PREP FOOTBALL
Games to watch: Centennial, Las Cruces open season with road trips north
Cleveland opens season of its third straight 6A title Friday against Centennial, while Las Cruces and Rio Rancho face key roster questions in Week 1.
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1. Centennial at Cleveland, 7 p.m. Friday
The Storm begin their quest for a third straight 6A title; this new defense is going to be severely tested against the Hawks, who return their quarterback (Ruiz Laborin) and tailback (Dailen Ramirez). Centennial will face its own issues trying to defend a Cleveland offense that almost always is versatile and dynamic. This is Michael Denison鈥檚 debut at QB for the Storm.
2. Las Cruces at Rio Rancho, 7 p.m. Friday
I鈥檓 extremely interested to see how the Bulldawgs鈥� new skill-position athletes step in after the roster was decimated by graduation. Their progress will say much about Las Cruces鈥� chances to return to the Class 6A final on Thanksgiving weekend.
3. Los Lunas at Mayfield, Field of Dreams, 7 p.m. Friday
The Tigers begin the Stephen Johnston era in Las Cruces 鈥� against a Trojans program also under new management, as Joseph Frias, who did wonders with Chaparral, tries to get Mayfield back into the conversation as one of 5A鈥檚 elite programs.
4. Carlsbad at Artesia, 7 p.m. Friday
The Eddy County War will always have a place on this list. The Bulldogs are new at just about every position, and they鈥檙e up against a Cavemen team that expects to be formidable. Such enduring tradition in this rivalry.
5. Eldorado at La Cueva, Wilson Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday
This is dropped a bit on the list simply because we don鈥檛 know who will start at quarterback for the Bears. That these two are meeting in a season-opening, NON-district game reveals much about the dramatic nature of the state鈥檚 latest realignment plan.
6. Cibola at Sandia, Wilson Stadium, 7 p.m. Thursday
I think most everyone is eager to see how the Matadors will look in Year 2 under coach Tylon Wilder; this team already had a pretty solid core returning, and Sandia added a few transfers this summer, too.
7. Hobbs at Roswell, 7 p.m.
An outstanding pairing in the opener, with the Eagles, fresh off a 6A semifinal appearance last November, taking on the perennial 5A power in the Coyotes. Roswell, a bit like Artesia, is retooling quite a bit.
8. Santa Rosa at Texico, 7 p.m.
This is one of my favorite small-school rivalry games, as the Lions face a Wolverines squad that is seeking a fourth straight blue trophy.
