Week One: New Mexico HS Football Preview & Predictions for Thursday
NMPreps weekly preview and predictions for the first week one of the New Mexico high school football season. #nmpreps
TOP-25
No. 19 Sandia (0-0) at Valley (0-0), 7PM: The Sandia Matadors enter year three under head coach Chad Adcox. The Matadors went 1-1 during the Spring and feature a handful of new players. ATH Jacob Miranda (2022), Marshall Allen (2022/TE), Drew McClish (2023/WR), and Malachi Thymes (2022/RB). They also feature key players Franklin Finch (2023/OL), Elijah Diggs (2022/OL), and Jerome Nieto (2022/OL) on an experienced offensive line. The Valley Vikings went 2-1 during the Spring and hope to build off the wins after a winless 2019 campaign. They return quarterback Caden Jojola (2023) who threw for nearly 600-yards and 5-touchdowns during the Spring. James Akins (2023/RB), Ezekiel Ramos (2023/WR-CB), Charles Lopez-Burton (2023/WR-LB) and Isaiah Gutierrez (2023/WR-CB) also return from a very talented 2023 class that earned valuable experience during the Spring. The key will be replacing the offensive line from last season.
NMPreps Prediction: Sandia 22, Valley 20
Grine: Sandia
Line: Sandia 2.5
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Albuquerque Academy (0-0) at Tohatchi (0-0). 6PM: The Albuquerque Academy Chargers return an offensive unit that went 2-2 and put nearly 69 points and with a QB-WR combination that features three leading returners. Tyler Wilson (2022-WR), Kellan Gehres (2023-WR), and Mark McIntosh (2022-WR) had 517 receiving yards in 4 games. Tohatchi returns after going a surprisingly 5-0 during the Spring. Tohatchi returns a core of key players on offense as well with quarterback DeAngelo Hunch (2022), running back Blane Long (2022), and receiver Bradley Bitsie (2022).
NMPreps Prediction: Albuquerque Academy 24, Tohatchi 8
Grine: Academy
Line: AA -15.5
HIghland (0-0) at West Las Vegas (0-0), 7PM: We officially will have football for both teams that had to make week one adjustments. West Las Vegas returns to play for the first time since 2019 and Highland returns with perhaps the youngest varsity squad in the state featuring 14-freshmen on a 20-man roster. Both teams are essentially unknown but look for these key prospects to shine - West Las Vegas' CJ Perea (QB/2025) and Damian Gallegos (2022/RB). Highland features senior Abraham Lopez a ranked linebacker.
NMPreps Prediction: West Las Vegas 33, Highland 6
Grine: West Las Vegas
Line: WLV -20
NMPreps weekly preview and predictions for the first week one of the New Mexico high school football season. #nmpreps
TOP-25
No. 19 Sandia (0-0) at Valley (0-0), 7PM: The Sandia Matadors enter year three under head coach Chad Adcox. The Matadors went 1-1 during the Spring and feature a handful of new players. ATH Jacob Miranda (2022), Marshall Allen (2022/TE), Drew McClish (2023/WR), and Malachi Thymes (2022/RB). They also feature key players Franklin Finch (2023/OL), Elijah Diggs (2022/OL), and Jerome Nieto (2022/OL) on an experienced offensive line. The Valley Vikings went 2-1 during the Spring and hope to build off the wins after a winless 2019 campaign. They return quarterback Caden Jojola (2023) who threw for nearly 600-yards and 5-touchdowns during the Spring. James Akins (2023/RB), Ezekiel Ramos (2023/WR-CB), Charles Lopez-Burton (2023/WR-LB) and Isaiah Gutierrez (2023/WR-CB) also return from a very talented 2023 class that earned valuable experience during the Spring. The key will be replacing the offensive line from last season.
NMPreps Prediction: Sandia 22, Valley 20
Grine: Sandia
Line: Sandia 2.5
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Albuquerque Academy (0-0) at Tohatchi (0-0). 6PM: The Albuquerque Academy Chargers return an offensive unit that went 2-2 and put nearly 69 points and with a QB-WR combination that features three leading returners. Tyler Wilson (2022-WR), Kellan Gehres (2023-WR), and Mark McIntosh (2022-WR) had 517 receiving yards in 4 games. Tohatchi returns after going a surprisingly 5-0 during the Spring. Tohatchi returns a core of key players on offense as well with quarterback DeAngelo Hunch (2022), running back Blane Long (2022), and receiver Bradley Bitsie (2022).
NMPreps Prediction: Albuquerque Academy 24, Tohatchi 8
Grine: Academy
Line: AA -15.5
HIghland (0-0) at West Las Vegas (0-0), 7PM: We officially will have football for both teams that had to make week one adjustments. West Las Vegas returns to play for the first time since 2019 and Highland returns with perhaps the youngest varsity squad in the state featuring 14-freshmen on a 20-man roster. Both teams are essentially unknown but look for these key prospects to shine - West Las Vegas' CJ Perea (QB/2025) and Damian Gallegos (2022/RB). Highland features senior Abraham Lopez a ranked linebacker.
NMPreps Prediction: West Las Vegas 33, Highland 6
Grine: West Las Vegas
Line: WLV -20
