The New Mexico Activities Association Board of Directors met on Thursday and the issue of classification and realignment for 2018-20 topped the agenda. Here are six thoughts after the NMAA’s decision:

1. Everybody in 6A will have at least 5 district games in 2018: By eliminating District 4-6A and consolidating 6A in three districts, some schools will play fewer non-district games starting in 2018. The numbers between districts will also be better balanced with two 7-team districts and 1 6-team district.

2. Four 6A schools were thrown to the wolves: Rio Grande hasn’t won a football game in three years, and they were placed in the same district as Manzano, La Cueva, Clovis and Eldorado. So, if the NMAA was trying to find ways to help Rio Grande, they didn’t do a very good job. With the breakup of District 4-6A, Albuquerque was placed in the same district.

In addition, if Atrisco Heritage (2nd biggest school in the state with a three-year average of 2,495 students) is going to repeat as a district champion in 2018, they’ll have to earn it considering they are now in the same district with Rio Rancho and Cleveland. Same for District 4-6A runner-up West Mesa, whose coach just retired. Connection?

3. Welcome back, Santa Fe: The Demons competed in 2017 as an independent, but saw the same lack of success, finishing 0-9 and extending their losing streak to 32 games. With an enrollment of 1,433 students, Santa Fe has been placed in the same 5A district as crosstown rival Capital, Del Norte and Los Alamos. Far more sensible than a few years ago when they were elevated from 4A to 6A and had to compete against the likes of Rio Rancho and Cleveland. While Santa Fe is back in the fold, Gadsden elected not to go independent, staying in the same district with the four Las Cruces schools, Hobbs and Carlsbad. In 4A, Albuquerque Academy has decided to become an independent.

4. Expect some schools to appeal their fates: Start, of course, with Rio Grande. Seeking to rebuild (and win a game), the Matadors could be better off going independent rather than competing in a monster district. Another possibly unhappy school? Alamogordo. The Tigers went 0-11 in 2017 competing in the same district as Chaparral, Deming and Santa Teresa. Now they’ve been thrown into the same district as Artesia, Goddard and Roswell. Ouch. Per Twitter, the Alamogordo AD texted a local writer and said they intend to appeal. So could the APS, which might appeal the placement of Rio Grande, Albuquerque, Atrisco and West Mesa.

5. Class 4A is going to look a lot different in 2018: Take away three of the top six seeds in the 4A playoffs (St. Michael’s, Robertson and West Las Vegas) and add eight schools demoted from Class 5A based on student numbers and we have an entirely different Class 4A starting next year. Aztec, Bloomfield, Gallup, Kirtland Central, Espanola Valley, Grants, St. Pius X and Lovington have all moved down. Lovington goes from being in the same district as Artesia. Goddard and Roswell to one with Moriarty, Portales and Ruidoso. If the Wildcats continue their upward trajectory, they should be a favorite for the 4A title in 2018.

6. Ditto for Class 3A: The top four seeds in the 2017 3A playoffs (Eunice, Capitan, Santa Rosa and Estancia) are all moving down to Class 2A. Now three of the top football schools in 4A are joining the party along with Hatch Valley (No. 8 seed in playoffs, reached semifinals). Robertson has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in 4A with three straight championship game appearances. How will they do against their new competition? The Cardinals could ROLL.

Football Realignment (2018-19)

Class 6A (20 Schools)

1 – Atrisco Heritage, Cibola, Cleveland, Rio Rancho, Volcano Vista, West Mesa;

2 – Albuquerque, Clovis, Eldorado, La Cueva, Manzano, Rio Grande, Sandia;

3 – Carlsbad, Centennial, Gadsden, Hobbs, Las Cruces, Mayfield, Onate.

Class 5A (19 Schools)

1 – Farmington, Highland, Miyamura, Piedra Vista

2 – Capital, Del Norte, Los Alamos, Santa Fe

3 – Belen, Los Lunas, Valencia, Valley

4 – Alamogordo, Artesia, Goddard , Roswell

5 – Chaparral, Deming, Santa Teresa, Silver (4A)

Class 4A (16 Schools)

1 – Aztec, Bloomfield, Gallup, Kirtland Central, Shiprock

2 – Bernalillo, Espanola Valley, Grants, Pojoaque Valley, St. Pius X, Taos

3 – Lovington, Moriarty, Portales, Ruidoso

Independent – Albuquerque Academy

Class 3A (22 Schools)

1 – Crownpoint, Thoreau, Tohatchi, Wingate, Zuni

2 – Cuba, Hop Christian, Laguna Acoma, Navajo Prep

3 – Raton, Robertson, Santa Fe Indian, St. Michael’s, West Las Vegas

4 – Dexter, NMMI, Tucumcari, Tularosa

5 – Cobre, Hatch Valley, Hot Springs, Socorro

Class 2A (18 Schools)

1 - Dulce, Escalante, McCurdy, Mission Achievement & Success, Newcomb

2 - Clayton, Fort Sumner, Santa Rosa, Texico

3- Eunice, Hagerman, Jal, Loving

4 - Capitan, Cloudcroft, Estancia, Lordsburg, Mescalero