October 18, 2012

Kyle Henderson
NMPreps.com Staff

Welcome to week Eight of the New Mexico High School Football Season. Leading up to each Friday of the Season, we'll preview over 40 games by region starting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The four New Mexico Regions are Northern, Metro Area, Southeast, and Southwest. Friday Night we need your help collecting game scores. Please text us to 505.577.5953 and if you tweet high school football scores, please type in a score then use the hastag #nmpreps.?

More: Week 7 Scores | Week 7 Top Performers | Play-Off Predictions | Midseason All-State

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Eldorado 3-2 vs. Volcano Vista 3-3
Last weekend the Eldorado Eagles took the No. 1 ranked Rio Rancho Rams down the wire losing just 39-38, when Rio Rancho decided to go for two at the end of a very thrilling football game. What's impressive is that Eldorado kept it close with Rio Rancho even with starting running back George Pacheco playing just three plays after suffering an injury. The Eagles looked good passing the football in the second half and it was Underclassmen Jonah Mestas that came up with some very crucial plays and caught two touchdown passes on the night. The Eagles are scoring 33.4 points per game and allowing 20.4 on defense. If Eldorado loses this game and does not win district, the Eagles will become a play-off bubble team. The Hawks are coming off a 47-6 win over Del Norte thanks to 100-yards rushing from Dominico Chavez and Ibra Dominguez. The Hawks still a play-off bubble team need this win against Eldorado for a resume builder. Over the years Volcano Vista has put together a solid game plan against Eldorado, expect no different Thursday Night.

Valley 3-3 vs. Albuquerque?0-6
All the Vikings have to do is ride out four district wins and they are the District 5-5A Champ. A goal that is very much possible as they'll be the favorite in their final games of the season. Last weekend's 31-28 win over the Atrisco Heritage Jaguars was a clear sign that Valley and New Head Coach Rico Marceli are one o of the most improved programs in the State. The Vikings are scoring 32.17 points per game, but their defense needs to improve before play-offs as they are allowing 30.0 points per game. Albuquerque is 0-6 this year being outscored 25-313. The Bulldog's last regular season win came three years ago.

Carlsbad 4-3 @ La Cueva 5-1
The Cavemen are coming off a 20-17 loss against La Cueva in which the Cavemen actually led for a majority of the game 17-0. Setback indeed as now Carlsbad is 4-3 this year and really has no staple wins this season. In fact, Carlsbad's best win this season against a New Mexico team is Alamogordo. The Cavemen need to prove they are the real deal and beating La Cueva in Albuquerque Friday Night will be a major statement. The Cavemen are scoring 28.28 points per game and allowing 18.0 on defense. The Bears look to be 100% healthy and are coming off a 37-13 victory over Cibola. Last weekend against the Cougars in the second half, La Cueva looked like a title contender just overpowering the Cougars late in the game. D-1 Commit Calvin Allen is chasing down quarterbacks and La Cueva's linebacking corps continue to impress. The Bears have the edge and home field advantage, this is a re-match of the 2011 first round play-offs which La Cueva beat Carlsbad in Carlsbad. Will the Cavemen get revenge?

Manzano 5-1 vs. Cibola?1-5
The team no one talks about, the Manzano Monarchs keeps winning and keeps their mouth shut about it. Dangerous team that in our opinion still needs that statement win to convince the state that this Manzano team is no pretender. The Monarchs are scoring 36.7 points per game and led by Quarterback Angel Gonzales who has thrown for 1,181-yards and 10 touchdowns. Up front Brandon Real and Thomas Casias are their top linemen and watch for Luke Spence and Derek Debuck on the defensive side of the football. Who would of thought that Cibola would be 1-5 to start this season. The Cougar's lone win comes against 1-5 West Mesa. Last weekend Cibola lost to La Cueva 37-13. On the year Cibola is allowing 30.83 points on defense, watch for Quarterback Derek Martinez and Running Back Vincent Gallegos.

Atrisco 4-2 @ Rio Grande?1-5
The Jaguars have dropped two in a row after losing a key 5A District Math Up against Valley last weekend 31-28. The Jaguars can still finish 8-2 on the season if they can close out the remainder of their games. Their South Valley Rivalry Game against Rio Grande is theirs to lose this weekend. Watch for Quarterback Nate Goode and Running Back Ricci Alvidrez. The Ravens are 1-5 this year and are coming off a 42-0 loss against West Mesa.

New Mexico High School Football Stats Update

Highland 2-4 vs. West Mesa 1-5
The Highland Hornets are coming off a 62-6 win against Albuquerque last weekend and are led on the season by quarterback Bryan Medina who has thrown for 957-yards and 7 touchdowns. West Mesa won their first game of the 2012 season last week beating Rio Grande 42-0. The Mustangs are scoring 19.0 points per game and allowing 28.0 on the year. Each team is 1-0 in district play, so technically speaking: both are very alive in the play-off race.

Miyamura 2-4 @ Valencia? 1-5
The Miyamura Patriots have lost their last two out of three games with a 36-18 loss to Grants last weekend. The Patriots still a bubble play-off team, but they can't afford too many district loses. A loss to Valencia would likely knock them out of the play-offs. The Patriots are led by quarterback Zach Shank who has thrown for 1,468-yards and 15 touchdowns. The Valencia Jaguars won their first game of the season last week beating Gallup 30-15. Valencia has nothing to lose, making them a very dangerous team to play right now. The Jaguars are scoring just 14.0 points per game, they'll need to score in the 30's to beat Miyamura.

Kyle Henderson's Week Eight Prep Football Picks

Gallup 2-4 @ Belen? 4-2
The Gallup Bengals lost last weekend to Valencia 30-15 which pretty much closes the door on their 2012 play-off hopes unless they can work some late season magic. The Bengals are led by Running Back Dominic Martinez who has ran for over 500-yards this year. The Eagles are coming off a 40-0 loss against Los Lunas last weekend. This weekend we find out if Belen is going to go belly up and call it a year or if they are going to fight for their play-off spot. Last year, when Belen lost Quarterback Nick Kurtz, their season went down as well. Can Belen and will Belen rebound? We'll find out in the next few weeks.

Grants 4-2 @ Los Lunas?6-0
Very important District 6-4A football game this weekend. Grants is coming off a 36-18 win against Miyamura and at 1-0 in district play would love to pull off the upset over Los Lunas. The seeding implications an upset for Grants would cause would be massive and likely one of the biggest games Grants has ever won over the last 20-years. It's going to be a giant task as Los Lunas is flat out loaded. The Tigers are unbeaten scoring 37.0 per game, but their defense has been their strength allowing just 7.3 points per game. Year after year, there a few 4A teams that are pretenders, Los Lunas is not one of them. This team has the talent to win the whole thing. Coach Jeremy Newton is as good as they come.

Hope 2-5 @ Academy?2-3
The Huskies are coming off a 19-14 loss against Portales, but the week before the beat Socorro 21-14. Hope Christian Football has been down this year obviously, but let's not count the Huskies out until it's over. They still have plenty of talent on this team especially running back Tommy Riley and linebacker Skylar Martin. The Academy Chargers at 2-3 did not play last week against Raton as the game was cancelled due to heavy rain and lightning. The Chargers need this win badly and if they can run the football effectively like the usually do, the Chargers should jump back into the play-off home field conversation.