St. Michael’s players tackle Taos Tigers running back Mateo Salazar during a game on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Taos. The defending Class 3A state champion Horsemen open their 2024 campaign at home Saturday against Taos.
It’s time to dust off the crystal ball, break out the tarot cards and summon our inner Nostradamus to forecast this week’s opening salvo of the high school football season.
Eleven weekends separate us from the heat dome that promises to make Week 1 a miserable experience and the final day of the regular season in early November. Each of those gives us plenty of opportunity to use the following space as bulletin board material.
Take it with a grain of salt — it’s no more scientific than having your pet schnauzer bounce a ball down the steps and into a cup to pick a winner.
With that, here we go:
Friday’s games
Capital at Santa Fe High, 7 p.m.: What used to be the final game of the season is now the opener thanks to Capital’s drop from Class 6A to 5A. Things are looking up for the Jaguars. The stability brought by the former coaching staff is now in the hands of someone new. That, and a less-strenuous path in 5A gives Capital a sense of optimism. The same cannot be said of the Demons, a team that faces a brutal schedule in 6A. That’s compounded by the fact that two of their first three games are against city rivals who appear to have a slight edge. As appealing as it is to offer an upset special on opening weekend, conventional wisdom says go with the gut.
Prediction: Capital 27, Santa Fe High 19
Española Valley at Los Alamos, 7 p.m.: While Santa Fe’s gaze is upon the Jags and Demons, this one is the real game of the week. The visiting Sundevils are coming off a rare playoff appearance (and playoff win). Same, too, for the Hilltoppers. Both appear to be ready for another run at the postseason, which is incredibly rare when talking about two straight contending years in Española. The thing is, the Sundevils are solid and they deserve some love. We’ll start with some right here.
Prediction: Española Valley 32, Los Alamos 23
Crownpoint at Pojoaque Valley, 7 p.m.: The Elks are on the rise under second-year coach Zeke Villegas. The depth is better, the culture is improved and the non-district schedule is favorable. Games like this one will go a long way in building some much-needed confidence.
Prediction: Pojoaque Valley 47, Crownpoint 13
Santa Fe Indian School at Cuba, 7 p.m.: The visiting Braves begin their foray as an independent with a road game against a team they should handle. That said, there’s really no way to tell how a roster of so many newcomers will hold together under a new coach and a new system. Here’s hoping it’s enough.
Prediction: SFIS 26, Cuba 18
West Las Vegas at Hatch Valley, 7 p.m.: There are those among The New Mexican sports staff (cough, cough, James Barron) who think West is primed for a run at the 3A state championship game opposite Robertson. Then there are those of us (the guy writing this) who feel the Dons must show that being the best team at the midway point of the regular season isn’t enough to start ordering championship rings. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Prediction: West Las Vegas 35, Hatch Valley 27
Socorro at Robertson, 7 p.m.: If we’ve learned anything from the Cardinals over the years it’s this: They tend to start slow, everyone outside the locker room freaks out, people start dismissing them and questioning Leroy Gonzalez’s coaching staff, then they wind up in the state finals. Want some motivation, Cardinals? Here you go.
Prediction: Socorro 23, Robertson 21
Saturday’s games
Taos at St. Michael’s, 1 p.m.: The defending state champion Horsemen look even better than they did a year ago. That’s scary. The Horsemen are healthy, deep and have their radar locked on what should be a series of huge games against city rivals, a brutal district and a 3A playoff bracket that should be loaded. Taos, on the other hand, is reinventing itself under a new coaching staff and a rebuilt offensive line that will have a hard time against St. Mike’s edge rushers.
Prediction: St. Michael’s 41, Taos 20
Cobre at McCurdy, 1 p.m.: One of the talking points during the summer was how well the Bobcats did in some of the passing camps attended by local teams. That’s certainly not a gauge of how well they’ll do in 11-on-11, but it’s enough to raise an eyebrow or two — but not enough to pick an upset against what should be a pretty decent 3A team.