Friday night lights are back, and the schedule is stacked with intrigue from 6A battles to critical mid-tier matchups. Some teams are trying to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start, while others are chasing statement wins that could reshape the early-season rankings.
TOP-25 GAMES
No. 1 Cleveland (2-0) vs Clovis (1-1), Fri, 7pm
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No. 3 Volcano Vista (1-1) vs No. 18 Sandia (0-2), Sat, 11am, Wilson Stadium (ABQ)
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No. 4 Centennial (1-1) at No. 7 Artesia (2-0), Fri, 7pm
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No. 8 Hobbs (1-1) vs No. 11 Roswell (1-1), Fri, 7pm
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No. 9 Eldorado (1-0) vs No. 17 Cibola (1-1), Fri, 7pm
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No. 10 Alamogordo (2-0) vs No. 16 Albuquerque (2-0), Fri, 7pm, Milne Stadium (ABQ)
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No. 12 Los Lunas (0-2) at Farmington (0-2), Friday 7 PM
Preview: Both squads enter desperate for their first victory, and that makes this one fascinating. Los Lunas has leaned on Kaiden Reese (2026), who could be due for a breakout, while linebacker Bryant Baca (2026) is emerging as a defensive anchor. For Farmington, they’ve struggled on both sides of the ball (just 33 total points this season), but returning home offers a chance to stabilize.
Grine’s Bottom Line: It’s a must-win for both. Los Lunas has faced two top-15 opponents already, so they may be a bit better than their record shows. Farmington has yet to prove it.
Grine’s Pick: Los Lunas
NMPreps Score Prediction: Los Lunas 27, Farmington 20
Favorite: Los Lunas -6.5
No. 13 Organ Mountain (1-1) vs No. 23 Mayfield (0-2), Friday 7 PM at Field of Dreams
Preview: The Knights enter riding momentum after a tight win over Deming behind do-it-all quarterback Jaden Gonzales (2027), who’s averaging 330 yards of offense per game. His connection with Jayshawn Caldwell (2026) is giving defenses headaches. For Mayfield, quarterback Xavier Ochoa (2026) has been steady, but the Trojans have faced a brutal opening slate, including last week’s close loss to West Mesa.
Grine’s Bottom Line: Organ Mountain is fun, flashy, and tough to stop when Gonzales is in rhythm. But Mayfield isn’t as bad as 0-2 looks, this is a sneaky coinflip game.
Grine’s Pick: Organ Mountain
NMPreps Score Prediction: Organ Mountain 24, Mayfield 21
Favorite: Organ Mountain -2.5
No. 14 Piedra Vista (2-0) at Durango, CO (1-1), Friday 7 PM
Preview: Quarterback Reuban Marquez (2027) has been the engine for Piedra Vista, showing his dual-threat ability with 240 rushing yards in last week’s win. Kael Farley (2027) added two touchdowns and brings balance to the offense. Durango will counter with quarterback Grady Feeney (2026) and running back Gus Halls (2026), making this one of the best NM-vs-CO matchups of the weekend.
Grine’s Bottom Line: Piedra Vista has shown resilience in close games, while Durango is dangerous at home. Expect a fourthquarter finish.
Grine’s Pick: Piedra Vista
NMPreps Score Prediction: Piedra Vista 30, Durango 24
Favorite: Piedra Vista -3.5
No. 15 Carlsbad (1-1) at No. 19 Lovington (1-1), Friday 7 PM
Preview: Carlsbad rebounded with a tight win over Goddard last week, powered by Eloy Lopez (2026) and running back Brock Wright (2026). Lovington responded to its Week 1 loss with a statement win over Portales, led by quarterback Justin Allen (2026) and linebacker Kyler Reaves (2026). Both teams bring balance and toughness, making this an early-season measuring stick.
Grine’s Bottom Line: A rivalry matchup with a lot at stake. Lovington’s passing attack has the edge here, but Carlsbad is built for grind-it-out wins.
Grine’s Pick: Lovington
NMPreps Score Prediction: Lovington 28, Carlsbad 23
Favorite: Lovington -5.5
No. 20 Bloomfield (1-1) at Miyamura (1-1), Friday 7 PM
Preview: Bloomfield is looking for consistency behind quarterback Manual Chavarria (2026), who showed flashes last week connecting with Kaleb Hutchens (2026) and Deasyl Priddy (2026). Miyamura counters with quarterback Salid Rashid (2026), who is averaging over 170 passing yards per game, and receiver Benjamin Vidales (2026), who’s become a go-to target. This one features two programs with playoff expectations, making it an important early test.
Grine’s Bottom Line: Bloomfield is battle-tested, but Miyamura has explosive upside at home. This one will be tight until the final minutes.
Grine’s Pick: Bloomfield
NMPreps Score Prediction: Bloomfield 27, Miyamura 24
Favorite: Bloomfield -2.5
No. 21 St. Pius X (2-0) at Moriarty (1-1), Friday 7 PM
Preview: The Sartans are off to a strong start behind quarterback Isaiah Carpenter (2027), who is averaging 279 passing yards per game, and running back Hershul Olloway Jr. (2027), fresh off a three-touchdown night against Grants. Christian Morales (2028) has emerged as a deep threat, while the defense has leaned on Kolbe Padilla (2026) to set the tone. Moriarty, led by running back Mario Romero (2026), is physical and punishing on the ground, while linebacker Royce Dennisson (2026) is their defensive anchor.
Grine’s Bottom Line: St. Pius X has too many weapons to slow down right now, but Moriarty is a team you can’t overlook, especially at home.
Grine’s Pick: St. Pius X
NMPreps Score Prediction: St. Pius X 34, Moriarty 21
Favorite: St. Pius X -8.5
No. 24 Goddard (1-1) vs Valley (0-2), Friday 7 PM
Preview: Goddard nearly pulled off a comeback against Carlsbad last week, showing grit and resilience. Quarterback Izaiah Montoya (2026) has been the key, with both his legs and his arm. Valley is searching for offensive consistency, with quarterback Jose Jaramillo (2026) putting up nearly 300 passing yards through two weeks, while linebacker Joshua Sanchez (2026) leads the defense with 19 tackles.
Grine’s Bottom Line: Goddard is the better team on paper, but Valley is fighting to avoid a dangerous 0-3 hole.
Grine’s Pick: Goddard
NMPreps Score Prediction: Goddard 28, Valley 14
Favorite: Goddard -10.5
No. 25 Gadsden (2-0) at Clint, TX (0-1), Friday 7 PM
Preview: The Panthers have been one of the early surprises of the season, averaging 42.5 points per game. Running back Juan Rios (2026) has rushed for 250 yards and three touchdowns through two games. Clint was blanked in its opener against Andrews, Texas, but quarterback Brandon Quezada (2026) still managed 100 rushing yards.
Grine’s Bottom Line: Gadsden is building real momentum, and this looks like another step forward for a program on the rise.
Grine’s Pick: Gadsden
NMPreps Score Prediction: Gadsden 33, Clint (TX) 20
Favorite: Gadsden -12.5
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Source : www.on3.com
