Feature Week 8 New Mexico High School Football: 8-Man Football Preview

[J Grine]

Week 8 New Mexico High School Football: 8-Man Football Preview

Week 8 in New Mexico 8-man football brings several intriguing matchups, including a game-of-the-week showdown between two top teams, Clayton and Fort Sumner/House. Here's a quick look at the key games happening this week:

Friday​

Alamo Navajo (1-6) at Northwest (0-2) – 5 p.m.​

Hagerman/Lake Arthur (2-3) at Lordsburg (3-3) – 6 p.m.​

Pine Hill (2-3) at Dulce (2-4) – 7 p.m.​

Gateway Christian (4-2) at Tatum (4-3) – 7 p.m.​

Mescalero Apache (3-3) at Melrose (7-0) – 7 p.m.​

Menaul (3-3) at Escalante (3-4) – 7 p.m.​

Clayton (5-1) at Fort Sumner/House (5-0) – 7 p.m.​

Saturday

Cloudcroft (1-5) at Questa (4-3) - 4pm

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Game of the Week: Clayton (5-1) at Fort Sumner/House (5-0)​

This week’s marquee matchup pits Clayton against undefeated Fort Sumner/House in a battle of two high-powered teams. Clayton, enters the game with a 5-1 record, with their only loss coming to Turpin, Oklahoma. Fort Sumner/House, the top-ranked team in Class 8-Man, has dominated opponents with a perfect 5-0 record, outscoring their competition 280-18 this season.

Fort Sumner/House has been nearly unstoppable, particularly in the first half, where they average a staggering 39 points in the opening quarter alone and 53 per game. Clayton, on the other hand, relies on balanced scoring, led by quarterback Daniel Manquero and standout ATH Omar Valdez.

Key Players:

• Clayton: QB Daniel Manquero has been solid, while ATH Omar Valdez continues to make big plays for the Yellowjackets.
• Fort Sumner/House: Sophomore QB Jordan Hollan has been a stud for Fort Sumner/House, displaying impressive poise and decision-making. His leadership has propelled the team to aperfect season so far.

Expect a highly competitive game between these two powerhouses as both teams fight to establish themselves as the frontrunner in 8-man football heading into the later stages of the season.

Prediction: Fort Sumner/House 66, Clayton 42