October 25, 2012

Kyle Henderson
NMPreps.com Publisher

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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Alamogordo 2-5 @ Gadsden 4-4
The Alamogordo Tigers are on the ropes after losing two in a row, including their first district loss which came last week against Las Cruces losing 45-13. Alamogordo can pop Gadsden's play-off bubble if they can slay the Panthers. The Gadsden Panthers aka, the most improved team of the 2012 season are at .500 if you can believe that. Last weekend Gadsden proved just how much they have improved with a 31-24 win over Onate, a team they have don't beat in many, many years. Gadsden is scoring 24.12 points per game, but they'll need to hit 30 to ensure another district win this weekend. Quarterback Aaron Gomez has been on point for the Panthers, will his tremendous play spill over into a week nine marquee district game?

Game of the Week: #1. St. Michael's @ #2 Silver City

WHEN: October 25th
WHERE: Fighting Colt Stadium, Silver City, NM
TV: Live on NMPreps.com (6:45PM MST)
PREDICTION: St. Michael's by 10
SILVER IMPACT PLAYERS: Dakota Bencomo LB, Nevada Bencomo RB, Derek Salas QB, Frank Castillo DB
ST. MICHAEL'S IMPACT PLAYERS: Salomon Martinez RB, Cory Serna QB, Santo Coopla TE, Andres Blea OL, Michael Gormley LB
CLASS 3A RANKINGS: St. Michael's #1, Silver #2
KEY STATS: St. Michael's is allowing just 4.57 points per game
COACHES: St. Michael's: Joey Fernandez | Silver: Butch Branson
THE STORYLINE: The GOTW in the State of New Mexico in week nine features the two superior teams in Class 3A, in what many feel is a preview the 2012 3A State Title Game. The numbers that St. Michael's have produced this year through seven games is staggering? They have outscored the competition 338-32 this year, are scoring 48.28 points per game, and are allowing just 4.57 points per game on defense. Their schedule of strength is not impressive with their latest wins coming against Capital and NMMI, two teams that are a combined 1-13 this season. Beating Silver in Silver this weekend would silence any critics the Horsemen might have. Silver is no 3A pretender. Their talent comes from the duo of Dakota and Nevada Bencomo, twin brothers that make this team go at linebacker and at running back. Silver is scoring 31.0 points per game and allowing just 9.0 points per game. Their lone loss on the year comes against Deming losing 14-12. Silver is a tough place to play come Friday Night, Horsemen better get off the bus ready to go.

Onate 3-5 @ Mayfield 4-3
The Onate Knight's suffered a program loss last week losing to Gadsden. If you're a Las Cruces Public School you just can't lose a game to Gadsden. The Knights now 3-5 will miss the play-offs, but this is still a rivalry game, so don;t think they won't leave it all on the field playing for pride. Onate is scoring 25.0 points per game, but their defense has given up 30.37 points per game this year, something they'll need to improve on going into the 2013 season.

Santa Teresa 1-6 @ Centennial 4-3
The Santa Teresa Desert Warriors might be 1-6 on the year, but they have the talent to beat Centennial Thursday Night. Santa Teresa has a very dangerous quarterback by the name of Alex Sedillo who can be the game changer anytime he has the football. On the season, Santa Teresa's lone win comes against EP Irvin. The Centennial Hawks in their first year are still hoping for a play-off spot and all they need to do is beat Santa Teresa and Chaparral to be a hopeful at large. The Hawks have suffered some big season losses to injury losing running back Daniel Conklin and receiver Christian Berrera for the season. Tough game for Centennial tonight, if they win it's a big step towards making the play-offs.

Deming 5-2 @ Chaparral 0-7
The Deming Wildcats are the front runner of District 3-4A and we have them at a six spot right after the five bigs in Class 4A. Deming's strength comes from two power running backs Ismael Garrett and Jerome Sandoval. Friday Night against Chaparral, all Deming has to do is pound the rock and they should coast to a victory. On the year, Deming is scoring 25.0 points per game. The Lobo's long season gets longer as they now enter the district season. Winless in their last seven games, the Lobos are scoring just 15.42 points per game. Chaparral is led by Quarterback John Marquez who has thrown for 1,570-yards and 12 touchdowns and receiver Christian Ramos who has caught for 713-yards and six touchdowns.

Hot Springs 1-7 @ Socorro 4-3
The Tigers are 1-7 on the season entering their first district game of the season. Quarterback/Athlete Nati Villa is a gamer for Hot Springs and he'll need a huge night if the Tigers want to pull off the upset. On the season, Hot Springs is scoring 19.62 points per game and is coming off a 20-13 loss to Hatch Valley. The Socorro Warriors are 4-3 on the season after a 28-21 loss to Centennial. The Warriors are led by Zeb Esquivel and Zach Binger, two athletes that can make big plays on offense when needed. Take Socorro Friday Night by more than two scores.

Hatch 4-3 @ Lordsburg 4-4
The Hatch Valley Bears moved to 4-3 last weekend with a 20-13 win against Hot Springs. Hatch is 0-1 in district play with a 34-28 loss against Tularosa two weeks ago, which is impressive considering what Tularosa has done against other 2A teams this year? Last week Lordsburg lost to Tularosa 50-0. The Lordsburg Mavericks needs this game badly and they'll look to running back Wendell Hayes in hopes that Lordsburg can run away with an upset victory.

Mesilla Valley 4-2 @ Tularosa 6-2
Mesilla Valley at 4-2 has an opportunity to shake up the 2A world with a win over Tularosa. The chances are low, but Mesilla Valley has some offensive weapons that can make plays. Christian Jimenez has done a great job making big plays from the receiver position this year and last week Mesilla Valley Running Back John Jung ran for three touchdowns to in a 18-16 win over Cobre. The Tularosa Wildcats are 6-2 on the season after beating Lordsburg 50-0 thanks to another monster performance from Jim Coleman, Tularosa's impact player. The Wildcats are scoring 30.87 points per game and have a very good defense headlined by linebacker Cameron Martinez.