Week 12: Friday Night Preview & Predictions
NMPreps Friday night guide to New Mexico high school football playoffs. The first week of November starts the 2022 New Mexico high school football state playoffs. #nmpreps
6A FOOTBALL
No. 5 Volcano Vista Hawks (8-2) vs No. 12 Atrisco Heritage Jaguars (5-5)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
Over at Community Stadium the Volcano Vista Hawks look to make their make way the 12-seed Jaguars in consecutive weeks. The District 1-6A members faced each other last week in a 50-0 thumping by the Volcano Vista Hawks. It should not take away the improvements by the Atrisco Heritage Jaguars program. A big kudos to the committee that hired Howard Knezevich two years ago and creating the Jaguars into a winner. Stars Latavious Morris (2025), Marquise Renfro (2024) and Manny Sedillo (2023) will look to guide a talented receiving core. The trio totaling for over 2,300 receiving yards and 26 receiving touchdowns on the season.
With their eyes set on a state championship will be the 5th seed Volcano Vista Hawks led by senior quarterback Elliot Pasket-Bell guiding the offense. Pasket-Bell has 2,500 passing yards and 750 rushing yards on the season along with 37 total touchdowns (26 passing). Another outstanding prospect is Tristan Cordova who has 1,000 yards receiving and 9 receiving touchdowns on the season. Will this be a year that Volcano Vista gets it done in the post season?
Prediction: Volcano Vista 48, Atrisco Heritage 8. Volcano Vista sets its sight on the Hobbs Eagles in the quarterfinals.
No. 6 Rio Rancho Rams (6-4) vs No. 11 Alamogordo Tigers (5-5)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
After facing district leaders Volcano Vista (34-22) and Cleveland (35-14) the Rio Rancho Rams are looking to use the opening round as a potential bounce back game. The offense for the Rams relies on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback JJ Arellano who has over 1,000-yards throwing but it is the rushing the attack that propels the Rams offense. Arellano leads the way with 602 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Rayce Ramirez (2024) is another impactful running back with nearly 600 rushing yards.
Alamogordo earned a crucial win during the final weekend beating Organ Mountain (7-3) and ultimately punching their ticket to the 2022 playoffs. A remarkable turnaround for head coach AJ Cisco guiding the Tigers back to post season play. Ryan Stovall (2023) and Damon Mayberry (2023) steer the rushing attack for the Tigers with the two backs sharing carries and combining for over 1,000 rushing yards on the season. The duo also leads on the other side of the ball leading the team in total tackles.
Prediction: Rio Rancho 31, Alamogordo 18. I like Alamogordo and the work done this season but Rio Rancho should outlast the Tigers.
5A FOOTBALL
No. 5 Deming Wildcats (6-4) vs No. 12 Belen Eagles (2-8)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
A rematch from the 2021 first round puts the Belen Eagles making the road trip this season to the southwest corner of the state. Deming earned an automatic bid as district champions and winners of five of the final six games of the season to finish 6-4. Deming and Belen met earlier this season, Deming winning 56-22 in Belen back in September. Belen junior running back Diego Avila has nearly 800 yards rushing, with nearly 450 coming in October, will look to guide them in an upset opportunity.
Prediction: Deming 40, Belen 21. Deming should move along and avenge the loss in the playoffs in 2021.
No. 6 Mayfield Trojans (4-6) vs No. 11 Santa Teresa Desert Warriors (4-6)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
Another rematch game will take place on Friday night with Mayfield looking to make it two in a row against Santa Teresa. The Trojans won 24-7 on the road to start the season but enter the game on a three game skid -- all three to teams ranked in the top four. Seniors Diego Geurra, Jisiah Lara, and Anthony Carrillo look to carry the Trojans this post season. Santa Teresa will look to senior running back Angel Gutierrez in this game. The senior has rushed for 1,003 yards and 12 touchdowns providing the spark to the offense.
Prediction: Mayfield 23, Santa Teresa 14. The Trojans have enough fire power to make a post season run and it starts here.
4A FOOTBALL
No. 5 Portales Rams (8-2) vs No. 12 St. Pius X Sartans (2-8)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
The game on the move. First, slated to be played at Eastern New Mexico University has now shifted to Clovis High School due to a water issue. The two teams met mid-September in Albuquerque with the Rams coming out ahead 32-0. The story should end the same as the first time around with the play of Paxton Culpepper (2025) and company guiding the Rams into a quarterfinal showdown with Lovington. Culpepper is nearing 2,000-yards passing and 22-touchdowns. Prediction and Pick Here.
No. 6 Albuquerque Academy Chargers (6-4) vs No. 11 Bernalillo Spartans (2-7)
Friday, November 4th (3pm)
The team that could have been. That will be one to remember for the Albuquerque Academy Chargers who have been hit with devastating injuries. Senior quarterback Andres Rivera (2023) will look to improve in the rematch. Rivera passed for 121 yards but threw two INTs in the overtime win last week. Bernalillo enters the game with plenty of confidence after taking the Chargers to the wire. Prediction and Pick Here.
No. 7 Moriarty Pintos (7-3) vs No. 10 Kirtland Central Broncos (4-5)
Friday, November 4th (6pm)
Battle of the horses. This one will belong to the strong running game from the Pintos backfield. Santiago Chavez (2024), Michael Magoffe (2023), and Matthew Romero (2023) have carried the Pintos forward this season. Chavez leads the way with 812 yards (6.1 average per carry) and 8 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Amare Gonzales has 367 rushing yards and 397 passing yards for the Pintos with a total of 17 touchdowns (11 rushing). Kirtland has relied on Randon Matthews (2025) this season and will continue into the state playoffs. Pintos roll. Matthews has 600-passing yards and 600 rushing yards.
No. 8 Aztec Tigers (4-6) vs No. 9 Valencia Jaguars (4-6)
Friday, November 4th (6pm)
Battle of the cats. Valencia playing improved football as of late will look to the guidance of senior quarterback Rey Garcia. Garcia has over 700 yards passing and nearly 500 yards rushing for the Jaguars this season. Macquis Henry looks to guide the Aztec Tigers offense, as he has done all season long. He has over 1,000-yards passing and 10 passing touchdowns on the season. This will be a battle to the end and the final drive could be the determining factor. Expect a cold night in northern New Mexico. Prediction and Pick Here.
NMPreps Friday night guide to New Mexico high school football playoffs. The first week of November starts the 2022 New Mexico high school football state playoffs. #nmpreps
6A FOOTBALL
No. 5 Volcano Vista Hawks (8-2) vs No. 12 Atrisco Heritage Jaguars (5-5)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
Over at Community Stadium the Volcano Vista Hawks look to make their make way the 12-seed Jaguars in consecutive weeks. The District 1-6A members faced each other last week in a 50-0 thumping by the Volcano Vista Hawks. It should not take away the improvements by the Atrisco Heritage Jaguars program. A big kudos to the committee that hired Howard Knezevich two years ago and creating the Jaguars into a winner. Stars Latavious Morris (2025), Marquise Renfro (2024) and Manny Sedillo (2023) will look to guide a talented receiving core. The trio totaling for over 2,300 receiving yards and 26 receiving touchdowns on the season.
With their eyes set on a state championship will be the 5th seed Volcano Vista Hawks led by senior quarterback Elliot Pasket-Bell guiding the offense. Pasket-Bell has 2,500 passing yards and 750 rushing yards on the season along with 37 total touchdowns (26 passing). Another outstanding prospect is Tristan Cordova who has 1,000 yards receiving and 9 receiving touchdowns on the season. Will this be a year that Volcano Vista gets it done in the post season?
Prediction: Volcano Vista 48, Atrisco Heritage 8. Volcano Vista sets its sight on the Hobbs Eagles in the quarterfinals.
No. 6 Rio Rancho Rams (6-4) vs No. 11 Alamogordo Tigers (5-5)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
After facing district leaders Volcano Vista (34-22) and Cleveland (35-14) the Rio Rancho Rams are looking to use the opening round as a potential bounce back game. The offense for the Rams relies on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback JJ Arellano who has over 1,000-yards throwing but it is the rushing the attack that propels the Rams offense. Arellano leads the way with 602 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Rayce Ramirez (2024) is another impactful running back with nearly 600 rushing yards.
Alamogordo earned a crucial win during the final weekend beating Organ Mountain (7-3) and ultimately punching their ticket to the 2022 playoffs. A remarkable turnaround for head coach AJ Cisco guiding the Tigers back to post season play. Ryan Stovall (2023) and Damon Mayberry (2023) steer the rushing attack for the Tigers with the two backs sharing carries and combining for over 1,000 rushing yards on the season. The duo also leads on the other side of the ball leading the team in total tackles.
Prediction: Rio Rancho 31, Alamogordo 18. I like Alamogordo and the work done this season but Rio Rancho should outlast the Tigers.
5A FOOTBALL
No. 5 Deming Wildcats (6-4) vs No. 12 Belen Eagles (2-8)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
A rematch from the 2021 first round puts the Belen Eagles making the road trip this season to the southwest corner of the state. Deming earned an automatic bid as district champions and winners of five of the final six games of the season to finish 6-4. Deming and Belen met earlier this season, Deming winning 56-22 in Belen back in September. Belen junior running back Diego Avila has nearly 800 yards rushing, with nearly 450 coming in October, will look to guide them in an upset opportunity.
Prediction: Deming 40, Belen 21. Deming should move along and avenge the loss in the playoffs in 2021.
No. 6 Mayfield Trojans (4-6) vs No. 11 Santa Teresa Desert Warriors (4-6)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
Another rematch game will take place on Friday night with Mayfield looking to make it two in a row against Santa Teresa. The Trojans won 24-7 on the road to start the season but enter the game on a three game skid -- all three to teams ranked in the top four. Seniors Diego Geurra, Jisiah Lara, and Anthony Carrillo look to carry the Trojans this post season. Santa Teresa will look to senior running back Angel Gutierrez in this game. The senior has rushed for 1,003 yards and 12 touchdowns providing the spark to the offense.
Prediction: Mayfield 23, Santa Teresa 14. The Trojans have enough fire power to make a post season run and it starts here.
4A FOOTBALL
No. 5 Portales Rams (8-2) vs No. 12 St. Pius X Sartans (2-8)
Friday, November 4th (7pm)
The game on the move. First, slated to be played at Eastern New Mexico University has now shifted to Clovis High School due to a water issue. The two teams met mid-September in Albuquerque with the Rams coming out ahead 32-0. The story should end the same as the first time around with the play of Paxton Culpepper (2025) and company guiding the Rams into a quarterfinal showdown with Lovington. Culpepper is nearing 2,000-yards passing and 22-touchdowns. Prediction and Pick Here.
No. 6 Albuquerque Academy Chargers (6-4) vs No. 11 Bernalillo Spartans (2-7)
Friday, November 4th (3pm)
The team that could have been. That will be one to remember for the Albuquerque Academy Chargers who have been hit with devastating injuries. Senior quarterback Andres Rivera (2023) will look to improve in the rematch. Rivera passed for 121 yards but threw two INTs in the overtime win last week. Bernalillo enters the game with plenty of confidence after taking the Chargers to the wire. Prediction and Pick Here.
No. 7 Moriarty Pintos (7-3) vs No. 10 Kirtland Central Broncos (4-5)
Friday, November 4th (6pm)
Battle of the horses. This one will belong to the strong running game from the Pintos backfield. Santiago Chavez (2024), Michael Magoffe (2023), and Matthew Romero (2023) have carried the Pintos forward this season. Chavez leads the way with 812 yards (6.1 average per carry) and 8 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Amare Gonzales has 367 rushing yards and 397 passing yards for the Pintos with a total of 17 touchdowns (11 rushing). Kirtland has relied on Randon Matthews (2025) this season and will continue into the state playoffs. Pintos roll. Matthews has 600-passing yards and 600 rushing yards.
No. 8 Aztec Tigers (4-6) vs No. 9 Valencia Jaguars (4-6)
Friday, November 4th (6pm)
Battle of the cats. Valencia playing improved football as of late will look to the guidance of senior quarterback Rey Garcia. Garcia has over 700 yards passing and nearly 500 yards rushing for the Jaguars this season. Macquis Henry looks to guide the Aztec Tigers offense, as he has done all season long. He has over 1,000-yards passing and 10 passing touchdowns on the season. This will be a battle to the end and the final drive could be the determining factor. Expect a cold night in northern New Mexico. Prediction and Pick Here.
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