This year’s season is somewhat of an experiment for the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), at least when it comes to high school football.
A Las Cruces Digest Report
We are headlong into championship high school football, and seven of the nine local teams are still in the hunt for a state title. This year’s season is somewhat of an experiment for the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), at least when it comes to high school football. To be fair, the NMAA is faced with some very unique challenges. If Santa Fe is to be labelled “the city different”, the New Mexico is certainly “the state unique”.
New Mexico high schools are spread over vast geographic regions. The Gadsden school district, alone, comprises 1,400 square miles. High school enrollment at the three schools in the district is hardly homogeneous among the three. With the creation of a sixth class (6A) for larger enrollment schools, Gadsden’s high schools (Gadsden, Chaparral and Santa Teresa) were divided into the two next smaller classes (5A and 4A). Even Las Cruces Public Schools had its high schools split, with Mayfield districted in the smaller enrollment Class 5A.
There will be time when the final whistle blows to evaluate how this experimental season went. For now, here is a breakdown of each of the seven games teams from our broader community will be playing this weekend:
Class 6A Games
Las Cruces @ Volcano Vista
Friday, November 15 @ 7 pm
This will be the Bulldawgs’ second trip to Albuquerque to face the Hawks of Volcano Vista. In their first meeting this season, Volcano Vista pulled off an exciting 4th quarter comeback to beat the Bulldawgs 27-24.
Rio Rancho @ Centennial
Friday, November 15 @ 7 pm
The undefeated Centennial Hawks hosted the Rio Rancho Rams earlier in the season. The Hawks prevailed 43-27.
| District 3-6A | W-L | PF | PA | Strk |
| Centennial | 10-0 (6-0) | 489 | 219 | 10W |
| Las Cruces | 8-3 (5-1) | 449 | 189 | 1W |
| Hobbs | 7-4 (4-2) | 399 | 308 | 4W |
| Organ Mountain | 4-6 (3-3) | 230 | 329 | 2L |
| Carlsbad | 4-6 (2-4) | 297 | 282 | 2L |
| Alamogordo | 2-8 (1-5) | 255 | 370 | 1W |
| Clovis | 0-10 (0-6) | 85 | 514 | 10L |
Class 5A Games
Mayfield @ Deming
Friday, November 15 @ 7 pm
This quarterfinal is a rematch of a District 2/5A slugfest. In their initial meeting, the Wildcats eeked out a 29-27 win over the Trojans.
Los Alamos @ Gadsden
Saturday, November 16 @ 1 pm
Los Alamos topped District 1/5A in undefeated fashion and will be trying to extend their 8-win streak. The Gadsden Panthers are coming off a 1st Round BYE, and will be defending their home field on Saturday.
| District 2-5A | W-L | PF | PA | Strk |
| Roswell | 8-1 (6-1) | 344 | 178 | 6W |
| Artesia | 7-3 (6-1) | 495 | 299 | 2W |
| Deming | 8-2 (5-2) | 311 | 248 | 5W |
| Gadsden | 7-3 (4-3) | 303 | 174 | 1L |
| Mayfield | 5-6 (3-4) | 355 | 320 | 1W |
| Lovington | 7-4 (3-4) | 411 | 298 | 2W |
| Goddard | 2-9 (1-6) | 175 | 360 | 7L |
| Santa Teresa | 1-9 (0-7) | 62 | 397 | 9L |
4A Game
Chaparral @ Bernalillo
Friday, November 15 @ 6 pm
The Chaparral Lobos will be traveling north of Albuquerque to Bernalillo to take on the Spartans. Las Cruces Digest will be paying particularly close attention to this game because there is something interesting happening in Chaparral. Despite fielding the weakest defense in all of District 2/4A, the Lobos managed to hold a Portales Rams team scoreless in Round 1 of the championships. If Chaparral can find a winning strategy in Bernalillo, they might have found the key to making a run at the 4A title.
| District 2-4A | W-L | PF | PA | Strk |
| St. Pius X | 8-2 (6-0) | 344 | 219 | 6W |
| Portales | 6-5 (4-2) | 220 | 227 | 1L |
| Valencia | 8-3 (4-2) | 311 | 274 | 2W |
| Silver | 4-7 (2-4) | 216 | 177 | 1L |
| Manzano | 5-6 (2-4) | 329 | 254 | 5L |
| Chaparral | 4-7 (2-4) | 197 | 328 | 1W |
| Albuquerque Academy | 3-7 (1-5) | 257 | 292 | 3L |
Class 3A Game:
Hatch Valley @ Dexter
Friday, November 15 @ 7 pm
The first time the Hatch Valley Bears traveled to Dexter, the result was a 60-6 loss on a platter. To be clear, Dexter is undefeated and their defense has held opponents to less than 7 points per game, on average. That said, this is New Mexico Football during championship season. Anything can happen.
| District 3-3A | W-L | PF | PA | Strk |
| Dexter | 10-0 (8-0) | 437 | 69 | 10W |
| Socorro | 8-2 (5-1) | 392 | 190 | 3W |
| New Mexico Military Institute | 8-3 (4-2) | 375 | 155 | 1W |
| Hatch Valley | 7-4 (3-3) | 264 | 257 | 2W |
| Ruidoso | 2-9 (2-4) | 179 | 385 | 1L |
| Hot Springs | 4-7 (1-5) | 196 | 291 | 4L |
| Cobre | 2-8 (0-6) | 74 | 428 | 7L |
8-man Football Semifinal Game
Mesilla Valley Christian @ Fort Sumner/House
Saturday, November 16 @ 1pm
This is 8-man football, and if you have never seen an 8-man game, believe it when it is described as a roller coaster of action and surprise. This is not to imply games are random; they are not. They are prone to quick swings, and when their is a break, the breaks can be big. Fort Sumner/House has had all the breaks so far this year, finishing the regular season undefeated. The SonBlazers have only been hit with one loss this season against the nationally ranked (24th) Melrose Buffaloes. The winner makes the championship game, so it will be fun to watch to see who will step into the final ring, next week.
| District 3-8-Man | W-L | PF | PA | Strk |
| Melrose | 11-0 (6-0) | 580 | 92 | 11W |
| Mesilla Valley Christian School | 9-1 (5-1) | 463 | 230 | 4W |
| Gateway Christian | 7-2 (4-2) | 462 | 170 | 3W |
| Tatum | 6-6 (3-3) | 378 | 389 | 1L |
| Mescalero Apache | 3-6 (2-4) | 201 | 370 | 3L |
| Lordsburg | 5-6 (1-5) | 456 | 407 | 1L |
| Hagerman/Lake Arthur | 2-6 (0-6) | 90 | 339 | 6L |
