On Three, Break: Grine’s Must-See Games – Week 11 (Halloween Week Edition)
New Mexico high school football weekly feature.
It’s Halloween Week in New Mexico, pumpkins on porches, chile in the air (my mom makes Tamales each year), and playoff dreams on the line. For some, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night will bring full-size candy bars; for others, it’ll be a fun-sized heartbreak. We’ve got ghosts of rivalries past, treats for the faithful, and maybe a trick or two waiting under the stadium lights. Here are the ten must-see games this week.
ALLSICK Candy Game (Game of the Week): No. 2 Cleveland (8-1, 4-0) at No. 3 Rio Rancho (6-3, 4-0), Thursday 6 p.m.
It’s the Battle for the City of Vision, and the pre-Halloween main event. Cleveland storms in with a win streak and a lineup scarier than a haunted house: Jordan Hatch, Evan Nanez, Jacob Maldonado, Moses Sparks Jr., and Elijah Roberts. Rio Rancho’s counterpunch? Micah Takahashi (2027) and Parker Miller (2026), over 3,300 yards and 41 touchdowns between them. The Rams have found their rhythm, but the Storm have owned this rivalry for nearly a decade.
NMPreps Prediction: Cleveland 44, Rio Rancho 19
Grine’s Pick: Cleveland
Ghost Pepper Red Chile Bowl: No. 1 Las Cruces (9-0, 5-0) vs No. 7 Centennial (7-2, 4-1), Friday 7 p.m.
When the Crosses collide, the whole state watches. Las Cruces is perfect and chasing a No. 1 seed, while Centennial wants to light up the scoreboard and shake up District 3-6A. Expect fireworks, maybe a few ghosts, and a bowl full of red-hot scoring. Daniel Amaro, Las Cruces RB, has been a joy to watch in New Mexico high school football, this won’t be the last time you get to watch him Las Cruces but you surely don’t want to miss this opportunity. The Hawks, though, are never intimidated. Dailen Ramirez remains one of the most dangerous backs in the state, and their defense plays with edge and confidence.
NMPreps Prediction: Las Cruces 38, Centennial 28
Grine’s Pick: Las Cruces
Trick-or-Tamale Treat Respect Game: No. 6 Hobbs (7-2, 4-1) vs No. 11 Carlsbad (5-4, 3-2), Friday 7 p.m.
Aretha sang it best. All they want is R-E-S-P-E-C-T. because Hobbs keeps hearing the same thing: “Ranked high everywhere but not at the top on NMPreps? What gives, Grine?” Well, Friday is their chance to prove it. If the Eagles win, they likely lock in a top-four seed and a home playoff game.
I’ve said it all year, our rankings move week to week, and Hobbs has quietly climbed by doing exactly that. Now, they’re healthy, balanced, and dangerous. Junior Medrano is playing his best ball of the season, and Shamus Wright gives them a ground threat that opens everything up. Defensively, they’re flying around and forcing turnovers. In my eyes, Hobbs is right there with Rio Rancho as the third-best team in 6A football right now. — that’s where I both agree and disagree with our rankings.
But here’s the Halloween twist: can Carlsbad cue up “Thriller” and turn this into a nightmare for the Eagles? The Cavemen love to play spoiler, and a win here could flip the whole 6A bracket.
NMPreps Prediction: Hobbs 41, Carlsbad 27
Grine’s Pick: Hobbs
Alien Encounter at the Wool Bowl: No. 2 Roswell (6-3, 5-1) vs No. 4 Goddard (6-3, 4-2), Friday 7 p.m.
Every October, the lights flicker at the Wool Bowl, and strange things tend to happen in Roswell. This year’s Alien Encounter features two 5A powers fighting for district bragging rights and playoff seeding. Roswell, led by one of New Mexico’s premier head coaches in Jeff Lynn, brings a stingy defense anchored by Kannon Ramage (67 TT) and Joaquin Bolanos, both senior tone-setters. On offense, QB Luke Lynn has found rhythm throwing to Izaic Gonzales and Noah Estrada, giving the Coyotes a balanced, explosive attack.
Goddard isn’t afraid of bright lights or little green men, QB Nate Vasquez, WR Josiah Castillo, and Brady Gibbs have enough firepower to make this rivalry weird. Expect this one to be decided under a full moon, with more than a few unidentified flying footballs.
NMPreps Prediction: Roswell 34, Goddard 24
Grine’s Pick: Roswell
Green Chile Ghoul Game: No. 4 Santa Rosa (8-1, 3-1) at No. 5 Legacy Academy (8-1, 4-0), Thursday 6 p.m.
Halloween comes early in District 2-2A, and this one’s got some green chile heat. The Santa Rosa Lions, once ranked No. 1, slipped last week and now need a road win to keep district title hopes alive. The Legacy Silverbacks, unbeaten in district at 4-0, have been the surprise story of 2A and could bury the Lions’ title dreams with a win.
Statistically, Santa Rosa brings the brawn: 264 rushing yards per game led by David Chavez (106.8 ypg), who’s also a tackling machine on defense (13.3 tackles per game). Legacy leans on balance and big plays, QB Lorenzo Sedillo-Urban averages 193 total yards per game, while Jay Lee (54.3 receiving ypg) stretches defenses vertically.
A loss could drop Santa Rosa to third in district, but expect them to come out snarling. The Green Chile Ghoul Game could decide who gets home-field advantage, or who gets haunted in November.
NMPreps Prediction: Santa Rosa 27, Legacy 21
Grine’s Pick: Santa Rosa