Aug. 16—Two streaks are worth noting as the Class 6A football season has arrived.
First, it has been eight years since a state championship game was held without Cleveland as a participant.
Second, it has been nine years since someone from outside the Albuquerque metro area has played in the state final.
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Cleveland, which beat La Cueva last November for its fourth blue trophy since 2019, opens as the 6A favorite again.
The top challenger just might be Las Cruces High, which is loaded as the Bulldawgs hope to get back into the championship game for the first time since 2016. Many of the other primary cast members in 6A football — La Cueva, Centennial, Rio Rancho, Volcano Vista, Los Lunas — are very much going to be back in the fold.
District 1
Cleveland’s talented roster is headlined by senior quarterback Jordan Hatch, who threw for almost 2,300 yards and 29 touchdowns (against just two interceptions) a season ago.
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This offense also features senior running back Samuel Bustillos (590 yards and 10 TDs) and receiver Jacob Maldonado (50 catches, 11 scores). Maldonado recently announced his verbal commitment to New Mexico.
And Cleveland is loaded with playmakers beyond that trio.
Big tackle Moses Sparks, who has committed to Utah, anchors a strong offensive line for Cleveland.
“Things are shaping up really well,” Storm coach Robert Garza said.
Senior inside linebacker Troy Logan, lineman Elijah Richards (who, like Maldonado, has committed to the Lobos) and safety Collin Joyner lead the Cleveland defense, which was an incredibly dominant unit last season, surrendering about 11 points a game.
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Eli Powell on the nose and all-stater Riley Haussler join Richards up front, giving the Storm a stout line.
“We’re looking to pick up where we left off,” Garza said. His team opens Saturday afternoon at Centennial.
Garza, pondering his team’s chances, kept it simple.
“It’s a brand new season, it’s hard to say,” he said. “I think our guys have really come together to try to move forward from last year. Last year, that was fun, but that team is gone and this is a new season.”
You can consider La Cueva coach Brandon Back among those who believe that Rio Rancho, which had a young roster in 2024, could blossom into something formidable over the next three months.
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The Rams were ousted by Centennial in the 6A quarterfinals last season. Among the six starters returning on offense are junior quarterback Micah Takahashi, senior receiver Parker Miller (43 catches, eight TDs last year) and senior tackle Brayden Davidson.
Senior cornerback Quintenn McKinley returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the Rams’ scrimmage against Sandia, and junior end Jacari Smith and junior outside linebacker Noah Lovato also are key pieces on that side of the ball.
Both lines, coach Nate Pino said, must show well this season.
“We have to grow the most, and just be physical,” he said. “We’ve got to match (opponents’) physicality.”
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Volcano Vista lost a tough quarterfinal game to Las Cruces to end the Hawks’ 2024 season, but as always, Volcano starts a season as one of the primary teams to watch, although the Hawks return just seven starters.
Senior Spirit Cook and junior Aurelious Wiley have been battling tor the QB role; junior running back D’Angelo Mitchell (477 yards and eight TDs last year) gives the Hawks stability at that spot, but Volcano Vista — which has its smallest senior class (23) in half a dozen years — lost four of its five linemen.
The Hawks were outstanding on defense as they finished 8-3; players to watch are senior ends Alvin Gomez and Kaleb Vander Wilt, plus sophomore Aiden Gonzales who is a three-year starter.
Linebacker, a traditional strength for Volcano, is an area where the Hawks have some holes to fill, coach Chad Wallin said.
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Cibola (2-8 in 2024) is looking to turn the program around under new head coach David Howes.
One of the fun things to look for this year in the metro area is how Hayes Baum, the senior linebacker who has committed to UNM, fares as Cibola’s quarterback.
“He’ll do some good things,” Howes said. “A nice change for us. He needs to be a football player on both sides of the ball.”
Howes’ specialty is defense, and he expects the Cougars to be strong versus the run. Linebacker is Cibola’s best position on the field. But the O-line doesn’t have any seniors playing in front of Baum.
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What, Howes was asked, would he consider a successful season?
“Getting competitive in every game and having a chance to win in the fourth quarter,” he said.
Piedra Vista won only three games last season, made the playoffs, and nearly upset Los Lunas in the first round. The Panthers are replacing their entire O-line, which looms as the biggest question mark.
Back in the fold at quarterback is junior Reuben Marquez, who missed a chunk of last year with an injury.
Farmington was hit hard by graduation, with all of their top skill positions having been seniors. The Scorpions were on the verge of the playoffs last year before losing the season finale to rival Piedra Vista.
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District 2
It’s not who La Cueva graduated that people should be focused on, Bears coach Brandon Back said, but the athletes they bring back.
“I feel like they’re playing with kind of a chip on their shoulder,” Back said. “They feel like they’re overlooked a little bit and that makes them hungry.”
Offensively, La Cueva’s receivers room, Back said, led by seniors Jayen Barros and Isaiah Goree, is quite deep — even with senior Tanner Montano deciding to skip football season to focus on track and field. And the line has three starters back, led by center Skyler Sargent.
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Quarterback is where La Cueva has perhaps the most uncertainty, as junior Monty Melendez steps in to start. The Bears’ last two QBs, Aidan Armenta and Cam Dyer, both are with Division I programs at current.
Senior linebacker Brody Clark becomes a key figure on the La Cueva defense. “He’s been patiently waiting for his opportunity to be the guy,” Back said. Mickey Widner, who has committed to Air Force (as a long snapper) also will have an important role.
Los Lunas was a state quarterfinalist a year ago, going out in that round to Cleveland.
“We definitely have the makeup to do something really special, but we have to stay healthy,” Tigers coach Greg Henington said. “We’ll have to play with incredible toughness.”
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Los Lunas has the toughest two games of any school in the state to open the year: the Tigers play 5A state champion Roswell, then 6A champ Cleveland.
Los Lunas is solidified at QB with senior lefty Kaiden Reese, a terrific — and fast — dual-threat athlete, and junior tailback Jagger Casillas. Both rushed for over 700 yards last season. And Henington likes the experience Los Lunas has along the O-Line.
“We definitely have the talent to be explosive,” Henington said.
The defense lost talent up front to graduation, but is led by senior safety Isaiah Barela.
Longtime Eldorado coach Charlie Dotson is sounding an optimistic tone ahead of the 2025 season, although the Eagles will open without their top returning running back, junior Isaiah Quintana, who is injured and likely to miss the first month of the regular season. Sophomore Nolan Romero-Williams could see extra work early.
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Eldorado has eight starters back on offense. And the Eagles have arguably the top kick returner in 6A in junior Jahari Morehead, who returned five kicks for scores last fall.
Senior Giovanni Evans quarterbacks the Eagles, who also return four offensive linemen.
If Dotson has a concern, it’s a defense that returns just three starters. Two of them are three-year starters up front in Finn Dolinski and Fred Tafoya.
Eldorado’s participation numbers are as strong as they have been in many years, with over 100 athletes. The Eagles lost in the first round of the playoffs last November.
“The future is bright at Eldorado in the coming years,” Dotson said. “Where that leaves us this year, I don’t know.”
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Both Sandia and West Mesa are going to be very young.
The Matadors and new coach Tylon Wilder do have faith that this offense, quarterbacked by junior Jahleel Lewis and given a boost with the transfer of sophomore running back George Smith from Robertson, plus the work of sophomore slot receiver Gad Harris, will put up points.
Junior linebacker Aiden Maldonado is one of the leaders on a defense.
“Rollercoaster season,” Wilder said of his expectations. He was previously the head coach at Española Valley.
West Mesa coach Landrick Brody does have a veteran receiver in senior Marcos Ochoa, but this team, he said, while physical (three offensive linemen returning) is untested.
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“One of the younger groups I’ve had,” Brody said. “It’ll be a learning experience for us early on.”
Hasaiah Fuller, a senior safety, gives the Mustangs a strong anchor in the secondary.
Brody’s son Jericho, along with Jaedon Woods, both could see plenty of time at QB.
Albuquerque High won four games last year, and the Bulldogs return senior running back Alberto Landeros (635 yards and five TDs last season), who’s going to handle the bulk of the carries behind an offensive line that brings back four starters.
“We’re optimistic about that unit,” AHS coach Desmond Anaya said.
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The defense will be a bit more iffy, with just two starters back. Anaya hopes for good work up front from junior end Nijion Bokor and space-eating Sergio Cisneros.
Atrisco Heritage had a coaching change in the offseason, with Dominic Casaus, who was the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator last year, now running the program.
Atrisco has 16 starters overall, including receivers Deon Session and J’ven Smith, both juniors, who combined for 61 catches and 11 touchdowns last season. And both figure to be targeted frequently in the Jags’ spread offense led by QB Tommy Gallegos who is injured and won’t be back, Casaus said, until perhaps Week 2.
Session, at safety, and junior lineman Wa’Qari Walker are among the top returners on the defense, an area where Atrisco struggled last year against the better teams on their schedule.
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Santa Fe is coming off a 2-8 season, and the Demons went winless in district.
District 3
Las Cruces, a semifinalist last season where it fell to La Cueva, returns seven starters on both sides of the ball and the Bulldawgs are armed with what is probably the best QB/RB duo in 6A football in senior quarterback Gunnar Guardiola (2,069 pass yards, 19 scores last year) and senior tailback Danny Amaro (1,297 yards/23 TDs).
“It is a luxury, for sure,” Las Cruces coach Mark Lopez said. “It starts with their character, to be honest. It’s who they are every day. Both are tremendous leaders, very humble guys.”
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Guardiola “can make any throw on the field,” Lopez said. “And it gives us a luxury to do a lot of different things.”
Amaro is a terrific all-around back for the Bulldawgs.
“Super dynamic,” Lopez said. “Power, elusiveness, speed … the full package for us.”
The receiving corps is led by senior Francisco Winnikoff (51 catches and 5 scores as a junior).
Defensively, Las Cruces’ entire secondary returns, including senior cover corner Isaac Gomez, and leading tackler, junior Denton Walter, who is moving from nickelback to inside linebacker.
The Bulldawgs’ first-half schedule includes home games against Volcano Vista and Rio Rancho, and what is already a hugely anticipated road game at Cleveland.
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“We’re hoping there’s no ceiling (with this team),” Lopez said. “They really do have hunger.”
Centennial’s situation at quarterback will be one of the more scrutinized positions in 6A, as junior Ruiz Laborin takes over from the explosive Zaiden Davis, who’s now at New Mexico State. Laborin was previously the JV QB.
“He’s a pretty good athlete,” Hawks coach Aaron Ocampo said. “Not crazy fast, but he’s a strider and he throws the ball real well.”
Centennial, like Las Cruces, was in the 6A semifinals last fall, where it was ousted by Cleveland. The Hawks host the Storm in the season opener next Saturday at the Field of Dreams.
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Ocampo said Centennial won’t be as reliant on the run as it was in past seasons; junior Dailen Ramirez is the top returning back, with seven TDs on the ground as a sophomore. The Hawks overall are young at the skill positions.
“I think we’ll have some talent,” Ocampo said, “we just have to find out what we’re good at doing.”
Hobbs has been a fairly regular state quarterfinalist in recent years. The Eagles were eliminated in the quarterfinals by La Cueva.
“Going into this year,” Hobbs coach Ken Stevens said, “we’re trying to break that ceiling and pop into that top four echelon.”
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Junior tailback Shamus Wright (639 yards, five TDs) heads up the list of top returners on offense. Junior Junior Medrano is taking over at QB after being the JV quarterback, and he’s got one of the best receiving groups in 6A. The Eagles’ top three in receptions — senior Justice French (33/7 TDs), senior Braddock Beaty (30/8) and and senior Gabriel Henry (23/4) — give Hobbs depth and experience out wide.
The Eagles return most of their offensive line and secondary, but linebacking is going to be an issue with new faces.
One of the questions in this district is, can any of the other four teams — Carlsbad, Organ Mountain, Alamogordo, Clovis — challenge the top three?
Carlsbad’s defense was building momentum at the end of a four-win season last year, and the Cavemen have one of the top receiving targets in 3-6A in senior Robert Castaneda, who caught 12 touchdown passes last season. But they will be new at QB. The defense is led by junior linebacker Colton McKibben, the most touted prospect in the state with 15 Division I offers.
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Organ Mountain, like Carlsbad, was 4-6 last year, including a dramatic overtime win over the Cavemen that may have sunk Carlsbad’s postseason hopes.
The Knights have a promising sophomore running back in Romeo Jones, who rushed for 750 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman.
Alamogordo’s Nathanael Best is one of 6A’s best dual-threat QBs, having rushed for nearly 1,150 yards last year. But the Tigers must improve on their sixth-place finish in league from a season ago.
Clovis went winless in 2024, and the Wildcats’ defense gave up 516 points.
