The City Difference’s head football coaches are still making their National Football League selections

Hopefully, high school football is finally going to kick off in the Land of Enchantment.

The New Mexico Activities Association has released its most updated 2021 schedule, with football leading off on Feb. 1 and having its state championships played starting April 3.

It was no doubt good news for Capital High’s long-time head coach Bill Moon, who would be kicking off his 37th campaign, for St. Michael’s head coach Joey Fernandez as he begins his 19th season, and with Santa Fe High head coach Andrew Martinez heading into his fourth year.

But it has been quite a wait for the three, something they are not accustomed to, and so it was nice to have them having something to do while being sidelined. And that was playing Leshin’s selections, picking the National Football playoffs from the opening round wild card, the second round divisions, and making their third round conference championships that will be contested Sunday.

Round four is the finale, the 55th Super Bowl to be played on Feb. 7 at Dennis James Stadium in Tampa, Fla, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who can become the first team to play the big show at home. But first the Buccaneers must get back the Green Bay Packers on the road in Sunday’s opener, and in the closer it will be the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs playing host to the Buffalo Bills.

As for Leshin’s selections, it’s currently myself, Fernandez and Cleveland High School Athletic Director Matt Martinez at 6-4, and Moon, Coach Martinez and St. Michael’s assistant grid coach Kevin Haugh at 5-5. Former girls basketball coach Tom Montoya made his initial appearance as guest speaker last week and went 0-for-4.

Their selections for Sunday have Fernandez, Coach Martinez, and myself taking the Packers and Bills. Moon has chosen the underdog Bucs along with KC, and Haugh, Montoya and Storm AD Martinez going with Green Bay and the Chiefs.

As for the NMAA’s full list, cross country is slated to run Feb. 15 and hold its championships on March 19-20, volleyball is the other fall sports program and it will begin Feb. 18 and its championships are expected to be contested March 29 to April 3.

Then comes the winter and spring sports.

March 22 will be the start of soccer, with the finals April 5-10. Also on March 22, basketball will bounce in along with swimming and diving. March 29 will be the start of wrestling, followed by tennis, baseball, softball, golf, and track and field, all on April 5.

The track and field championships are scheduled for June 17-19, and June 24-26.Golf on June 21-22, softball and baseball on June 21-26, tennis on June 14-19, wrestling on May 27-29, swimming-diving on May 6-8, basketball on May 3-8, soccer on April 5-10.

Hopefully, it will be a done deal this time. The coronavirus pandemic has caused all sports in the Land of Enchantment to shut down. Now the coaches, athletes and fans will be able to get back to business, with fans in the stands not yet decided, but at least this was a step forward.