SNEAK PEEK
Cleveland football schedule south heavy
Football season is just two months away and James Yodice takes a look at schedule highlights for the eight Rio West area teams
In a little over two months, the 2017 high school football season will be underway.
In advance of that, here are some highlights of the upcoming schedule for the eight Rio West area schools:
Bernalillo
The Spartans open on the road this year, Aug. 25 at Gallup, which has traditionally been a difficult place for visitors to win.
Bernalillo only has four nondistrict games because of the size (seven schools) of its district.
In the nondistrict, the Spartans have home games against Navajo Prep and Albuquerque Academy.
The District 2/5-4A opener is Sept. 22, at home against one of the state’s best Class 4A programs, Robertson.
Pojoaque and West Las Vegas also have league visits to Bernalillo.
Cibola
The Cougars last year were one half of the overall New Mexico opener. This year, Cibola also begins its schedule against La Cueva, although this one will be a Saturday afternoon matchup.
Cibola’s nondistrict slate will be arduous, what with matchups against the likes of Las Cruces, Manzano and Eldorado.
The District 1-6A opener is Oct. 6 against Piedra Vista, and the Cougars have road games at both Cleveland and Rio Rancho.
Cleveland
The Storm faces a southern-heavy nondistrict schedule, starting with the season opener at home against Oñate.
Cleveland faces the same tough stretch as last season, with consecutive games against Las Cruces (road) and then Centennial and Artesia at home.
The Bulldogs will be in Rio Rancho to play the Storm on Friday, Sept. 22.
For the second straight year, Cleveland’s 1-6A opener puts it opposite Rio Rancho. The rivals play in the Rams stadium on Oct. 6.
Rio Rancho
The defending Class 6A state champions will spend the first month of the season playing schools either outside the metro area or outside New Mexico altogether.
Mayfield is the season opener, at home on Aug. 25. The Rams will have a tough Week 2 assignment at El Paso Americas.
That is one of two trips south for Rio Rancho; the other is Week 4 at Oñate.
The Rams also have two other strong nondistrict opponents in Clovis and Manzano.
St. Pius
The Sartans are defending a Class 5A state title this year, and open that defense on Aug. 25 at Milne Stadium against Highland.
St. Pius opens with four straight “home” games, with West Mesa, Hope Christian and Alamogordo following Highland. The Tigers were the only team to beat St. Pius last season.
From within 5A, St. Pius also plays Lovington (on the road) and Miyamura before getting into District 5-5A action on Oct. 12 at Wilson Stadium against Los Lunas.
Valley
The Vikings started 0-6 last year, but finished with four consecutive victories.
They’ll hope to continue that momentum on opening night, with a late kickoff (8 p.m. on Aug. 25) against Volcano Vista at Nusenda Community Stadium.
Valley has another tough stretch in the nondistrict half of the schedule, with Sandia, Alamogordo, Las Cruces and Eldorado.
The District 4-6A opener is Oct. 7 against Atrisco Heritage; the Jaguars were the only team to beat Valley in district play last season.
Volcano Vista
The new-look Hawks, who graduated several key offensive pieces, play Eldorado, West Mesa, Mayfield, Atrisco Heritage and Highland during the nondistrict portion of their schedule.
The Mayfield game is in Las Cruces.
All of Volcano Vista’s District 1-6A games are local, starting Thursday, Oct. 12 at Community Stadium against Rio Rancho. The Hawks will be coming off a bye week, and the Rams a short week after facing Cleveland.
West Mesa
The Mustangs and Del Norte are the featured game on the second night of the season, with a Thursday nighter at Community Stadium.
West Mesa won’t face much letup in the first half of the season, as it also plays St. Pius, Volcano Vista, La Cueva and Piedra Vista.
The Mustangs’ 4-6A opener is Oct. 5 against Highland.