State football and volleyball rankings differ in two polls, which is not unusual, but with a different look that offers some weird placing

By Arnie Leshin 

The polls differ.

That’s the most recent ones for state football and volleyball. You’ve got the New Mexico Overtime SportsCenter Coaches poll that appears in the state newspapers. You’ve got the state rankings that are found on the website.

First a look at football.

In 4A, St. Pius X is 5-3 and comes off a 28-0 zip over visiting, previously undefeated Taos, now 7-1. So they run one-two in the Overtime SportsCenter, but on the website, it’s the Tigers on top, followed by Grants (7-1), Bernalillo (6-2), Robertson (5-3), Bloomfield (5-3), Kirtland Central (5-3), and then comes St. Pius X in seventh place.

Yes, Taos has the better record, but the Sartans own a convincing victory over it.

Nothing new, it’s a common thing. Go figure.

In 5A, unbeaten Roswell Goddard is on top of the heap at 7-0-1 in both polls, but in the Overtime SportsCenter, it shares it with neighboring rival Roswell High, with both having 86 votes and the Rockets with three for first place and Roswell two. Then comes Portales (5-3) with 75 and Lovington (4-4) with 73.

On the website, Goddard is followed by Valencia (6-2), Santa Teresa (6-2), and then comes Roswell. But Valencia is on the bottom of the Overtime SportsCenter. Another head scratcher.

In 3A, undefeated Albuquerque Hope Christian holds the top spot at 8-0 in both polls. And second in both is Robertson (7-1). The Huskies have 140 votes that include 14 first-place tallies. The Cardinals 114 and three.

West Las Vegas (5-3) is sixth in both, St. Michael’s (4-4) is at the bottom of the website with Raton (5-4) and Hatch Valley (4-4), yet seventh on the Overtime SportsCenter, with Raton 10th. Here. the Horsemen have 52 votes to Raton’s 19.

In 6A, unbeaten Rio Rancho Cleveland (9-0) and once-beaten Albuquerque

La Cueva (8-1) are running one-two in both polls. At least that’s consistent. The Storm is backed by 150 votes and all 15 first-place votes. La Cueva has 52 total.

… Then there’s volleyball.

One of the mysterious switches comes in 3A. St. Michael’s (15-2) is first on the website, Tularosa (14-2), Navajo Prep (14-2). Albuquerque Sandia Prep (13-4) and Santa Fe Indian School (13-4).

But right behind the Braves rests Robertson, which had to forfeit four tournament (Tournament of Champions in Santa Fe) wins for using an ineligible player, but the Cardinals (12-5) just swept Indian School and have defeated district rival St. Michael’s.

So what is Robertson doing so far behind? Yet, in the Overtime SportsCenter, it ranks first with 93 votes (eight for first place), with the Lady Horsemen two votes behind and with one first-place tally, while Indian School holds down third place with 87 votes. Ninth here is Santa Fe Prep (5-12), but 18th on the website.​

In 4A, it’s Pojoaque Valley (16-2) on top of both polls. On one, Hope Christian (15-2) is second and Artesia (14-3) third. On the other, St. Pius X (13-4) is third and Kirtland Central (12-5) fourth. And then comes Espanola Valley (13-5) sixth and seventh, respectively, in the polls. Los Alamos (9-8) is 17th in one poll and not seen on the other.

In 5A, unbeaten Albuquerque La Cueva (16-0) is first with 180 votes and Albuquerque Sandia (13-2) second with 162. Santa Fe High (10-6) holds down the 12th and final tournament position, and Capital (10-7) is 18th.

In 2A, Pecos (12-6) is ranked sixth with 74 votes, with Texico (14-2) first with 149 votes.

These differences are sure to continue, for everybody has their own vote.