Here’s what’s coming up in Northern New Mexico in the week ahead:
Friday, Sept. 16
Football: Española vs. Gallup
Española (2-2) will attempt to win a third-straight game for the first time since 2015. And the Tigers (0-4) should be another beatable opponent, having struggled heavily — they have allowed an average of 46 points per game, and have not scored a single point this season. The Sundevil defense has been dominant over the past two weeks against smaller schools, and they have another chance to show their strength and potentially get another shutout while exciting a community that had been starved for good football.
Football: Raton vs. Escalante
The Lobos (2-2) will look to rebound after a 30-point loss, by far the worst performance for their defense this season. This week will present another tough challenge, but Escalante will look to rebound in front of their home crowd. The Tigers (4-0) finished last season as a surprise contender in 3A, and are continuing that line this year, having knocked off 2A title contender Eunice. The Tigers are a run-first team, with Cayden Walton already over 1,000 yards this season, but they have an ability to pass the ball, too.
Saturday, Sept. 17
Cross Country: Rio Rancho Jamboree
Nearly the entire North will head to Rio Rancho this weekend for the annual jamboree at one of the state’s toughest courses. In an incredibly crowded field, freshman Neveah Lovato from Española has been an early surprise, placing second at last week’s Moriarty Invite, while Mesa Vista eighth-grader Ezequiel Nevarez is another runner to watch.
Football: Santa Fe Indian vs. McCurdy
Finally, a seemingly winnable game for the Bobcats (0-4) who continue to face about the most difficult schedule possible for a 2A school. They had their best performance of the season last week against Thoreau, and come in against a struggling Braves team (1-2) that was rained out against Pojoaque. Ryan Montoya has scored all four touchdowns for the Bobcats this year, opening up the passing game and stretching the field.