Week 1 New Mexico High School Football Friday Night Preview
TOP-10 RANKED TEAMS
No. 1 Cleveland at No. 10 Centennial: The next wave of Storm prospects will lead the number one ranked team in the state on Friday night. Watch for the likes of Nic Trujillo (2023/WR), Stratton Shufelt (2024/LB-TE), Evan Wysong (2023/QB-CB), and Josh Perry (2023/RB) usher in the next group. Centennial, the host, will come in as the underdog but the tenth-ranked Hawks will lean on QB Ian Lopez (2022), Ethan Estrada (2022/LB), and Isaiah Abeyta (2023/DB). The younger Hawks roster will look to their defense in this contest.
NMPreps Prediction: Cleveland 44, Centennial 20
Grine: Cleveland
Line: Cleveland -13.5
No. 3 Cibola vs No. 6 La Cueva: One of the most anticipated quarterback matchups for the week comes in the form of 2023 Aden Chavez, Cibola, and 2023 Aidan Armenta, La Cueva. The two teams enter the game with some hype as a possible contender for the 2021 state championship.
NMPreps Prediction: Cibola 24, La Cueva 22
Pick: Cibola
Line: Cibola -2.5
No. 4 Volcano Vista at No. 8 Las Cruces: The Volcano Vista Hawks have their triple threat of Kieran Cordova (2022/RB), Kaden Valdez (2022/ATH), and Acen Aguilar (2022/ATH) as they try to create some believers in their number four ranking. Las Cruces enters as a slight underdog this season which differs from their typical top-five ranking. The defense with the likes of Dallas Boyd (2022/LB), Dillon Hein (2022/DE), and Matthew Franco (2022/LB).
NMPreps Prediction: Volcano Vista 30, Las Cruces 26
Grine: Volcano Vista
Line: Volcano Vista -4.5
No. 5 Clovis vs No. 11 Hobbs: The new-looking Clovis Wildcats enter the season with the number five ranking. Senior Mile Acosta gets the call at quarterback again this season after finishing the Spring season. The goods news for Acosta is a solid offensive line led by Elijah Wattenbarger (2022), Elijah Wattenbarger (2022), and Adan Acuna (2023). Colton Graham (2021) will look to lead the Hobbs Eagles with one of their better rosters in the three years of head coach Ken Stevens.
NMPreps Prediction: Clovis 20, Hobbs 19
Grine: Clovis
Line: Clovis -1.5
No. 7 Eldorado vs No. 18 West Mesa: After a 1-2 Spring season the Eldorado Eagles are looking to return into the top ten conversations, they start ranked 7th. West Mesa went 3-0 and looking to continue surprising teams. Daniel Ayala (2022) is the must-see prospect for the Mustangs as we head into the season. He'll need to find new targets as graduation hits the skilled position some. Eldorado has Elias Franco (2022) and company that could be the seasons sleeper.
NMPreps Prediction: Eldorado 26, West Mesa 18
Grine: Eldorado
Line: Eldorado -7.5
No. 9 Carlsbad vs No. 15 Artesia: The Eddy County rivalry is on for Friday night and the host Cavemen are looking to make themselves true contenders. Quarterback Dane Naylor (2023) and Jalen Macareno (2022) are the two to watch along with the protection of OL Ramon Loya (2022). The Artesia Bulldogs look to top-ranked running back Jake Barrera (2022) as we enter the 2021 season with the Bulldogs ranked 15th (No. 4 in 5A).
NMPreps Prediction: Carlsbad 35, Artesia 34
Grine: Carlsbad
Line: Carlsbad -1.5
THE REST OF THE RANKED TEAMS
No. 12 Farmington at No. 16 Roswell: Farmington -1.5
No. 14 Los Lunas vs No. 21 Piedra Vista: Los Lunas -9
No. 17 Mayfield vs Manzano: Mayfield -44.5
No. 20 Deming vs Gadsden: Deming -27
No. 22 Alamogordo vs Valencia: Alamogordo -33
No. 23 Lovington at Santa Teresa: Lovington -30
No. 24 Portales at Hope Christian: Portales -2.5
No. 25 Santa Fe vs Robertson: Santa Fe -2.5
Key Players
Brandon Furbee (Farmington HS/2022) opens his season at Farmington HS after his transfer from Grants HS. The Scorpions are the number one ranked team, Roswell the 2018 and 2019 state champs.
Paul Cieremans (Los Lunas HS/2023) The 2023 quarterback could be the biggest riser in our quarterback rankings this season.
Calvin Cox (Mayfield HS/2022) The Trojans running back is one of the little-known across the board but he'll look to make followers with an opening showing.
Ryan Stovall (Alamogordo HS/2023) Stovall will lead the Tigers' defense and could be a big name to know by the end of the season.
Isaac Hinson (Lovington HS/2022) The dynamic receiver for the Wildcats hits the field looking to keep the Wildcats at the top of the 4A rankings.
Hagen Rains (Portales HS/2022) A name that will only shine more as the Rams open the season. Could be on the all newcomers list of names to watch this season.
Small School Divison
Coming Soon
TOP-10 RANKED TEAMS
No. 1 Cleveland at No. 10 Centennial: The next wave of Storm prospects will lead the number one ranked team in the state on Friday night. Watch for the likes of Nic Trujillo (2023/WR), Stratton Shufelt (2024/LB-TE), Evan Wysong (2023/QB-CB), and Josh Perry (2023/RB) usher in the next group. Centennial, the host, will come in as the underdog but the tenth-ranked Hawks will lean on QB Ian Lopez (2022), Ethan Estrada (2022/LB), and Isaiah Abeyta (2023/DB). The younger Hawks roster will look to their defense in this contest.
NMPreps Prediction: Cleveland 44, Centennial 20
Grine: Cleveland
Line: Cleveland -13.5
No. 3 Cibola vs No. 6 La Cueva: One of the most anticipated quarterback matchups for the week comes in the form of 2023 Aden Chavez, Cibola, and 2023 Aidan Armenta, La Cueva. The two teams enter the game with some hype as a possible contender for the 2021 state championship.
NMPreps Prediction: Cibola 24, La Cueva 22
Pick: Cibola
Line: Cibola -2.5
No. 4 Volcano Vista at No. 8 Las Cruces: The Volcano Vista Hawks have their triple threat of Kieran Cordova (2022/RB), Kaden Valdez (2022/ATH), and Acen Aguilar (2022/ATH) as they try to create some believers in their number four ranking. Las Cruces enters as a slight underdog this season which differs from their typical top-five ranking. The defense with the likes of Dallas Boyd (2022/LB), Dillon Hein (2022/DE), and Matthew Franco (2022/LB).
NMPreps Prediction: Volcano Vista 30, Las Cruces 26
Grine: Volcano Vista
Line: Volcano Vista -4.5
No. 5 Clovis vs No. 11 Hobbs: The new-looking Clovis Wildcats enter the season with the number five ranking. Senior Mile Acosta gets the call at quarterback again this season after finishing the Spring season. The goods news for Acosta is a solid offensive line led by Elijah Wattenbarger (2022), Elijah Wattenbarger (2022), and Adan Acuna (2023). Colton Graham (2021) will look to lead the Hobbs Eagles with one of their better rosters in the three years of head coach Ken Stevens.
NMPreps Prediction: Clovis 20, Hobbs 19
Grine: Clovis
Line: Clovis -1.5
No. 7 Eldorado vs No. 18 West Mesa: After a 1-2 Spring season the Eldorado Eagles are looking to return into the top ten conversations, they start ranked 7th. West Mesa went 3-0 and looking to continue surprising teams. Daniel Ayala (2022) is the must-see prospect for the Mustangs as we head into the season. He'll need to find new targets as graduation hits the skilled position some. Eldorado has Elias Franco (2022) and company that could be the seasons sleeper.
NMPreps Prediction: Eldorado 26, West Mesa 18
Grine: Eldorado
Line: Eldorado -7.5
No. 9 Carlsbad vs No. 15 Artesia: The Eddy County rivalry is on for Friday night and the host Cavemen are looking to make themselves true contenders. Quarterback Dane Naylor (2023) and Jalen Macareno (2022) are the two to watch along with the protection of OL Ramon Loya (2022). The Artesia Bulldogs look to top-ranked running back Jake Barrera (2022) as we enter the 2021 season with the Bulldogs ranked 15th (No. 4 in 5A).
NMPreps Prediction: Carlsbad 35, Artesia 34
Grine: Carlsbad
Line: Carlsbad -1.5
THE REST OF THE RANKED TEAMS
No. 12 Farmington at No. 16 Roswell: Farmington -1.5
No. 14 Los Lunas vs No. 21 Piedra Vista: Los Lunas -9
No. 17 Mayfield vs Manzano: Mayfield -44.5
No. 20 Deming vs Gadsden: Deming -27
No. 22 Alamogordo vs Valencia: Alamogordo -33
No. 23 Lovington at Santa Teresa: Lovington -30
No. 24 Portales at Hope Christian: Portales -2.5
No. 25 Santa Fe vs Robertson: Santa Fe -2.5
Key Players
Brandon Furbee (Farmington HS/2022) opens his season at Farmington HS after his transfer from Grants HS. The Scorpions are the number one ranked team, Roswell the 2018 and 2019 state champs.
Paul Cieremans (Los Lunas HS/2023) The 2023 quarterback could be the biggest riser in our quarterback rankings this season.
Calvin Cox (Mayfield HS/2022) The Trojans running back is one of the little-known across the board but he'll look to make followers with an opening showing.
Ryan Stovall (Alamogordo HS/2023) Stovall will lead the Tigers' defense and could be a big name to know by the end of the season.
Isaac Hinson (Lovington HS/2022) The dynamic receiver for the Wildcats hits the field looking to keep the Wildcats at the top of the 4A rankings.
Hagen Rains (Portales HS/2022) A name that will only shine more as the Rams open the season. Could be on the all newcomers list of names to watch this season.
Small School Divison
Coming Soon
