HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFF PREVIEWS

We are down to the final four (and even final two!) in high school football.  State semifinals will be played this weekend, along with one championship game.

 

Class 6A semifinals

Rio Rancho vs Volcano Vista

Saturday 1pm, Nusenda Community Stadium

 

Rio Rancho head coach David Howes

What are the keys to winning for your team?

We have to match their tremendous speed, and maturity.  Composure is huge in a game like this.  I think physicality is inevitable, but we have to take care of the football and we have to play our best game.

How do you match up with Volcano Vista?

I think as district rivals we match up very well with Volcano Vista and we always have. Most of our games have come down to the last drive.  Historically we have a great record against them, but the past two years they have got the better of us.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I think with two offenses like we have in today’s football I think we can expect a high-scoring game, but I expected to be much closer.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

We stay disciplined and consistent throughout a hard fought game.

 

 

Volcano Vista head coach Chad Wallin

What are the keys to winning for your team?

Not beating ourselves with silly penalties and turnovers

How do you match up with Rio Rancho?

We match up well with Rio Rancho.  We seem to have been in a number of close games with them over the years and I expect another one on Saturday.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I would expect a high scoring game.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

we play to our potential.

 

 

Cleveland at Clovis

Friday 7pm, Leon Williams Stadium

 

Cleveland head coach Heath Ridenour

What are the keys to winning for your team?

We cannot turn the football over. Ball security and field position will be a key factor in the game. From a personnel standpoint, we have to limit their big plays on offense. They have explosive potential at every skill position on offense. We are going to have to find ways to move the chains offensively. Their defense is very talented and well coached. Their kids are always put in a position to be successful. This time of year the kids need to make plays.

How do you match up with Clovis?

I believe we match up very well with our opponent. We are built similarly and have a lot of similarities in scheme and philosophy. They have a lot of speed that will present some problems for us.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I’m not sure what to expect. I believe both teams are very good defensively and points could be difficult to come by. I expect the game to be very physical and fast paced. I got a feeling it’ll be a game to be remembered.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

Our team will win if we play TEAM football and play as hard as we possibly can for 4 quarters.

 

Clovis head coach Cal Fullerton

What are the keys to winning for your team?

I believe our keys to winning this game are no “bad” penalties.  By bad penalties I mean penalties we can control (late hits, unsportsmanlike conduct, offsides, false starts…) .  We cannot afford to put ourselves in bad situations on first down because of penalties.  We need to win the field position battle and need to stay away from 3 and outs offensively.  We need to win the offensive battle, defensive battle, special teams battle, turnover battle and be the best teammates on the field.

How do you match up with Cleveland?

After watching so much film, Cleveland looks very similar to ourselves.  They have weapons all over the field offensively and defensively they play very hard and swarm to the football.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

Honestly I do not know.  We both average around the same amount of points and our defense is giving up close to the same as well.  Hopefully our crowd will help us out a ton on Friday night.  With the weapons we both have offensively it could very easily be a high scoring affair, but it would not surprise me at all if it was low scoring with how hard both of our defenses play.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

Our team will win if we play as hard and smart as we can every snap.

 

 

Class 5A semifinals

Deming at Roswell

Friday 6pm, Wool Bowl

 

Deming head coach Greg Simmons

What are the keys to winning for your team?

We have to try and match their physicality.  They are so big, fast, strong and well coached it’s going to be tough.  We have to control the ball and limit their big plays.

How do you match up with Roswell?

Like I said before they are big, fast, strong and well coached.  I’m not sure we match up well.  They’re one of the top teams every year.  Coach Lynn has done an amazing job building that program.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

Roswell is so good on offense.  They can score riding on the bus to the game.  It’s going to be hard to make it a defensive game.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

We can be physical, control the ball and limit their big plays.

 

Roswell head coach Jeff Lynn

What are the keys to winning for your team?

Tempo!!  Our offense needs to play fast-Stop the Run defensively-Special Teams have to be special.

How do you match up with Deming?

I think we match up well.  They are one of the more athletic teams we have seen this year.  They have good linemen and are well coached.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I really don’t know what to expect.  This is a little odd in that we really have no history with Deming.   Most of the teams we play in the playoffs we played earlier in the year or have played recently.  Therefore, I really don’t know what to expect.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

Our team will win if Play fast and stop the run.

 

Los Lunas at Goddard

Saturday 1pm, Wool Bowl

 

Los Lunas head coach Jeremy Maupin

What are the keys to winning for your team?

Keys to winning are to match their physical play, win or at least equal their time of possession, limit the big play, protect our QB, and establish a run game

How do you match up with Goddard?

This is our fourth meeting in two years, so we think we know what they bring.  We have the size to match up with their physical play so that’s a plus.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

We expect a low scoring game as both defenses play good football.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

Our team will win if we execute our game plan.

 

Goddard head coach Chris White

What are the keys to winning for your team?

Play sound defense and execute our offense.  Limit penalties and turnovers.

How do you match up with Los Lunas?

We match up ok.  Los Lunas has lots of size and speed so we will have to execute on both sides of the ball.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I never predict scores, but we always aim to play great defense.

 

 

Class 4A semifinals

Grants at Bloomfield

Saturday 1pm, Bloomfield High School

 

Grants head coach Rio Thompson

What are the keys to winning for your team?

I feel that focus and limiting mental mistakes are key factors to the game.

How do you match up with Bloomfield?

Bloomfield is a very fast, athletic, team that executes very well. I feel as though our teams match up well and execution will play a big part of the game.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

We are focused and execute.

 

Bloomfield head coach Bob Allcorn

What are the keys to winning for your team?

We must stop the run and limit explosive plays. Offensively we must win the battle in the trenches and give our quarterback time and create holes in the running game.

How do you match up with Grants?

We match up well defensively and I feel there are areas that we can take advantage of offensively.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I’m expecting a physical game that should provide plenty of offensive fireworks.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

if we can win the battle at the line of scrimmage.

 

 

Portales at Lovington

Saturday 1pm Lovington High School

 

Lovington head coach Anthony Gonzales

What are the keys to winning for your team?

We must challenge their “championship effort”.  Portales is a championship program because their kids play with that type of effort every single snap in every single phase of the game.  From start to finish they challenge their opponents with “championship effort”.  If our Lovington Wildcats are going to expect to beat this football team, we must match that effort every single rep for 48 minutes. We must be able to establish our rushing game on offense.  They have an outstanding defense that does a great job against the run.  The past 4 years we have played them, they have limited our rushing attack and that has been a deterrent to  us on the offensive side of the ball.  Defensively we must play well against their run game.  They have a very dynamic rushing attack with their option game.  We must limit those big plays out of the QB and RB.  Hightower is their vertical threat at the slot position.  He is very dangerous with the ball in his hands in the passing game.  He can really stretch the field vertically and horizontally in the passing game.  Must limit his explosive plays.

How do you match up with Portales?

They have a lot of dynamic explosive football players.  That along with their effort is what makes them great.  I feel like we have some of those very same type of players.  I think that the biggest matchup of this football game will be the offensive and defensive line.  They have the most dynamic defensive lineman in the state with Phillip Bilidi.  Him being a 2 way starter his impact on the game is huge.  We must do a good job of blocking their outstanding defensive line and our defensive line doing a good job of applying great pressure against their good offensive line.  This game will be won upfront on both sides of the football.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

My hope is we replicate our efforts from last week.  We challenged our team to be explosive in all 3 phases of the game.  I feel like that last week was the first week of the season where In saw us be explosive on offense, defense and special teams as a complete team effort.  If we can replicate that mindset as a team this week, I have zero doubt that we can score points and limit their scores on offense.  My opinion, Portales is the very best football team we have played all year long.  We will have to play our very best football if we want a chance to beat the Rams.  Must have an intense desire to be explosive in all three phases.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

Our team will win if we limit their explosive plays and win the turnover battle.  Last time we played we finished the game at -5 in the turnover ratio.  We are not good enough to win any game against any opponent at -5 in the turnover battle.  We are +14 on the year in the turnover battle this year.  It is not typical of us to turn the ball over, it is out of character of us.  If we can take care of the football we will have a chance.  We must also limit the explosive play.  3 weeks ago in the district championship, Portales had 5 or 6 explosive plays in the game that broke us.  We cannot allow that to happen.

 

Portales head coach Jaime Ramirez

What are the keys to winning for your team?

I believe we need to do the following: Offensively, we need to take what the defense gives us-Defensively, we need to stop what they do well-Special teams: we need to win the battle of field position.

How do you match up with Lovington?

I believe we match up well with Lovington.  We are two very similar teams with good athletes on both teams.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I believe it could be a defensive battle because both teams know each other very well.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

Our team will win if we play together as a team!

 

 

Class 3A semifinals

Tularosa at Socorro

Saturday 1pm, Socorro High School

 

Tularosa head coach Richard Grace

What are the keys to winning for your team?

For us the key to winning this game is to play our game control the tempo and don’t give up big plays.

How do you match up with Socorro?

We match up very well with Socorro. We both play hard nose defense, but on offense we are polar opposites. They like to capitalize on the big play, while we will grind out 5 yards at a time.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

Socorro has been putting up a lot of points, so we are hoping for a low scoring defensive battle.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

Our team will win if we can control the ball and eliminate mistakes.

 

Socorro head coach Damien O’Campo

What are the keys to winning for your team?
We can’t make mistakes, we need to play tough, physical football and make big plays.

How do you match up with Tularosa?
It will definitely be a tough matchup for us. They are good across the board,  especially up front where they are big and physical.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?
It actually could be either-or. We’ve both put up points this year and played great defense.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

Our team will win if we cut down on mistakes,  play tough in the trenches and make big plays.

 

Hope Christian at Robertson

Saturday 1pm, Robertson High School

 

Hope Christian head coach Gary Beck

What are the keys to winning for your team?

Execution and minimizing mistakes.

How do you match up with Robertson?

We match up very well. We are very similar in defenses and dominant lines. They are a well-rounded team as are we.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I anticipate a low scoring, smash mouth, hard fought football game, one that you would expect from 2 good teams and at the playoff semi-finals.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

We score more points than they do. It just takes 1 point to win.

 

Robertson head coach Leroy Gonzales

What are the keys to winning for your team?

Eliminate the Explosive plays (20 yards or more) and play keep away, shorten the game running the football.

How do you match up with Hope Christian?

Match ups are big in playoff games, but hopefully our experience can override their talent.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

Well, if it’s high scoring we won’t be on top. We need to play our game grinding it out kinda game.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

we control the clock and limit their possessions!

 

 

Class 2A Final

Texico at Eunice

Saturday 1pm, Eunice High School

 

Texico head coach Bob Gilbreath

What are the keys to winning for your team?

They have some very explosive players on offense and special teams.  We have to limit their explosive plays, and make them drive the field to score.  Offensively, we have to be patient, control the clock, and methodically move the ball down the field.

How do you match up with Eunice?

I believe we have some skill players who can match up with theirs.  Their offensive and defensive lineman are bigger than ours, so we will have to use our quickness as an advantage.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I am hoping for the game to be a lower scoring game.  I think the lower the scoring, the more it will play into our hands.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

we do not allow them to have explosive plays on offense and special teams.  Also, we have to control the football when we are on offense, finishing drives with points.  If we can do those two things, we will have a good chance to win.

 

Eunice head coach Greg Jackson

What are the keys to winning for your team?

• Take care of the football
• Tackle the ball carrier to the ground
• Start fast
• Create turnovers

How do you match up with your Texico?

I believe that we match up well with Texico.  Having played them in the regular season, I feel like we have good idea of what we will be facing both on the offensive defensive side of the ball.

Are you expecting a high scoring game or a low-scoring defensive battle?

I feel like both offenses have the potential score points quickly, but I believe the team that creates turnovers and has less self-inflicted mistakes will ultimately prevail.

Finish this sentence.  Our team will win if…

We execute, that is the ultimate key to the game.