Class 6A Football State Championship Preview
Teams: No. 1 Rio Rancho Rams (12-0) vs No. 3 Las Cruces (11-1)
When: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Rio Rancho, NM
Coaches: Rio Rancho's David Howes (2nd appearance - 2014) and Las Cruces' Mark Loprez (1st appearance)
Last Championship: Rio Rancho (2014), Las Cruces (2013)
No. 1 Rio Rancho Leaders: Passing - Nic Little (1,767-yards/22 TDs). Rushing - Josh Foley (1,884-yards/31 TDs). Receiving - Derek Reyes (685-yards/7 TDs). Defense - Cailon Bailon (92 tackles/8 sacks)
About the Rams: The Rio Rancho Rams enter the championship game winning District 1-6A after posting a perfect record of 12-0. In the playoffs the Rams took out Onate in the quarterfinal game (48-0) and followed that up with a 35-7 win in the semi-final over Manzano High School. When looking at depth, overall talent and great coaching the Rams have become one of the best programs in the state of New Mexico for football. The Rams enter their second state championship in the last three years and continue to develop a top program. It goes without question that the Rams feature one of the best players in the state with running back Josh Foley who has 31 rushing touchdowns (38 total touchdowns/2 defense) and 1,884-rushing yards. The unsung hero on this team is also the overshadowed quarterback Nic Little who could find himself on the ballot for Quarterback of the Year. Fuel to this fire is a defensive unit with six must mention prospects in Cailon Bailon, Vinny Pameri, Ashton Klovenas, Elijah Goodwin along with Kevin McCracken and Zach Dodd.
No. 3 Las Cruces Leaders: Passing - Payton Ball (2,299-yards/23 TDs). Rushing - Payton Ball (996-yards/18 TDs). Receiving - Ivan Molina (1,176-yards/8 TDs). Defense - N/A.
About the Bulldawgs: The Las Cruces Bulldawgs enter the final game of the season after a 11-1 season and winning District 3-6A. The Bulldawgs upset the 2-seed Cleveland Storm in the semi-finals 45-7 along with beating Clovis (35-14) in the quarterfinal. When you consider one of the best programs in terms of longevity in New Mexico High School football the Bulldawgs rank at the top of the list in the biggest classification the state awards. The Bulldawgs have played and won 6-state title since the 1999 football season, the most by a program in the biggest enrollment classification. This season they continue to be at the top and plenty of the success goes to 1st-year head coach Mark Lopez who has the Bulldawgs playing better each week. The Bulldawgs also feature one of the best players in the state in Payton Ball who leads the team in both passing and rushing yards along with having a total of 41 touchdowns. This team also features skill players in wide receivers Brandon Baeza and Ivan Molina who continue to be two of the states top receivers - Molina has an impressive 1,176-yards on the season.
Prediction: Rio Rancho 44, Las Cruces 41
Line: Rio Rancho -3
Over/Under: 88 points
Teams: No. 1 Rio Rancho Rams (12-0) vs No. 3 Las Cruces (11-1)
When: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Rio Rancho, NM
Coaches: Rio Rancho's David Howes (2nd appearance - 2014) and Las Cruces' Mark Loprez (1st appearance)
Last Championship: Rio Rancho (2014), Las Cruces (2013)
No. 1 Rio Rancho Leaders: Passing - Nic Little (1,767-yards/22 TDs). Rushing - Josh Foley (1,884-yards/31 TDs). Receiving - Derek Reyes (685-yards/7 TDs). Defense - Cailon Bailon (92 tackles/8 sacks)
About the Rams: The Rio Rancho Rams enter the championship game winning District 1-6A after posting a perfect record of 12-0. In the playoffs the Rams took out Onate in the quarterfinal game (48-0) and followed that up with a 35-7 win in the semi-final over Manzano High School. When looking at depth, overall talent and great coaching the Rams have become one of the best programs in the state of New Mexico for football. The Rams enter their second state championship in the last three years and continue to develop a top program. It goes without question that the Rams feature one of the best players in the state with running back Josh Foley who has 31 rushing touchdowns (38 total touchdowns/2 defense) and 1,884-rushing yards. The unsung hero on this team is also the overshadowed quarterback Nic Little who could find himself on the ballot for Quarterback of the Year. Fuel to this fire is a defensive unit with six must mention prospects in Cailon Bailon, Vinny Pameri, Ashton Klovenas, Elijah Goodwin along with Kevin McCracken and Zach Dodd.
No. 3 Las Cruces Leaders: Passing - Payton Ball (2,299-yards/23 TDs). Rushing - Payton Ball (996-yards/18 TDs). Receiving - Ivan Molina (1,176-yards/8 TDs). Defense - N/A.
About the Bulldawgs: The Las Cruces Bulldawgs enter the final game of the season after a 11-1 season and winning District 3-6A. The Bulldawgs upset the 2-seed Cleveland Storm in the semi-finals 45-7 along with beating Clovis (35-14) in the quarterfinal. When you consider one of the best programs in terms of longevity in New Mexico High School football the Bulldawgs rank at the top of the list in the biggest classification the state awards. The Bulldawgs have played and won 6-state title since the 1999 football season, the most by a program in the biggest enrollment classification. This season they continue to be at the top and plenty of the success goes to 1st-year head coach Mark Lopez who has the Bulldawgs playing better each week. The Bulldawgs also feature one of the best players in the state in Payton Ball who leads the team in both passing and rushing yards along with having a total of 41 touchdowns. This team also features skill players in wide receivers Brandon Baeza and Ivan Molina who continue to be two of the states top receivers - Molina has an impressive 1,176-yards on the season.
Prediction: Rio Rancho 44, Las Cruces 41
Line: Rio Rancho -3
Over/Under: 88 points
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