be best at this time. 31-teams in each well that I don't really agree with. I haven't been able to dig into my entire thoughts but 25-teams maybe at the most.
1. Thursday: Can No. 12 Sandia Avoid a 50-Point Mercy Rule?
The No. 1 Cleveland Storm will take on the No. 12 Matadors. The Matadors (3-1) are currently ranked 12th in the state but are currently 0-1 against Top-10 teams, a 37-3 loss to Volcano Vista during week one. The other three opponents for the Matadors, all wins, are a low 2-10. Also, a 0-4 Valley team put 20 points on the Matadors last week (yes, most came in the fourth quarter) but if they want to make this one last 4-quarters they have to stop an unstoppable team. My over under is this one ends in the third quarter.
2. Can No. 4 Las Cruces win as an "underdog" and is this team more vulnerable than we thought?
Okay maybe this will spark you to disagree and go at me. The Bulldawgs are the No. 4 team in New Mexico this week, taking on the No. 3 Centennial Hawks. The Bulldawgs however are coming into the contest narrowly avoiding two upsets to Volcano Vista (24-21) and Rio Rancho (34-31). So is this team not as dominate as we may have projected? Or have they been finishing the games against quality teams along with having a huge target?
3. Is No. 6 Eldorado a true contender?
We have the chance to get a definite answer, well we hope we get one after this weekends contest. The Eagles take on No. 7 Mayfield down in Las Cruces in a game that will provide viewers another Top-10 bash down south. However, the Eagles have played opponents 3-13 combined. Yes, Last week I asked a similar question to the Eagles in a showdown with Volcano. The upset factor in this one could be defense. Mayfield, minus Carlsbad, has allowed teams to put up points (34-Hobbs, 49-Franklin and 46-Alamogordo). I mention that because the Eagles can score, granted the level of opponent. The thing with the Eagles is the most points allowed was 21 by Volcano. Maybe that is the X-factor, maybe not.
4. No. 9 Rio Rancho only getting better?
We know that they played Las Cruces close last week only falling 34-31. They take on a Clovis team that lost it's first game last weekend. Both teams manage the game well and have Clovis was able to close out the close call against Cibola. This one is a big coin flip and Clovis, even though they lost by 30, didn't get mercy ruled against Cleveland. Rio Rancho played the No. 4 team close and offense seems to be getting better each night. This question was hard to write about as both teams are "odd" right now and I have contradicted myself on who has the edge. Who just jumps out early and holds on to the lead wins. Rio Rancho does seem to be getting stronger as the year goes on, Clovis maybe a roller coaster.
5. Should they be this close at 14 and 13?
On one side the No. 13 Cibola Cougars are the cinderella-underdog-team on set this season. The Manzano Monarchs not so much even at 2-2. The Cougars seem to have the edge and at 3-1 for the right reasons. Maybe you don't agree with that but Clovis still debated by folks as a top-5 team barely escaped the loss with Cibola (14-6). Manzano on the other hand escaped with a win over 1-3 West Mesa last week.
Oh yeah will the NMAA go to 5-classifications?
Okay, this thread took off and fun to see the debates going on. My opinion is yes 5 would be best at this time. 31-teams in each well that I don't really agree with. I haven't been able to dig into my entire thoughts but 25-teams maybe at the most.
