Today, for the second week we will ask 5-questions for the teams ranked in the Top-25. This will be the Thursday feature and feel free to add your own or chime along with the conversation.
More 5-Questions: Week Three (First Set)
1. Are the No. 10 Alamogordo Tigers truly a "Contender"?
I sort of hit on this topic early this week on my Tuesday feature, Week Four: Rank the Contender/Pretenders, but finally the Tigers will get to prove the nay sayers wrong or.... wrong. The No. 2 Mayfield Trojans (3-0) will be the biggest test any team could have to prove their worth among the contenders or pretenders. The Tigers obviously have the offense, plenty of athletes along with three shut out games of 50 points or more but will their defense be able to stop Mayfield a team that can score?
2. Will Volcano Vista bounce back or is their defense struggling against tougher competition?
Against, Manzano most projected them too run over this game - 34 points is still impressive. However, the defense allowed 17-points for a team that could find the end zone against a top tier team in Cleveland. Still Volcano held their own against Las Cruces but 21-points was a three week decline. Is this a stretch to say that offense has gone done (37, 34, 21) and defense going the other direction allowing more points (3, 17, 24). Might be nothing there but Eldorado can score, will Volcano Vista hold up?
3. Is No. 5 Artesia's Quaterback Justin Houghtaling the best QB in NM?
We seen it last year (yes different types of QBs) but the Rio Rancho QB struggled to gain the recruiting success to match the numbers he put up. This year Houghtaling has poured in the numbers, 5 touchdowns last week and likely 5 the other two weeks. His numbers are through the roof and other impressive QB's out there including some with D-1 numbers but what is the chances the NMPreps.com Top QB award goes to this young man. The argument is there for QB of the Year. He needs to continue to WOW especially against an opponent like Deming who is ranked No. 18 right now could be a scary game.
4. No. 24 Miyamura faces it's first challenge. Can they continue winning with their even-kill approach?
We are used to shut outs from most Top-25 teams, the Patriots haven't done so yet. They will have their first test of the season in an unranked Pirates team from Grants that enters the contest 3-0. The Pirates much like the Patriots have won their games comfortably but this will be the contest to prove who the tournament team is for state and who falls among the pretender list for state bid teams. Miyamura can't afford a slip up or the Pirates will jump on them.
5. Do we finally say goodbye to win-less Top-25 teams or can they finally get a W? Struggling or tough competition?
Onate is ranked 16th, Valley (0-3) ranked 21st and Carlsbad ranked 22nd have played some tough competition. However, this week both could lose falling to 0-4 and will likely be on the outside of the Top-25. Valley lost a heartbreaker to Cibola last week 15-14 and will need a spark if they want any respect heading into the state tournament. Can they put up points though? 14 will not win you a game in the offense first era. Onate laid a goose egg last week against Cleveland, let's hope it's not their defense because when Hobbs is hot they will pour in the touchdowns. Or is it the offense that is struggling for the Knights? This week we find out if the competition was just that good or if this teams are just struggling this season.
More 5-Questions: Week Three (First Set)
1. Are the No. 10 Alamogordo Tigers truly a "Contender"?
I sort of hit on this topic early this week on my Tuesday feature, Week Four: Rank the Contender/Pretenders, but finally the Tigers will get to prove the nay sayers wrong or.... wrong. The No. 2 Mayfield Trojans (3-0) will be the biggest test any team could have to prove their worth among the contenders or pretenders. The Tigers obviously have the offense, plenty of athletes along with three shut out games of 50 points or more but will their defense be able to stop Mayfield a team that can score?
2. Will Volcano Vista bounce back or is their defense struggling against tougher competition?
Against, Manzano most projected them too run over this game - 34 points is still impressive. However, the defense allowed 17-points for a team that could find the end zone against a top tier team in Cleveland. Still Volcano held their own against Las Cruces but 21-points was a three week decline. Is this a stretch to say that offense has gone done (37, 34, 21) and defense going the other direction allowing more points (3, 17, 24). Might be nothing there but Eldorado can score, will Volcano Vista hold up?
3. Is No. 5 Artesia's Quaterback Justin Houghtaling the best QB in NM?
We seen it last year (yes different types of QBs) but the Rio Rancho QB struggled to gain the recruiting success to match the numbers he put up. This year Houghtaling has poured in the numbers, 5 touchdowns last week and likely 5 the other two weeks. His numbers are through the roof and other impressive QB's out there including some with D-1 numbers but what is the chances the NMPreps.com Top QB award goes to this young man. The argument is there for QB of the Year. He needs to continue to WOW especially against an opponent like Deming who is ranked No. 18 right now could be a scary game.
4. No. 24 Miyamura faces it's first challenge. Can they continue winning with their even-kill approach?
We are used to shut outs from most Top-25 teams, the Patriots haven't done so yet. They will have their first test of the season in an unranked Pirates team from Grants that enters the contest 3-0. The Pirates much like the Patriots have won their games comfortably but this will be the contest to prove who the tournament team is for state and who falls among the pretender list for state bid teams. Miyamura can't afford a slip up or the Pirates will jump on them.
5. Do we finally say goodbye to win-less Top-25 teams or can they finally get a W? Struggling or tough competition?
Onate is ranked 16th, Valley (0-3) ranked 21st and Carlsbad ranked 22nd have played some tough competition. However, this week both could lose falling to 0-4 and will likely be on the outside of the Top-25. Valley lost a heartbreaker to Cibola last week 15-14 and will need a spark if they want any respect heading into the state tournament. Can they put up points though? 14 will not win you a game in the offense first era. Onate laid a goose egg last week against Cleveland, let's hope it's not their defense because when Hobbs is hot they will pour in the touchdowns. Or is it the offense that is struggling for the Knights? This week we find out if the competition was just that good or if this teams are just struggling this season.
