Week 9: Questions Facing Top 25 Teams
With three weeks left in the 2016 football season we look at questions facing the Top-25 teams heading into week 9 of the New Mexico High School football season.
No. 5 Centennial Hawks Can The Centennial Hawks keep the magic alive? As we have mentioned the Centennial Hawks are 5-0, in their young history, over other teams from the Las Cruces area. That says a lot as this was thee place for New Mexico High School football. The Hawks have to face one of the best quarterbacks in the state of New Mexico in Payton Ball who sits behind one of the best offensive lines. Centennial's defense has to contain Ball but apply enough pressure. Also, if the Bulldawgs start slow, they can't allow them to crawl back into it.
No. 7 Manzano Monarchs How do the Monarchs handle the week as the best team in District 2-6A? The Monarchs, to this point in the season have overachieved according to their projection. They are 5-2 on the season with both losses being to No. 5 Centennial and No. 1 Rio Rancho. They have slowly climbed the rankings and into the Top-10 for the first time this season. The question could be the depth as they have experienced injuries to ATH Jordan Byrd (concussion) and QB Michael Roybal (collarbone). Dakota Powell has played well at quarterback, the former backup, will play in his biggest role this season as they have the District Championship on the line - pressure?
No. 13 Roswell Coyotes Will the 13th ranked Coyotes have an encore game and back up being ranked 2nd in 5A football? The Coyotes haven't faced a team ranked in the Top-10 this season. Against Top-25 teams they are 4-1. However, this Artesia team will be the best that they have faced and an encore could be difficult with the fact that Artesia is solid all around. When the Coyotes faced a good 5A defense in Los Lunas they were held to their lowest total on the season with 14-points (they average 38 points per game). If they are going to have success, they have to put points on the board. Bear Kyser has played well recently but he has to perfect on Friday and when you play at the Bulldogs bowl that could be tough. In fact the x-factor might be Gabriel Najar the little mentioned running back has 400-yards and will need to find ways to move the chains on Friday.
Questions Unanswered
How Does Onate respond from winning once already this week, with a game against an upset hungry Hobbs team?
Can No. 11 Eldorado win a big game?
Does Los Lunas have enough to battle St. Pius with injuries to Samuels and Gaerlan?
Will Moriarty be able to stop a better offense in Hope Christian after giving up 35 to NMMI?
With three weeks left in the 2016 football season we look at questions facing the Top-25 teams heading into week 9 of the New Mexico High School football season.
No. 5 Centennial Hawks Can The Centennial Hawks keep the magic alive? As we have mentioned the Centennial Hawks are 5-0, in their young history, over other teams from the Las Cruces area. That says a lot as this was thee place for New Mexico High School football. The Hawks have to face one of the best quarterbacks in the state of New Mexico in Payton Ball who sits behind one of the best offensive lines. Centennial's defense has to contain Ball but apply enough pressure. Also, if the Bulldawgs start slow, they can't allow them to crawl back into it.
No. 7 Manzano Monarchs How do the Monarchs handle the week as the best team in District 2-6A? The Monarchs, to this point in the season have overachieved according to their projection. They are 5-2 on the season with both losses being to No. 5 Centennial and No. 1 Rio Rancho. They have slowly climbed the rankings and into the Top-10 for the first time this season. The question could be the depth as they have experienced injuries to ATH Jordan Byrd (concussion) and QB Michael Roybal (collarbone). Dakota Powell has played well at quarterback, the former backup, will play in his biggest role this season as they have the District Championship on the line - pressure?
No. 13 Roswell Coyotes Will the 13th ranked Coyotes have an encore game and back up being ranked 2nd in 5A football? The Coyotes haven't faced a team ranked in the Top-10 this season. Against Top-25 teams they are 4-1. However, this Artesia team will be the best that they have faced and an encore could be difficult with the fact that Artesia is solid all around. When the Coyotes faced a good 5A defense in Los Lunas they were held to their lowest total on the season with 14-points (they average 38 points per game). If they are going to have success, they have to put points on the board. Bear Kyser has played well recently but he has to perfect on Friday and when you play at the Bulldogs bowl that could be tough. In fact the x-factor might be Gabriel Najar the little mentioned running back has 400-yards and will need to find ways to move the chains on Friday.
Questions Unanswered
How Does Onate respond from winning once already this week, with a game against an upset hungry Hobbs team?
Can No. 11 Eldorado win a big game?
Does Los Lunas have enough to battle St. Pius with injuries to Samuels and Gaerlan?
Will Moriarty be able to stop a better offense in Hope Christian after giving up 35 to NMMI?
