Week 2: Thursday Night Preview & Predictions
J Grine of NMPreps
TOP-25 PREVIEW
No. 2 Volcano Vista (1-0) vs Del Norte (0-1): The Volcano Vista Hawks enter the week after earning a mile maker win for the program over La Cueva. Quarterback Diego Pavia went out with an injury but having a duo backfield in running backs Jimmy Gallegos (2020) and Isaac Chavez (2020) they should move the chains. The Hawks mostly run the ball so the game plan should be fine. The Del Norte Knights showed well last week against Belen but this could be a long night for the 5A school. Isaiah Ortiz (2021) ran the ball well last week, anything close to last week and his name will really blow up. Prediction: Volcano Vista 56, Del Norte 6. My Pick: Volcano Vista
No. 3 La Cueva (0-1) vs Valley (0-1): Another Thursday night contest that should end early. The La Cueva Bears looking to rebound after an opening night loss. Valley, entered the season with a prediction to struggle and they did that last week against independent Albuquerque High School. The Bears will likely pat the stats early but many minutes to go around come the second quarter - predicting a long pass to the left side to O'Toole on the first play and could be a TD. Prediction: La Cueva 50, Valley 0. My Pick: La Cueva
No. 11 Mayfield (0-0) vs De Valle, TX (0-0): The game of the night and the first game featuring a top-25 team that will go all four quarters. The Mayfield Trojans turned on the lights last week but the weather didn't allow things to forward on a 2-0 lead for Mayfield. These two programs have met consecutively the last three years with Del Valle (TX) owning the series, 2-1 and winning the last two. Mayfield gets to display their duo in Aaron Thompson (2020) and Matt Riley (2020) with both looking to return the Trojans to stardom. Mayfield if they want to even this series up has a real shot this season, they have a wealth of starters back and Del Valle is looking to replace their two best prospects from last season (both playing at the next level, one at Arkansas). Prediction: Mayfield 24, Del Valle 21. My Pick: Mayfield
No. 23 Sandia (0-1) at Atrisco Heritage (0-0): We bought in early on the hire of Chad Adcox and the process will take sometime. The Matadors could use a contest like this one after a 40-35 loss last week to ranked Cibola and build more into their system. Running back Leshawn Joseph (2020) had an impressive opening night with 154 yards and five touchdowns last week. I would bet that 150 and 5 touchdowns is highly likely again this week, I'd take the over in both. Prediction: Sandia 44, Atrisco Heritage 12. My Pick: Sandia
OUTSIDE THE TOP-25
Chaparral (0-1) at Irvin, TX (0-0): The second part of this series takes place below the NM border this season. Last season Irvin had one of their better teams after improving from two wins in 2017 to 6 last season; however gone are their 1-2 punch in Jesus Aguirre and Devon Driscoll. It was a senior loaded team for the Rockets of Irvin and the Lobos are looking to rebound this week. Chaparral fell 53-0 to Lovington in week one but Chaparral hopes to make progress this week. After going 1-9 last season the Lobos are looking to move forward. Prediction: Irvin 20, Chaparral 8.
Jal (0-1) vs Hobbs-JV: The Jal Panthers struggled out the gate last week to Texico, falling 37-16. Senior Junior Ibarra is expected to have a big season and hopeful for a nice showing against Hobbs-JV which lost to fellow SE corner school Eunice last week. Prediction: Jal 28, H-JV 21
Tatum (1-0) at Mountainair (1-0): The rematch of last years 8-man semifinal contest that had Tatum won 35-28 and would go on to win the state championship. Tatum must replace seniors Cristian Marizcal and Kayden Little from last season. Look for senior captains Scott Alexander (RB) and Sebastain Jimenez (QB) to carry the Coyotes forward. Prediction: Tatum 44, Mountainair 35
J Grine of NMPreps
TOP-25 PREVIEW
No. 2 Volcano Vista (1-0) vs Del Norte (0-1): The Volcano Vista Hawks enter the week after earning a mile maker win for the program over La Cueva. Quarterback Diego Pavia went out with an injury but having a duo backfield in running backs Jimmy Gallegos (2020) and Isaac Chavez (2020) they should move the chains. The Hawks mostly run the ball so the game plan should be fine. The Del Norte Knights showed well last week against Belen but this could be a long night for the 5A school. Isaiah Ortiz (2021) ran the ball well last week, anything close to last week and his name will really blow up. Prediction: Volcano Vista 56, Del Norte 6. My Pick: Volcano Vista
No. 3 La Cueva (0-1) vs Valley (0-1): Another Thursday night contest that should end early. The La Cueva Bears looking to rebound after an opening night loss. Valley, entered the season with a prediction to struggle and they did that last week against independent Albuquerque High School. The Bears will likely pat the stats early but many minutes to go around come the second quarter - predicting a long pass to the left side to O'Toole on the first play and could be a TD. Prediction: La Cueva 50, Valley 0. My Pick: La Cueva
No. 11 Mayfield (0-0) vs De Valle, TX (0-0): The game of the night and the first game featuring a top-25 team that will go all four quarters. The Mayfield Trojans turned on the lights last week but the weather didn't allow things to forward on a 2-0 lead for Mayfield. These two programs have met consecutively the last three years with Del Valle (TX) owning the series, 2-1 and winning the last two. Mayfield gets to display their duo in Aaron Thompson (2020) and Matt Riley (2020) with both looking to return the Trojans to stardom. Mayfield if they want to even this series up has a real shot this season, they have a wealth of starters back and Del Valle is looking to replace their two best prospects from last season (both playing at the next level, one at Arkansas). Prediction: Mayfield 24, Del Valle 21. My Pick: Mayfield
No. 23 Sandia (0-1) at Atrisco Heritage (0-0): We bought in early on the hire of Chad Adcox and the process will take sometime. The Matadors could use a contest like this one after a 40-35 loss last week to ranked Cibola and build more into their system. Running back Leshawn Joseph (2020) had an impressive opening night with 154 yards and five touchdowns last week. I would bet that 150 and 5 touchdowns is highly likely again this week, I'd take the over in both. Prediction: Sandia 44, Atrisco Heritage 12. My Pick: Sandia
OUTSIDE THE TOP-25
Chaparral (0-1) at Irvin, TX (0-0): The second part of this series takes place below the NM border this season. Last season Irvin had one of their better teams after improving from two wins in 2017 to 6 last season; however gone are their 1-2 punch in Jesus Aguirre and Devon Driscoll. It was a senior loaded team for the Rockets of Irvin and the Lobos are looking to rebound this week. Chaparral fell 53-0 to Lovington in week one but Chaparral hopes to make progress this week. After going 1-9 last season the Lobos are looking to move forward. Prediction: Irvin 20, Chaparral 8.
Jal (0-1) vs Hobbs-JV: The Jal Panthers struggled out the gate last week to Texico, falling 37-16. Senior Junior Ibarra is expected to have a big season and hopeful for a nice showing against Hobbs-JV which lost to fellow SE corner school Eunice last week. Prediction: Jal 28, H-JV 21
Tatum (1-0) at Mountainair (1-0): The rematch of last years 8-man semifinal contest that had Tatum won 35-28 and would go on to win the state championship. Tatum must replace seniors Cristian Marizcal and Kayden Little from last season. Look for senior captains Scott Alexander (RB) and Sebastain Jimenez (QB) to carry the Coyotes forward. Prediction: Tatum 44, Mountainair 35
