Thursday night lights are back across New Mexico high school football, and the matchups set the table for a spicy start to Week 2. From a top-3 showdown at the Field of Dreams to playoff shaping battles in Albuquerque, tonight’s slate feels like the football version of choosing red or green, either way, it’s going […]
Thursday night lights are back across New Mexico high school football, and the matchups set the table for a spicy start to Week 2. From a top-3 showdown at the Field of Dreams to playoff shaping battles in Albuquerque, tonight’s slate feels like the football version of choosing red or green, either way, it’s going to bring the heat.
More: Week 2 New Mexico High School Football Rankings: All 89 Teams Ranked
Commentary: Red or Green?
If Week 1 was a fresh batch of tamales, Week 2 is where we find out who added the chile and who forgot the spice. Will Las Cruces keep rolling like a hot piñon fire? Can Volcano Vista keep its mojo or will the Dawgs douse it? And somewhere out there, Highland and Bernalillo are fighting to prove they’re not just biscochittos crumbling under pressure.
NMPreps Top-50 Games
No. 2 Las Cruces (1-0) vs No. 3 Volcano Vista (1-0)
7 PM – Field of Dreams (Las Cruces)
Preview: The biggest matchup of the night pits a Las Cruces offense led by QB Gunnar Guardiola (2026) and RB Daniel Amaro (2026) against Volcano Vista’s playmakers, including RB D’Angelo Mitchell (2027) and versatile QB Spirit Penn-Cook (2026). Both teams enter with high-powered offenses but contrasting styles: Las Cruces can overwhelm with balance, while Volcano Vista thrives on big-play bursts.
Griñe’s Pick: Las Cruces
NMPreps Score Prediction: Las Cruces 29, Volcano Vista 20
NMPreps Odds: Las Cruces -9.5
Bottom Line: This one has whole enchilada-fest level hype. I’m siding with the Dawgs, but don’t be shocked if the Hawks keep it tight until the final possession.
No. 16 Sandia (0-1) vs No. 18 Cibola (0-1)
7 PM – Wilson Stadium (Albuquerque)
Preview: Both squads dropped openers they were projected to win, making this a pressure-packed Week 2 contest. Sandia leans on RB George Smith (2028), who topped 100 yards and a touchdown last week, while QB Jahleel Lewis (2027) flashed playmaking ability. Cibola will counter with two-way star Jalil Dixon (2026) and Hayes Baum (2026), the UNM commit now taking snaps at QB.
Griñe’s Pick: Sandia
NMPreps Score Prediction: Sandia 27, Cibola 21
NMPreps Odds: Sandia -5.5
Bottom Line: First to clean up the mistakes grabs the win. Both Wilder (Sandia) and Howe (Cibola) need this one to avoid a chile-roasting of a season start.
No. 27 Los Alamos (1-0) vs No. 44 Taos (0-1)
6 PM – Los Alamos HS
Preview: Los Alamos showed they might not be in a rebuild after all, cruising past Española Valley 54-6. RB Jordan Herrera (2027) went off for five touchdowns, showing his explosiveness. Taos was competitive early last week against St. Michael’s before fading late; WR Roman Quintana (2026) is a bright spot to watch.
Griñe’s Pick: Los Alamos
NMPreps Score Prediction: Los Alamos 30, Taos 13
NMPreps Odds: Los Alamos -15.5
Bottom Line: A clear measuring-stick game. Los Alamos looks like they’ve got the pinon burning strong, but Taos will test how long it lasts.
No. 32 Bernalillo (1-0) vs No. 41 Highland (1-0)
7 PM – Community Stadium (Albuquerque)
Preview: A clash of confidence after both squads opened with surprising wins. Bernalillo got huge defensive and offensive plays from Mario Molinar (2026), while Highland leaned on freshman sensation RB William Anchondo (2028), who rushed for 141 yards and 2 TDs in his debut.
Griñe’s Pick: Bernalillo
NMPreps Score Prediction: Bernalillo 23, Highland 17
NMPreps Odds: Bernalillo -6.5
Bottom Line: Two surprise winners in Week 1 — tonight, one keeps rolling toward the playoff bubble, and the other eats an early L.
Thursday Superlatives
- Red Chile Hot Matchup: Volcano Vista vs Las Cruces — two top-3 teams in a potential state playoff preview.
- Tamale Steamer Alert: Sandia vs Cibola — whoever drops this one is staring at a cold plate of playoff chances.
- Biscochito Sugar Surprise: Highland vs Bernalillo — both started sweet with wins, but only one stays on grandma’s good side with a 2-0 record.
Join the Conversation
Comment Here: Poll — Who Wins Tonight?
Join NMPreps.com Today! You Won’t Find a Better Source for New Mexico High School Sports
Support New Mexicans by highlighting New Mexicans. Through our partnership with the biggest names in sports—On3 and Rivals—you won’t miss a beat: fan message boards, player rankings, team rankings, and non-stop features. All at a low price for a ton of information. Don’t miss the chance to highlight your player and get their name on the national radar. Publisher Joshua Grine has been a major advocate for New Mexico high school athletics and continues to provide a trusted source to get athletes more exposure—join today to support that effort!
Thursday, August 28, 2025
| Game | Game Time |
|---|---|
| Animas (0-0) at Reserve (0-0) | 4:00pm |
| #32 Bernalillo (1-0) at #41 Highland (1-0) – Community | 7:00pm |
| Capitan (0-0) vs Alamogordo JV | 7:00pm |
| #18 Cibola (0-1) vs #16 Sandia (0-1) – Wilson | 7:00pm |
| Cuba (0-1) at Española Valley (0-1) | 6:00pm |
| Floyd (0-0) at New Mexico School for the Deaf (0-0) | 3:00pm |
| #44 Taos (0-1) at #27 Los Alamos (1-0) | 6:00pm |
| #3 Volcano Vista (1-0) at #2 Las Cruces (1-0) | 7:00pm |
| Wingate (1-0) at Navajo Prep (1-0) | 6:00pm |
Category: General Sports
