New Mexico High School Football 8-man/6-Man Week 8 Preview
Week 8 in the small-school scene brings major implications for playoff positioning across New Mexico’s 8-man and 6-man football landscape.
No. 1 Fort Sumner/House (5-0, 2-0): The Machine Keeps Rolling
Fort Sumner/House put up 379 total yards while holding Questa to minus-10 yards of offense and zero first downs. Jordan Holland (2026) was solid, completing 14-of-24 passes for 235 yards and six touchdowns while adding another on the ground. His top target, Tra’von Bonds (2026), hauled in 10 receptions for 183 yards and five touchdowns. A.J. Lucero (2026) anchored the rushing attack with 91 yards on 12 carries and added two conversions.
The Foxes scored 32 points in the first quarter and led 48-0 by halftime before the game ended by mercy rule in the third. Questa (3-3, 0-2) couldn’t find any rhythm, committing three fumbles and finishing with negative rushing yards.
Fort Sumner/House moves to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in district play and continues to strengthen its case as a top contender in 8-man football. Melrose remains the reigning 8-man champion, but performances like this one show Fort Sumner/House is right in the mix for a deep postseason run.
Friday, October 10 — 8-Man Schedule
- No. 5 Melrose (5-2) vs. Mescalero Apache (1-5), 7 PM – The defending champs have found their rhythm again after early-season bumps, leaning on their disciplined line play and physical defense. Expect a heavy dose of ground control and defensive dominance against a struggling Mescalero team.
- No. 6 Tatum (6-1) vs. No. 9 Gateway Christian (3-3), 7 PM – This is the marquee game of the night. Tatum’s three-headed monster of Josh Harris, Jasiel Esparza, and Aaron Marizcal gives the Coyotes elite versatility, Harris alone has 580 rushing yards and 8 TDs, while Marizcal adds 474 passing yards and 7 more on the ground. Gateway Christian will counter with a balanced offense but will need to find an answer for Tatum’s speed.
- Lordsburg (4-2) vs. Hagerman/Lake Arthur (4-2), 6 PM – Both teams sit at 4-2 and are fighting for district relevance. Lordsburg has leaned on its physicality up front, while Hagerman’s dual-QB looks have given defenses fits.
- Navajo Pine (1-5) vs. Ramah (1-4), 7 PM – A toss-up between two rebuilding programs. Ramah’s youth and Navajo Pine’s offensive struggles make this one about who can control the line and limit turnovers.
Saturday, October 11 — 8-Man Schedule
- Fort Sumner/House (5-0) vs. Clayton (2-4), 2 PM – The Foxes look unstoppable right now. Their defense has allowed just 26 total points all season, and their passing attack is thriving behind Holland. Clayton will need its best defensive effort of the year to keep it close.
- Escalante (5-2) vs. Menaul (4-2), 1 PM – A clash of two explosive offenses. Escalante quarterback Braylon Emery leads 8-Man in passing (748 yards, 9 TDs), while Menaul’s Luke Boatman has been electricin two games (323 yards, 4 TDs). Expect fireworks. Senior Carlos Cummins ,and sophomore Ambrose Maestes two others to keep an eye on.
- Questa (3-3) vs. Cloudcroft (1-5), 1 PM – Questa will try to rebound from its Fort Sumner loss behind quarterback Uriah Griego. Cloudcroft’s Chris Yousif and Jadon Myers headline an emerging backfield duo averaging over 100 yards per game combined.
Friday, October 10 — 6-Man Schedule
- Roy/Mosquero (2-3) vs. Floyd (2-3), 1 PM – Early afternoon kickoff in a crucial district matchup. Roy/Mosquero’s backfield of Talon Romero and Kash Garcia gives them a chance to climb above .500.
- Carrizozo (1-5) vs. Reserve (0-3), 4 PM – Both programs are searching for stability. Carrizozo’s offense has shown flashes but must protect the ball against a physical Reserve team.
- Mountainair (3-3) vs. Animas (5-1), 6 PM – Expect a strong showing from Animas, led by a defense that has allowed fewer than 20 points in four straight games. Mountainair has been competitive but inconsistent.
- Grady (6-0) vs. Elida (5-2), 7 PM – The game of the night in 6-Man football. Grady’s unbeaten start has come on the back of Trey Rush (703 yards, 13 TDs) and Zander Ciancio (269 receiving yards, 7 TDs), but they face the state’s most productive player: Cason Norman (Elida), who leads all of New Mexico with 1,710 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns. This is the heavyweight showdown of the weekend.
Thursday Result
- New Mexico School for the Deaf 60, Dora 19 – The Roadrunners rolled to another big win, improving to 5-2 behind a dynamic offensive showing.
Players to Watch This Weekend
- Cason Norman (Elida): The 6-Man superstar averages 244 yards per game and already has 36 rushing touchdowns on the year.
- Aydin Kotara (Logan): The reigning state champ quarterback leads all small-school passers with 1,069 yards and 18 touchdowns.
- Josh Harris (Tatum): A dual-threat quarterback with 580 rushing yards, 336 passing yards, and 14 total touchdowns through five games.
- Jasiel Esparza (Tatum): The workhorse back with 11 touchdowns and a defensive presence that ranks among the top five in tackles.
- Braylon Emery (Escalante): The 8-Man passing leader with 748 yards and 9 TDs looks to stay hot against Menaul.
- Tra’von Bonds (Fort Sumner/House): Fresh off a five-touchdown receiving game, Bonds is proving to be one of the state’s elite playmakers.
- Stratton Schoonover (Logan): One of 6-Man’s most complete players, with 414 rushing yards, 10 TDs, and a team-high 76 tackles.
- Zander Ciancio (Grady): The sophomore receiver averages nearly 30 yards per catch and has been unstoppable in the red zone.
The Outlook
With district races tightening and playoff brackets looming, this weekend’s 8-Man and 6-Man slate will define who’s for real. Fort Sumner/House continues its march toward November, while Melrose and Tatum look to protect their championship paths. In 6-Man, Grady and Elida could easily meet again deep in the postseason but for now, it’s Logan’s crown to defend.