October 23, 2012

Kyle Henderson
NMPreps.com Staff Writer

Welcome to Week 9 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.

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Eldorado 3-3 @ La Cueva 6-1
The Eldorado Eagles now considered a play-off bubble team? Well, hold for a minute. The Eagles are 1. Still loaded with talent and 2. they have not even played a district game yet. Last weekend the Eagles allowed 33 points in the 4th quarter from Volcano Vista to lose to the Hawks 39-34. This Thursday Night, all eyes will be on this marquee match up, and if Eldorado is able to slay their bitter City Rival La Cueva, the Eagles are a lock to make the play-offs. Key to the game for Eldorado is don't turn the football over. The La Cueva Bears at 6-1 on the season seem to be that 5A team that is peaking at the right time of year. Last weekend they physically dominated Carlsbad leading 41-7 before it went final at 41-21. The Bears have just one loss on the year which comes against 6-1 Las Cruces. Last weekend Quarterback Zach Silva looked as poised as a senior quarterback could and the defense creating tons of opportunity for the offense is the perfect storm. Not sure why Ed Lucero name is not in the Coach of the Year Category, but it should be. Edge = Bears, Talent = Bears, Back Against the Wall = Eldorado.

Manzano 6-1 @ Sandia 5-2
Ok Manzano fans, you want respect? Beat Sandia this weekend. It's that simple. Last weekend against Cibola our staff checked out Manzano for the third time this year and it's simple, they are dangerous on offense because of some dynamic junior prospects and they also have the most underrated offensive line in the State of New Mexico. The Monarchs enter this game scoring 38.14 points per game. Last weekend, Junior Running Back Cory Morrow ran for four touchdowns, but the overall play of Junior Quarterback Angel Gonzales has really made this team tough to beat. Remember this: Manzano is just six points away from being the only undefeated team in Class 5A. The Sandia Matadors lost a heart breaker last weekend against Clovis 38-34 given up a score with just six seconds left in the game. The Matadors could bang with any 5A program this year and their defense has been stealer allowing just 13.57 points per game. On offense, Quarterback Craig Coffman has emerged as their top overall offensive prospect, in fact he is the best quarterback in our opinion that Sandia has had since we started covering prep football in 2006. Each team has a ton at stake this weekend and let's face it starting 0-1 in District 2-5A is a scary scenario.

Cibola 1-6 @ Cleveland 4-3
The Cibola Cougars season is becoming more dim each week. Their season is over right? Again, they are 0-0 in district and still have a shot to play spoiler. The Cougars are banged up with a ton of injuries and after last week's 47-7 loss against Manzano, you have to think that Cleveland is the 14 point favorite. Cibola is scoring just 17.14 points per game. The Cleveland Storm are coming off a 42-0 victory against Hobbs last weekend for a win that should give them momentum heading into the final stretch of the season. Cleveland got 200-yards rushing from Romell Jordan last weekend and 150-yards all purpose form Steven Steele. The defending Class 5A state champs have to put Cibola away early and cannot afford to take this game lightly.

Rio Rancho 6-1 @ Volcano Vista 4-3
The Rio Rancho Rams aka the No. 1 Ranked team in New Mexico Class 5A Football was open last weekend and was at Wilson Stadium to watch Volcano Vista score 33 points in the 4th Quarter to beat Eldorado 39-34. Rewind two weeks ago, Rio Rancho had to go for two to beat Eldorado 39-38, so the Ram's better know that Volcano Vista is very capable of pulling off the upset this weekend. Rio Rancho is scoring 42.42 points per game this season and let's give it up to their offensive line: Dustin Hanson, Devon Bennett, and Robert Salgado are three All-State type linemen providing plenty of time for Rio Rancho's quick strike offense to keep the chains moving each weekend. If you're going to beat Rio Rancho you have to run the football? Volcano Vista has not one, but two running backs that can do just that. Dominico Chavez and Ibra Dominguez have played very well this season and seem to be gaining momentum as we move forward. If the Hawks are unable to beat Rio Rancho this weekend, they need to play the Rams close as 5A is going to get messy regarding play-off bubble teams. On defense for the Hawks watch for DL Chris Carrica, LB Josh Lubhold, and DB Joseph Searcy Ortega.

West Mesa 2-5 vs. Valley 4-3
So West Mesa is out of the play-offs right? Again, no. The Mustangs are actually 2-0 in District Play and have really been playing exceptional in their two district opening games beating Rio Grande 42-0 and beating Highland last weekend 58-21 thanks to four touchdowns from quarterback Dominic Davis. The Mustangs are very capable of paying Valley close or even winning in an upset. As for the Valley Vikings, they blasted Albuquerque as expected last weekend 50-0. Their win was headlined by Quarterback Bo Coleman's 200-all purpose yard night and a big kick off return from Aaron Molina. The Vikings are 2-0 in District Play, so you could call this game the District 5-5A Title Game. Interesting Note: West Mesa Head Coach Ron McMath was Cibola's Defensive Coordinator in 2011, Valley's Head Coach Rico Marceli was Cibola's Offensive Coordinator in 2011.

Atrisco 5-2 vs. Albuquerque 0-7
The Atrisco Heritage Jaguars just need to win their final three games of the season to finish 8-2 and with a record as shiny as that, they have to be a play-off lock you would think, especially with them beating Eldorado in the early season. Last weekend Quarterback Nate Goode helped the Jaguars power past the Rio Grande Ravens in a no contest 44-0 victory. The Albuquerque Bulldogs were again mercy ruled this time losing to Valley 50-0. On the year, Albuquerque has been outscored 363-25 being mercy ruled five times this year.

St. Pius X 4-4 @ Del Norte 2-5
The NMPreps.com Team of the Week defeated previously unbeaten Piedra Vista last weekend 30-28 thanks to four big touchdown runs from TJ Sanchez. The Sartans now 4-4 this year have an opportunity to take the District lead in 5-4A. Del Norte on the year is 2-5 and was open during week eight. The Knights are riding a two game losing streak losing to Aztec and to Volcano Vista.