State football’s quarterfinals take the field tonight and tomorrow afternoon, and locally it’s St. Michael’s again playing host to district rival Robertson Saturday afternoon, kickoff 1 o’clock

By Arnie Leshin 

It’s almost kickoff time for the state football quarterfinals, with seven games Friday night and nine on Saturday afternoon.

Until lights are installed, St. Michael’s will be playing host on Saturdays, with district rival Robertson visiting for the second time, kickoff 1 o’clock.

In the regular-season tilt, the Horsemen dominated for a 39-6 rout, and when the Cardinals got pastcross town rival West Las Vegas in the season finale, it created a three-way tie for the top spot, which went to St. Michael’s on point differential.

So the Horsemen, who bounced back after losing their first three starts, got a bye last weekend while Robertson disposed of visiting Raton, 21-7. The winner moves into the semifinals the following weekend. The Cardinals, despite being on the road, are out for revenge, and it may be tough for St. Michael’s to deal the Cards another setback.

In other 3A match-ups, undefeated, top seed Albuquerque Hope Christian should have no trouble against visiting Tularosa. Socorro will benefit from home field versus West Las Vegas and Hatch Valley can be a tough test for Dexter.

In 4A, top seed St. Pius X should stop the Aztecs high-powered offense, Bloomfield at Kirtland Central looks like a toss-up of the 4th and 5th seeds, up-and-down Lovington will have a tough go up at Taos, and Grants will be out to erase the overrated tag when it heads for Portales.

In 5A, Roswell got the No. 1 seed by defeating city rival Goddard, and Albuquerque Valley has the talent to win at Roswell. Belen and Los Lunas are big rivals and usually pack the place, but Los Lunas is the better team this time. Then there’s Deming traveling to Farmington, but will be an underdog on the road.

In 6A, there were two stunners last weekend. No. 12 seed Albuquerque Cibola upset Mayfield, but two in a row doesn’t figure here at Volcano Vista.

Then there was 11th Albuquerque Eldorado crushing Hobbs by two touchdowns, bur unbeaten Las Cruces Centennial will be home and should eliminate Eldorado.

Defending state champion Albuquerque Manzano has made a stellar stretch run but meeting top seeded Rio Rancho Cleveland on the road might dethrone Manzano. Las Cruces make the trip to unbeaten Albuquerque La Cueva and it might be a disappointing ride home.

                   STATE FOOTBALL BRACKETS:

3A – (9) Tularosa (6-5) at (1) Hope Christian (10-0) Friday, 7 p.m.    

        (5) Robertson (9-2) at (4) St. Michael’s (6-4) Saturday, 1 p.m.

        (6) West Las Vegas (7-4) at (3) Socorro (9-1) Friday, 7 p.m.        

(7) Hatch Valley (6-5) at (2) Dexter (8-2) Saturday, 1 p.m.  

                                      __________                         

4A – (9) Aztec (6-5) at (1) St. Pius X (7-3) Saturday 1 p.m.

        (5) Bloomfield (7-4) at (4) Kirtland Central (7-3) Friday, 7  p.m.    

        (8) Lovington (6-5) at (3) Taos (9-1)Saturday, 1 p.m.

 

       (7) Grants (8-2) at (2) Portales (7-3)Saturday, 1 p.m.

                                       —————

5A – (8) Valley at (7-4) at (1) Roswell (8-2)  Saturday, 1 p.m.

        (5) Piedra Vista (8-3) at (4) Artesia (6-4) Saturday, 1 p.m

          (6) Belen (7-4) at (3) Los Lunas (7-2) Saturday, 1 p.m.

        (7) Deming (7-3-1) at (2) Goddard (8-1-1) Saturday, 3 p.m.        

                                       —————

6A – (8) Manzano (7-4) at (1) Cleveland (10-0) Friday, 7 p.m.

        (12) Cibola (6-5) at (4) Volcano Vista (8-2) Friday, 7 p.m.

        (11) Eldorado (7-4) at (3) Centennial (10-0) Friday, 7 p.m.

        (7) Las Cruces (7-4) at (1) La Cueva (10-0) Friday, 7 p.m.