Week 8: Must See Games
Each week we get a week closer to the 2016 State Playoffs. Each week we see the teams fit the shoe of pretender - those who don't make - or contender. Maybe, just a team that is neither a pretender or contender and a team that makes the state playoffs.
More: Week 8 Fab 50 Rankings
Watch This: Ranking the Top Games
RIO RANCHO (7-0) vs VOLCANO VISTA (5-1)
Rankings: Rio Rancho (No. 1), Volcano Vista (No. 4)
Studs: Josh Foley, the running back for the Rio Rancho Rams is one of the best players in the state - shoot he could be argued as thee best player. Dillon Gassoway, maybe the surprise pick here for the Volcano Vista Hawks. We pick him because this summer we seen a star in the making and he has lived up to that prediction.
Why: What we know. Rio Rancho is legit (lit?). Volcano Vista is good this year but how good?
CENTENNIAL (6-1) vs MAYFIELD (3-3)
Rankings: Centennial (No. 7), Mayfield (No. 8)
Studs: The Centennial Hawks have some nice options on O and Jr Pena is one of the best wide receivers in the state. Stat line is impressive for the young man as he looks towards the Hawks climbing in the polls. Mayfield has a receiver in Gavin Swinson, a New Mexico State commit, to bring to the table. Unfortunately, no stat line.
Why: Others might know when the last time Mayfield was under .500 this deep into the season but like the next game, the winner moves up for a home game in the playoffs. Loser on the road.
CLOVIS (4-2) at MANZANO (4-2)
Rankings: Clovis (No. 9), Manzano (No. 10)
Studs: Micah Gray is the name to know for the Clovis Wildcats. The young man has 919 yards on the season with an eye popping 17-touchdowns. Manzano features plenty of names not mentioned a lot but take notice of Ryan Moore who does a little of everything including a 99-yard kick off return last week.
Why: Both ranked close to each other and answers the questions we are wondering. Who is playoff bound, with a good seed, and who will fall in the 9-11 seed section and on the road in the opening round. Winner also takes control of the district.
LOS LUNAS (5-1) at BELEN (6-1)
Rankings: Los Lunas (No. 12), Belen (No. 16)
Studs: Los Lunas features a running that has seen the hype and lived up to said hype. O'maury Samuels, the Michigan commit, has 882-rushing yards this season and 9-touchdowns. Zach Halterman, a new junior quarterback on the scene has played well this season and could be a name for the future.
Why: What more to get you out than a good old fashion rivalry game. This one could set up for either team winning the district.
ALAMOGORDO (3-3) vs ROSWELL (5-1)
Rankings: Roswell (No. 14), Alamogordo (No. 23)
Studs: What better name for a quarterback then Bear Kyser, a senior who has passed for 846-yards, rushed for 193-yards with a total of 9-touchdowns. Alamogordo has a stud quarterback in Kyle Hooper but also a running back by the name Dee Smith.
Why: Both teams have the opportunity to make the case for a bye in the opening round even without their finish in their districts. Alamogordo surely to get the auto in 3-5A, Roswell has a battle in 4-5A.
CIBOLA (3-4) vs CLEVELAND (6-1)
Rankings: Cleveland (No. 2), Cibola (No. 19)
Studs: Nathaniel Manzanares only a sophomore has 137-yards in 3 games this season. Cleveland has plenty of talent on the roster, Shawn Nieto has been consistently played well with 296-yards in three games from week 4-6.
Why: No real reason but Cibola is on a 3-game streak. Cleveland comes off their first loss in 16-games.
SANDIA (3-3) vs ELDORADO (3-3)
Rankings: Eldorado (No. 11), Sandia (No. 22)
Studs: Sandia has quarterback Jacob Archibeque who has passed for 623-yards on the season pending a pair of games. Eldorado has several talents but will like to see the match up of Matt Denis the Eldorado QB face Sandia's D.
Why: This game could be the make or break for either team. Sandia, likely out, might argue for IN if they can sneak some wins.
More To See
District Title Hopes: No. 30 West Mesa vs No. 35 Atrisco Heritage Academy. Both are 1-0, one gets a big to the state tournament.
Bubble in 5A: No. 28 Farmington vs No. 43 Kirtland Central. Neither has done anything to solidify a bid to the tournament. Winner could take a step closer.
Bubble in 4A: No. 44 Silver vs Hot Springs. Hot Springs surprised with a win over then undefeated Socorro. Their resume is not pretty. Silver needs a win to stay above water.
Uncertainty: No. 41 Aztec vs No. 45 Bloomfield. Bloomfield almost pulled an upset over Miyamura, they need an upset. Aztec at 3-3 could start to make a pivot to the top of the district.
Keep an Eye: No. 27 Hatch Valley vs Socorro. This match up would have had better headlines last week had Socorro won. With the loss we want to know if Socorro is a Top-8 team in 4A or hitting the road. At this point, even at 6-1, hitting the road.
Each week we get a week closer to the 2016 State Playoffs. Each week we see the teams fit the shoe of pretender - those who don't make - or contender. Maybe, just a team that is neither a pretender or contender and a team that makes the state playoffs.
More: Week 8 Fab 50 Rankings
Watch This: Ranking the Top Games
RIO RANCHO (7-0) vs VOLCANO VISTA (5-1)
Rankings: Rio Rancho (No. 1), Volcano Vista (No. 4)
Studs: Josh Foley, the running back for the Rio Rancho Rams is one of the best players in the state - shoot he could be argued as thee best player. Dillon Gassoway, maybe the surprise pick here for the Volcano Vista Hawks. We pick him because this summer we seen a star in the making and he has lived up to that prediction.
Why: What we know. Rio Rancho is legit (lit?). Volcano Vista is good this year but how good?
CENTENNIAL (6-1) vs MAYFIELD (3-3)
Rankings: Centennial (No. 7), Mayfield (No. 8)
Studs: The Centennial Hawks have some nice options on O and Jr Pena is one of the best wide receivers in the state. Stat line is impressive for the young man as he looks towards the Hawks climbing in the polls. Mayfield has a receiver in Gavin Swinson, a New Mexico State commit, to bring to the table. Unfortunately, no stat line.
Why: Others might know when the last time Mayfield was under .500 this deep into the season but like the next game, the winner moves up for a home game in the playoffs. Loser on the road.
CLOVIS (4-2) at MANZANO (4-2)
Rankings: Clovis (No. 9), Manzano (No. 10)
Studs: Micah Gray is the name to know for the Clovis Wildcats. The young man has 919 yards on the season with an eye popping 17-touchdowns. Manzano features plenty of names not mentioned a lot but take notice of Ryan Moore who does a little of everything including a 99-yard kick off return last week.
Why: Both ranked close to each other and answers the questions we are wondering. Who is playoff bound, with a good seed, and who will fall in the 9-11 seed section and on the road in the opening round. Winner also takes control of the district.
LOS LUNAS (5-1) at BELEN (6-1)
Rankings: Los Lunas (No. 12), Belen (No. 16)
Studs: Los Lunas features a running that has seen the hype and lived up to said hype. O'maury Samuels, the Michigan commit, has 882-rushing yards this season and 9-touchdowns. Zach Halterman, a new junior quarterback on the scene has played well this season and could be a name for the future.
Why: What more to get you out than a good old fashion rivalry game. This one could set up for either team winning the district.
ALAMOGORDO (3-3) vs ROSWELL (5-1)
Rankings: Roswell (No. 14), Alamogordo (No. 23)
Studs: What better name for a quarterback then Bear Kyser, a senior who has passed for 846-yards, rushed for 193-yards with a total of 9-touchdowns. Alamogordo has a stud quarterback in Kyle Hooper but also a running back by the name Dee Smith.
Why: Both teams have the opportunity to make the case for a bye in the opening round even without their finish in their districts. Alamogordo surely to get the auto in 3-5A, Roswell has a battle in 4-5A.
CIBOLA (3-4) vs CLEVELAND (6-1)
Rankings: Cleveland (No. 2), Cibola (No. 19)
Studs: Nathaniel Manzanares only a sophomore has 137-yards in 3 games this season. Cleveland has plenty of talent on the roster, Shawn Nieto has been consistently played well with 296-yards in three games from week 4-6.
Why: No real reason but Cibola is on a 3-game streak. Cleveland comes off their first loss in 16-games.
SANDIA (3-3) vs ELDORADO (3-3)
Rankings: Eldorado (No. 11), Sandia (No. 22)
Studs: Sandia has quarterback Jacob Archibeque who has passed for 623-yards on the season pending a pair of games. Eldorado has several talents but will like to see the match up of Matt Denis the Eldorado QB face Sandia's D.
Why: This game could be the make or break for either team. Sandia, likely out, might argue for IN if they can sneak some wins.
More To See
District Title Hopes: No. 30 West Mesa vs No. 35 Atrisco Heritage Academy. Both are 1-0, one gets a big to the state tournament.
Bubble in 5A: No. 28 Farmington vs No. 43 Kirtland Central. Neither has done anything to solidify a bid to the tournament. Winner could take a step closer.
Bubble in 4A: No. 44 Silver vs Hot Springs. Hot Springs surprised with a win over then undefeated Socorro. Their resume is not pretty. Silver needs a win to stay above water.
Uncertainty: No. 41 Aztec vs No. 45 Bloomfield. Bloomfield almost pulled an upset over Miyamura, they need an upset. Aztec at 3-3 could start to make a pivot to the top of the district.
Keep an Eye: No. 27 Hatch Valley vs Socorro. This match up would have had better headlines last week had Socorro won. With the loss we want to know if Socorro is a Top-8 team in 4A or hitting the road. At this point, even at 6-1, hitting the road.
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