Here’s what’s coming up in Northern New Mexico in the week ahead:
Thursday, Aug. 25
Volleyball: Mesa Vista vs. Cuba
The Lady Trojans kick off the year looking to improve on a surprisingly strong 9-12 (4-6 in district) season last year. Renee Torrez takes over as head coach for Mesa Vista in place of her deceased husband Leonard Torrez, and looks to continue the momentum of a team that went from a winless 2019 season to approaching .500. Cuba swept Mesa Vista in the 2021 season opener, finishing 10-12 for the season. They are the type of team the Lady Trojans will have to beat to prove they are a legitimate contender.Friday, Aug. 26Football: Tohatchi vs. EscalanteLast year, this game was a 56-6 win for Escalante while they ran for over 300 yards — Trey Archuleta ran for 126 yards and three touchdowns in that game as running back, and now plays as the team’s quarterback. Another big win for the Lobos could establish momentum in the early part of their schedule after a week one loss to West Las Vegas (see: Rio Arriba Sports Roundup). Tohatchi is no slouch, though, finishing 6-4 last year and second place in their district, and starting the year with a 12-7 win over Shiprock on a fourth quarter score.Football: Bernalillo vs. Española ValleyThe Sundevils will look to establish themselves after their week one loss showed promise offensively. Bernalillo will be tough but beatable for the Sundevils, though the Spartans won the matchup 54-0 last year. Bernalillo’s 5-6 year last season featured multiple close losses to strong teams. This is the kind of game Española needs to be at least close in if they seek to establish a new football culture. Saturday, Aug. 27Volleyball: Española Valley vs. Santa Fe Indian Española started the year on Tuesday with a loss to Kirtland Central. They face another familiar foe on Saturday, looking to end their ongoing 13-match losing streak dating back to last year. The Braves made it to Albuquerque in the state tournament last year, while the Sundevils were nowhere close. The Sundevils did win in a sweep in Santa Fe last year, perhaps their best win of the year before the season fell apart.