ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The 2024 high school football season is a week away and this year will look a little different than years past. In addition to traditional changes such as new coaches and rosters, there are new district this season as well.
6A
DISTRICT 1DISTRICT 2DISTRICT 3CibolaAlbuquerque HighAlamogordoClevelandAtrisco HeritageCarlsbadFarmingtonEldoradoCentennialPiedra VistaLa CuevaClovisRio RanchoLos LunasHobbsVolcano VistaSandiaLas CrucesSanta FeOrgan MountainWest Mesa
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The Numbers Game
This season on Friday night football, some stories throughout the year will be told through the world of numbers and analytics. When looking at a preview of teams in 6A to keep an eye on, recent history says that teams with strong scoring defenses will be in contention for a state title. Over the last three seasons, the two championship game teams average an allowed 19 PPG, and over the last ten years, there has only been one team to allow more than 20 PPG. On average, the state champion allows 16 PPG.
5A
DISTRICT 1DISTRICT 2BelenArtesiaCapitalDemingDel NorteGadsdenHighlandGoddardLos AlamosLovingtonMiyamuraMayfieldRio GrandeRoswellValleySanta Teresa
Lovington is making the jump up to class 5A after winning the 4A crown in 2023. Another change for the Wildcats comes from the head coach, as Joshua Bailey assumes the role.
“I couldn’t be more excited,” said Bailey. “I am from Lovington, it’s my alma mater and I love Lovington. I bleed Blue. When you play and you coach in Lovington the expectation is always going to be to win a state championship. Even though we are moving up to 5A, we don’t have any other way to live. We are going to go out there and be fearless and play hard and our goal is to win.”
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4A
DISTRICT 1DISTRICT 2AZTECABQ ACADEMYBLOOMFIELDCHAPARRALBERNALILLOMANZANOESPANOLA VALLEYPORTALESGRANTSSILVERKIRTLAND CENTRALST. PIUSMORIARTYVALENCIATAOS
With the departure of Lovington from class 4A, Portales returns as top dog of the classification as the runner-up in 2023. A lot of key pieces have returned for the Rams, including quarterback Paxton Culpepper, and depth on both the offensive and defensive lines.
“Every year is special in itself and we are taking this group and our goals are the same,” said Portales head coach Jaime Ramirez. “Hopefully we will be in a position to be where we need to be at the end.”
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3A
DISTRICT 1DISTRICT 2DISTRICT 3CrownpointHope ChristianCobreGallupPojoaque ValleyDexterShiprockRobertsonHatch ValleyThoreauSt. Michael’sHot SpringsTohatchiWest Las VegasNMMIWingateRuidosoZuniSocorro
2A
DISTRICT 1DISTRICT 2DISTRICT 3CubaCapitanEuniceHozho AcademyEstanciaJalLaguna AcomaLegacy AcademyLovingMcCurdyRatonTexicoNavajo PrepSanta RosaTularosaNewcombTucumcari
Legacy Academy joins the show
8-Man
DISTRICT 1DISTRICT 2DISTRICT 3Alamo NavajoClayton/Des MoinesGateway ChristianDulceCloudcroftHagerman/Lake ArthurNavajo PineEscalanteLordsburgNorthwestFort Sumner/HouseMelrosePine HillMenaulMescalero ApacheRamahQuestaMesilla ValleyTatum
6-Man
DISTRICT 1DISTRICT 2DoraAnimasElidaCarrizozoFloydHondoGradyMagdalenaLoganMountainairNMSDRoy/Mosquero
