NMPreps.coms Top Games To Watch In 2014
About The Tour: During the months of June, July, and August NMPreps.com's Publisher Kyle Henderson will travel the state to preview over 40 high school football programs on their home campus. Hendo's Summer Tour Home Here
Today we highlight more than 25 New Mexico High School Football Games we are looking forward to for the upcoming 2014 season.
Two of the most storied programs in New Mexico square off on opening weekend on Saturday Night at the Wool Bowl. Eric Roanhaus vs. Mike Whalen, Wildcats vs. Rockets, don't miss it.
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Week 1
Belen @ Artesia
Early Favorite: Artesia
It could very well be a preview of the 2014 semifinals or ever 2014 state title game with both groups entering the year loaded. Belen has a senior loaded group returning, Artesia looking to make noise early.
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Week 1
Early Favorite: St. Michael's
It's one of the oldest rivlary games in New Mexico and it will take place Friday Night at Ivan Head Stadium in front of a crowd likely around 5,000. Only a mile seperates the two heated rivals from the City Different.
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Week 1
Early Favorite: Rio Rancho
Most are expecting Valley to take a dip after their 10-0 season in 2014. Rio Rancho has been somewhat off the radar in the off-season, but that does not mean they won't be ready to make their annual playoff run in 2014.
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Week 1
Early Favorite: Cleveland
Manzano and Cleveland have played in some memorable games over the last few years, what will 2014 have in store? Lightning Rod Stadium should be packed Friday Night.
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Week 1
Early Favorite: Sandia
It's a very tough game to predict, but what we do know is these two have been chippy with each other all summer long. It's an opener that each team already needs to win badly.
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Week 1
Centennial vs. Onate
Early Favorite: Onate
It's the first time that the two will play each other and it already seems like a rivalry game. Centennial returns a ton of talent, Onate will be led by first year Head Coach Patrick Jaquess.
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Week 2
Early Favorite: Las Cruces
The two-time defending Class 5A Champ will take on a very good El Paso Montwood team to open up the 2014 season. Las Cruces is 3-2 against El Paso Teams to open up the season over the last 5-years.
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Week 2
Early Favorite: Clovis
This week 2 Metro Area vs. Southeast Match Up is a maruqee match up that likely already carries seeding implication playoff wise. Cibola has a ton of speed and Clovis will have a new defensive coordinator in 2014.
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Week 2
Early Favorite: Las Cruces
Both schools have major tests in week 1 and week 2 will provide another early opportunity to evaluate just how far La Cueva has came since last year with a stop at the Field of Dreams.
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Week 2
Early Favorite: Eldorado
Last year Valley was able to defeat Eldorado for the first time in several long years. Depending what happens with Valley vs. Rio Rancho in week 1, you could see Valley who went 10-0 last year start the year 0-2. We shall see. First test for Eldorado.
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Week 2
Early Favorite: Mayfield
Mayfield is not one of the hardest hitting teams and hard nose teams in New Mexico because they schedule cupcakes. This match up with Franklin is a bigtime match up with a grip of talent on the field.
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Week 3
Early Favorite: Goddard
If one team can continually play Goddard well from Class 5A it's Belen. Belen Eagle Head Coach John Lerma will have his loaded group ready entering the Wool Bowl. Both team's scheduels are loaded.
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Week 3
Early Favorite: Atrisco Heritage
Atrisco Heritage will host their first home game of the season against Clovis, a team that beat them in the playoffs last year. It should be a game of two power run games.
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Week 4
Early Favorite: Even
These two Northern New Mexico Rivals played twice last year. In the first meeting St. Mike's won 50-0. In the second meeting, Robertson defeated St. Mike's 22-13 in one of the biggest upsets of the season. This game has to be circled on each team's calendar.
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Week 5
Early Favorite: Carlsbad
One of the biggest rivalry games in New Mexico aka The Battle for Eddy County will take place at the Bulldog Bowl in front of a packed crowd. Last year the Cavemen won 41-21.
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Week 5
Early Favorite: Mayfield
If there is one Metro Area football team that can always play the Mayfield Trojans tough, it's the Eldorado Eagles. The Eagles have the home field advantage and Mayfield sometimes has trouble winning up North.
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Week 5
Early Favorite: Rio Rancho
It's a tough game to call each year, but people tend to forget that Rio Rancho has beaten Clovis three times in their last three meetings. No one escapes Leon Williams un-touched. Last year Rio Rancho edged Clovis out in a wild one 62-59.
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Week 5
Early Favorite: Silver
Silver and Lovington played three years ago in one of the most memorable semifinal playoff games ever with Silver winning 5-0. These two sothern powers always bring the wood.
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Week 5
Early Favorite: Goddard
While Hobbs has showed improvement, they have still had major challenges playing Goddard over the last three years. In fact, Goddard has outscored Hobbs 159-10 in those last three meetings.
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Week 6
Early Favorite: Academy
The Albuquerque Bulldogs have lost close to 40 games in a row and many are looking at this game against Academy as a "maybe win" game for first year Albuquerque Head Coach Curtis Flakes. Academy, however is no push-over.
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Week 7
Early Favorite: Farmington
Farmington defeated the Piedra Vista Panthers last year 21-6. It's the battle for San Juan County and always a good one to watch at Hutchinson Stadium.
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Week 7
Early Favorite: Cibola
It's a Metro Area Rivalry Game and a district game where the loser could stay home from the playoffs. Also remember, that Cibola Head Coach Rod Williams used to coach at Volcano Vista.
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Week 7
Early Favorite: Even
You never know what is going to happen in this game. Last year you could say La Cueva's 3 point win over Eldorado knocked both teams out of the playoffs.
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Week 8
Early Favorite: Atrisco Heritage
Did you know that Atrisco Heritage has never beat Valley in football? Also, add in that Valley beat Atrisco Heritage for the 5A State Basketball Title. These two don't like each other and this game will also likely settle the District 5-6A Championship.
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Week 8
Early Favorite: Even
These two have never met on the football field and this year it's a new district game. Coach Lerma vs. Aaron Ocampo is going to be a fun coaching match up to watch.
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Week 9
Early Favorite: Goddard
Did you know that Goddard is 8-1 against Artesia since the 2008 season? Also did you know that Artesia has not beaten Goddard in a district game since 2007? It's a rivalry game, but it's been one-sided for a while.
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Week 10
Early Favorite: Even
Last year the two Northeast Rivals played twice with Santa Rosa winning the first game 34-16 and with Clayton pulling off a massive upset winning 16-8 in the semifinals. Santa Rosa returns a ton, so does Clayton.
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Week 10
Early Favorite: Even
It's a big time rivalry game in the City of Vision. A city that takes football very serious. Cleveland leads the all-time series 4-2.
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Week 11
Early Favorite: Even
One of the biggest rivalry games in the nation will take place at Aggie Memorial Stadium in front of more than 20,000 fans. Last year Mayfield defeated Las Cruces 28-20 for the District 3-5A Championship, then Las Cruces defeated Mayfield 27-26 in the Class 5A State Championship.
Kyle Henderson is the New Mexico recruiting director for NMPreps.com. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.