Week 3: Ranking the top games to watch this week
Grine | NMPreps
Each week we rank the must-see games to watch in New Mexico. The following games are for the week of September 5th - 7th.
1) #3 La Cueva (1-1) at #4 Las Cruces (2-0): We get our hands on another top five match-up this week with the third ranked La Cueva Bears traveling south to take on a hot Las Cruces Bulldawgs team, ranked fourth this week in the New Mexico Top 25. The south gets their shot at climbing into the top three conversation.
2) #7 Clovis (2-0) at #9 Rio Rancho (0-2): The Rio Rancho Rams have won the last eight regular season meetings between the two schools. The overall series (since 2004) is also in favor of the Rams (9-6 record) with the last Wildcat regular season win coming in 2010. They've had some recent epic battles that ended in overtime, three notable games are 2017 (34-31 OT), 2015 (37-34) and 2013 (62-59 OT). Every two years features an exciting one..... game of the night?
3) #21 West Las Vegas (2-0) at #18 Portales (2-0): This one could be a little high on the radar or right where you'd guess. This one features the top ranked 4A team in Portales (#18 NMPreps Top-25) and the top ranked 3A team in West Las Vegas (#21 NMPreps Top-25). West Las Vegas features a quarterback we will all talk about for years in John Balizan; Portales features a top three prospect in the state in Philip Blidi (committed to Texas Tech). This is the definition of must-see on a Friday night in eastern New Mexico football.
4) #2 Cleveland (1-1) vs #11 Eldorado (1-1): The contest lost a little steam as both teams are coming off losses last week. Cleveland had to travel and take on the top team from El Paso last week, dropping the game 36-13. Eldorado went quiet in the second quarter against Las Cruces last week falling big. Which team gets things back in order? Cleveland could be a double-digit favorite when the lines come out but if you know Eldorado they can rebound quick.
5) #15 Manzano (1-1) at #5 Centennial (2-0): Centennial, again, has had to prove themselves to the state and will have an opportunity to showcase that they are a top four team. They play well as the sleeper but a big win here could have more people buying the stock in the Hawks. Manzano features some solid talent and they may be one of those teams that we are talking about more and more as the season goes.
Best of the Rest
6) #20 Cibola (2-0) at Highland (2-0): Both teams have already outplayed their projections. Cibola could be a player again and head coach Rod Williams continues to have us talking about the Cougars. Highland is 2-0. Nobody predicted that and, oh yeah, they are ranked in the Power-12 this week! I don't remember the last time that happened.
7) Taos (2-0) at Aztec (2-0): Will the real slim.. I mean Tiger stand up. Aztec is playing the sleeper card in 4A football and might be a player come November. Taos, the defending champ, is having to make believers again, this game could help.
8) #17 Deming (2-0) at #12 Goddard (2-0): Not one that you will say, what is the score on the Goddard-Deming game. However, this possible low scoring affair could be interesting early. Expect the Rockets to win by double digits but don't tell the Deming Wildcats that.
9) #10 Los Lunas (1-1) at #22 Sandia (1-1): Los Lunas could be on the rebound after a close loss to Clovis. Do they respond like a top ten team or did they lose some steam? Sandia, well, they are under construction, but they could be in position to take out a Tiger team that lost a cat fight last week.
10) St. Pius X (0-2) at Kirtland Central (1-1): We get to see how good both teams are in this 4A game. St. Pius battled against two very good 5A opponents to open their season. Kirtland Central offense has something going, if they can win here, they will put the rest of the class on notice. Intrigued for sure, could also be in the other weekly features (we will see Tuesday).
Clearance Bin
Artesia (1-1) at Belen (1-1)
Roswell (2-0) at Hobbs (0-2)
Del Norte (0-2) at Farmington (2-0)
Hatch Valley (1-1) at Eunice (2-0)
Lovington (1-1) at Capital (1-1)
Ruidoso (1-1) at Alamogordo (0-0)
Redemption Asile
Bloomfield (2-0) at St. Michael's (0-2)
Specials
Espanola Valley (0-2) at Santa Fe (1-1)
Small School Must-See
Santa Rosa (0-2) at Robertson (2-0)
Fort Sumner (1-1) at Tucumcari (1-1)
Dexter (2-0) at Hagerman (2-0)
Texico (1-1) at New Mexico Military (2-0)
Raton (1-1) at Socorro (1-1)
Grine | NMPreps
Each week we rank the must-see games to watch in New Mexico. The following games are for the week of September 5th - 7th.
1) #3 La Cueva (1-1) at #4 Las Cruces (2-0): We get our hands on another top five match-up this week with the third ranked La Cueva Bears traveling south to take on a hot Las Cruces Bulldawgs team, ranked fourth this week in the New Mexico Top 25. The south gets their shot at climbing into the top three conversation.
2) #7 Clovis (2-0) at #9 Rio Rancho (0-2): The Rio Rancho Rams have won the last eight regular season meetings between the two schools. The overall series (since 2004) is also in favor of the Rams (9-6 record) with the last Wildcat regular season win coming in 2010. They've had some recent epic battles that ended in overtime, three notable games are 2017 (34-31 OT), 2015 (37-34) and 2013 (62-59 OT). Every two years features an exciting one..... game of the night?
3) #21 West Las Vegas (2-0) at #18 Portales (2-0): This one could be a little high on the radar or right where you'd guess. This one features the top ranked 4A team in Portales (#18 NMPreps Top-25) and the top ranked 3A team in West Las Vegas (#21 NMPreps Top-25). West Las Vegas features a quarterback we will all talk about for years in John Balizan; Portales features a top three prospect in the state in Philip Blidi (committed to Texas Tech). This is the definition of must-see on a Friday night in eastern New Mexico football.
4) #2 Cleveland (1-1) vs #11 Eldorado (1-1): The contest lost a little steam as both teams are coming off losses last week. Cleveland had to travel and take on the top team from El Paso last week, dropping the game 36-13. Eldorado went quiet in the second quarter against Las Cruces last week falling big. Which team gets things back in order? Cleveland could be a double-digit favorite when the lines come out but if you know Eldorado they can rebound quick.
5) #15 Manzano (1-1) at #5 Centennial (2-0): Centennial, again, has had to prove themselves to the state and will have an opportunity to showcase that they are a top four team. They play well as the sleeper but a big win here could have more people buying the stock in the Hawks. Manzano features some solid talent and they may be one of those teams that we are talking about more and more as the season goes.
Best of the Rest
6) #20 Cibola (2-0) at Highland (2-0): Both teams have already outplayed their projections. Cibola could be a player again and head coach Rod Williams continues to have us talking about the Cougars. Highland is 2-0. Nobody predicted that and, oh yeah, they are ranked in the Power-12 this week! I don't remember the last time that happened.
7) Taos (2-0) at Aztec (2-0): Will the real slim.. I mean Tiger stand up. Aztec is playing the sleeper card in 4A football and might be a player come November. Taos, the defending champ, is having to make believers again, this game could help.
8) #17 Deming (2-0) at #12 Goddard (2-0): Not one that you will say, what is the score on the Goddard-Deming game. However, this possible low scoring affair could be interesting early. Expect the Rockets to win by double digits but don't tell the Deming Wildcats that.
9) #10 Los Lunas (1-1) at #22 Sandia (1-1): Los Lunas could be on the rebound after a close loss to Clovis. Do they respond like a top ten team or did they lose some steam? Sandia, well, they are under construction, but they could be in position to take out a Tiger team that lost a cat fight last week.
10) St. Pius X (0-2) at Kirtland Central (1-1): We get to see how good both teams are in this 4A game. St. Pius battled against two very good 5A opponents to open their season. Kirtland Central offense has something going, if they can win here, they will put the rest of the class on notice. Intrigued for sure, could also be in the other weekly features (we will see Tuesday).
Clearance Bin
Artesia (1-1) at Belen (1-1)
Roswell (2-0) at Hobbs (0-2)
Del Norte (0-2) at Farmington (2-0)
Hatch Valley (1-1) at Eunice (2-0)
Lovington (1-1) at Capital (1-1)
Ruidoso (1-1) at Alamogordo (0-0)
Redemption Asile
Bloomfield (2-0) at St. Michael's (0-2)
Specials
Espanola Valley (0-2) at Santa Fe (1-1)
Small School Must-See
Santa Rosa (0-2) at Robertson (2-0)
Fort Sumner (1-1) at Tucumcari (1-1)
Dexter (2-0) at Hagerman (2-0)
Texico (1-1) at New Mexico Military (2-0)
Raton (1-1) at Socorro (1-1)
