Baker’s Dozen Preview: Top 13 Games of Week 6
In this article:
Here are our Top 13 games for Week 6 of the 2021 New Mexico high school football season (All games Friday night unless otherwise indicated) Game of the Week: Goddard at Los Lunas It’s the Game of the Year (so…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingHere are our Top 13 games for Week 6 of the 2021 New Mexico high school football season (All games Friday night unless otherwise indicated)
Game of the Week: Goddard at Los Lunas
It’s the Game of the Year (so far ) in Class 5A. Goddard (4-0) is ranked No. 1 in the latest MaxPreps 5A poll, while Los Lunas (5-0), coming off an impressive home win over 6A Cibola, is No. 3. Between them is undefeated Farmington (5-0). The Rockets pulled out a thrilling 30-27 victory over 6A Hobbs last weekend, but star running back Javyn Morales Javyn Morales 5'10" | 155 lbs | RB Goddard | 2023 State NM was injured on the second half kickoff and sat out the rest of the game. If he doesn’t play, Goddard will certainly miss his blazing speed. This game begins a critical two-game stretch for the Rockets if they want to stay atop the 5A polls. After a bye, Goddard faces Mayfield at the Field of Dreams on Oct. 8.
The Los Lunas defense came up big on multiple occasions in the win over Cibola. First, they had a Pick-6 for a touchdown in the first half before a goal line stand in the final minutes preserved the seven-point margin. Dynamic dual threat QB Paul Cieremans Paul Cieremans 5'10" | 195 lbs | QB Los Lunas | 2023 State NM showed off his skills with a long TD pass and 123 yards rushing. Through five games, Cieremans has 592 rushing yards and accounted for 17 touchdowns, an average of more than three per game. Few – if any – quarterbacks in the state have been better this season than Cieremans. If Los Lunas wins, they should finish undefeated as their four district rivals lag far behind the Tigers.
Rio Rancho vs. Carlsbad (at Portales): This neutral site game was scheduled a couple of weeks ago after both teams had earlier games cancelled due to Covid. Can anybody stop the Rio Rancho offense? Carlsbad will be the latest team to try. The Rams averaged over 50 points per game in their first three contests, including last Saturday’s 61-7 whacking of Organ Mountain at the Field of Dreams. Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM is the state’s No. 1 RB and so far has lived up to the hype. QB Dominick Priddy is a two-sport star and his elite athleticism shows. Rio Rancho’s defense? Among the best in the state, though Carlsbad has enough talent on offense to test the Rams. Cavemen WR Jonathan Fuentes Jonathan Fuentes 6'1" | 170 lbs | WR Carlsbad | 2022 State NM will test the Rams’ secondary.
Lovington at Artesia: Lovington brings their high-flying aerial circus to the Bulldog Bowl. The Wildcats are ranked No. 2 behind Bloomfield in the latest MaxPreps Class 4A poll. Quarterbacks Wyatt Gomez and Ashton Aranda have combined for 1,130 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air this season. Speedy Adam Aguilera Adam Aguilera 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM has 34 receptions for 474 yards and 3 TD, while two-way standout Isaac Hinson Isaac Hinson 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM and Tayten Hilliard Tayten Hilliard 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Lovington | 2022 State NM have combined for 35 receptions and nearly 500 yards. Artesia had its three-game winning streak snapped last week in a home loss to Cleveland, but look for the Bulldogs to shake off that loss quickly. This one has the potential to become a shootout.
Mayfield at Roswell: How much does MaxPreps respect these two programs? Well, Mayfield is 2-3 against a mostly 6A non-district schedule and Roswell is 1-4 after beating Carlsbad last week, yet the two teams are ranked No. 6 (Mayfield) and No. 5 (Roswell) ahead of multiple three and four-win teams. Trojans RB Calvin Cox Calvin Cox 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Mayfield | 2022 State NM brought his A-game against Las Cruces last week with over 90 yards rushing and a receiving TD. Roswell has one of its youngest teams in years, but has steadily gotten better as the year has progressed. That includes QB Rich Arreola, who ran for a 28-yard TD against Carlsbad.
Bloomfield at Valencia: These two teams are a combined 8-2. Bloomfield is the No. 1 team in Class 4A in the latest MaxPreps poll. But an injury to QB Ryan Sharpe could be a concern. If he can’t play, freshman Ryan Spencer will get the call after an admirable job last week against Miyamura. Valencia had its three-game winning streak snapped last week at Santa Teresa. Junior QB Rey Garcia directs the Jaguars offense.
La Cueva at Clovis: We haven’t heard much from Clovis this season and here’s why: the Wildcats haven’t played since Sept. 3 and two of their three games have been against Texas schools. Except for one game, Clovis has struggled on offense, being blanked twice by Hobbs and Frenship (TX). La Cueva, ranked No. 3 in Class 6A, has rebounded nicely from the mercy-rule loss to Rio Rancho in Week 2 with three straight victories. QB Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM is enjoying a solid junior campaign.
Los Alamos at West Las Vegas (Thur., 7 p.m.): An intriguing 5A vs. 3A contest in northern New Mexico. Los Alamos is 3-2 after last week’s 51-0 whitewashing of Gallup. They begin district play next week. West Las Vegas has been one of the surprise teams of 2021 as the Dons have won their first four games after not playing for almost two years. A win here would set them up for Week 6’s showdown with Raton.
Volcano Vista at Sandia (Wilson): Volcano Vista has had an uneven year with wins over Manzano and Albuquerque neutralized by losses to Las Cruces and La Cueva. Hawks WR Kieran Cordova Kieran Cordova 5'10" | 145 lbs | WR Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM has 15 receptions for 363 yards and two TDs. Sandia hasn’t won since the season opener against Valley.
Aztec at St. Pius X (Sat., 1 p.m.):The main reason to watch this game is to see 2022 St. Pius X RB Marco Ybarra Marco Ybarra 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB St. Pius X | 2022 State NM run with the football. Ybarra has 817 rushing yards in 5 games. Can the Aztec defense top him? The Tigers will try to snap a three-game losing streak.
Eldorado at Albuquerque (Milne): Eldorado’s two losses have come to Rio Rancho and Cibola. Aidan St. John Aidan St. John 6'1" | 195 lbs | RB Eldorado | 2022 State NM is one of the top running backs in Class 6A. Eagles looked good in last week’s district opener vs. Santa Fe. RB Andres Aguirre (192 rushing yards) leads the AHS offense.
Socorro at St. Michael’s (Sat., 1:30 pm): The season-ending injury to St. Michael’s QB Lucas Coriz Lucas Coriz 6'2" | QB St. Michael's | 2022 State NM took some steam out of this 3A matchup, but it’s still a pretty good one. Socorro is the No. 2 team in Class 3A behind Raton.
Belen at Capital: Belen makes the trip to Santa Fe to take on the Jaguars. Belen has won its last two games, including last Friday’s OT home win over Piedra Vista. Sam Tibbs is Belen’s leading rusher with 232 yards on 64 carries. Capital, also 2-2, looks to get back on the winning track after the loss to city rival Santa Fe on Sept. 10.
Best of the Rest
Manzano at Santa Fe: Demons’ RB/DB Martell Mora Martell Mora 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Santa Fe High | 2022 State NM is a leading Player of the Year candidate.
Miyamura at Moriarty: Pintos posted impressive win over Bernalillo last week.
Bernalillo at Taos: Spartans make the long trip to the mountains in northern New Mexico.
Texico at Eunice: Battle between Class 2A heavyweights.
Clayton at Raton: Tigers are new No. 1 team in MaxPreps’ 3A poll.
Other Games
Del Norte at Farmington
Deming at Alamogordo
Silver at Chaparral
Tohatchi at Crownpoint
Navajo Prep at Cuba
Cobre at Dexter
Santa Fe Indian at Espanola Valley
Hot Springs at Gadsden
Pojoaque Valley at Gallup
Grants at Kirtland Central
Shiprock at Newcomb
Tucumcari at Robertson
Ruidoso at Santa Teresa
Portales at Rio Grande
Escalanat at Albuq. Academy
Hatch Valley at Hope Christian
Homecoming Week pic.twitter.com/oO32Ud4ys7
— BulldogFootball 🏈🏆x32 (@artesiafootball) September 20, 2021
@SartanX FANS , it is HOMECOMING week against @aztectigersport … @Sartan_football are going for 4-2 on the season… WE NEED EVERYONE at Community Stadium 🏟 Saturday at 1pm. @BethanyKOAT @SebastianNoel47 @PrepRedzoneNM @nmpreps @NMGameDay @AngelSalcedoTV @koat7news pic.twitter.com/JHsUcyVA5J
— Sartan.Football. ABQ (@Sartan_football) September 20, 2021
— Raton Football (@RatonFootball) September 23, 2021