Matchups to watch this season

The summer practices are all done. All that remains are 10 games in an 11-week span to see how the 2018 prep football season plays out. Now, it helps to have a road map to help you figure out, week by week, which games matter and why. So, a list of games to watch this season and why you should watch them.

Saturday

Taos at St. Michael’s. The skinny

— The Horsemen come in as the prohibitive favorite in Class 3A, but the Tigers could care less about that. They haven’t forgotten the 35-point outburst the Horsemen used to turn a 14-6 deficit into a 41-21 win that spearheaded a District 2-4A title and a top seed for the playoffs.

Aug. 31

St. Michael’s at Portales. The

skinny — For the past 17 years, this game was always one to circle on the calendar because both teams were in the same class (3A and 4A). Now, it’s just a good, fun game. Depending on how Week 1 plays out, this could pit the No. 1 team in 3A against perhaps the No. 1 team in 4A (or No. 2 at the very least). Expect a hard-hitting, intense battle.

Sept. 7

Capital at Lovington. The skinny — The Jaguars might have just one Class 5A team on its nondistrict schedule, but don’t call it an easy game. Capital heads to Lovington to take on the the Wildcats, who are at the top of a lot of coaches’ and experts’ list as the team to beat in 4A. Capital has won two of the last three games in the series, but Lovington wants revenge for losing to the Jaguars at home in 2016.

Sept. 14

St. Michael’s at Capital. The skinny — The Horsemen own this intracity rivalry, having won the past jbarron@sfnewmexican.com

12 games. If any team is in Capital’s head, it is St. Michael’s. Capital has closed the gap in talent, but can it overcome its mental obstacle and beat the Horsemen?

Sept. 21

Bernalillo at Santa Fe High. The skinny — The Demons have a shot at ending their losing streak, which stands at 33 games heading into the season, at Española Valley on Sept. 7, and this is very likely the game. To do it at home — like they did against Los Lunas to end the 37-game losing streak in 1994 — would be poetic justice.

Sept. 28

Santa Fe High vs. St. Michael’s. The skinny — Yes, this rivalry has been one-sided for the better part of 15 years, but it’s still Horsemen-Demons (or Demons-Horsemen). St. Michael’s should be well on its way toward a high seed in Class 3A, while Santa Fe High might be coming off the euphoria of a win. So, who knows what might happen?

Oct. 5

Capital at Portales. The skinny — The Rams are just a date with Santa Fe High away from winning the mythical city championship, while the Jaguars are just a matchup with Ruidoso away from completing a trip through District 3-4A (they play Lovington, Moriarty and the Rams). Unfortunately, neither will happen, but this should be a great matchup regardless.

Oct. 12

McCurdy at Escalante. The skinny — After a three-year hiatus, the rivalry has district implications between the two Class 2A schools, and both fan bases will show up in droves (Well, they used to before 2016). The Bobcats will certainly be the underdogs against the state titlecontending Lobos, but we hope the Bobcats will rebound soon. When these two teams are good, this game is one of the most underrated small-school rivalries in the state.

Oct. 19

Abq. Del Norte at Capital or St. Michael’s at West Las Vegas. The skinny — Don’t make us choose one over the other because both will have far-reaching district and stateplayoff implications. The Jaguars beat the Knights last year to essentially secure their first district title in 10 years, and this game should carry the same weight. Meanwhile, the Horsemen enter the key stretch of the 2-3A season with a matchup against the Dons, who will smell an opportunity to strengthen their case as the team to beat.

Oct. 27

Las Vegas Robertson at St. Michael’s. The skinny — There is never a good reason to miss a Horsemen-Cardinals football game. These two programs have been among the best in their class (be it 3A or 4A) for the past 15 years, and this one might be a preview of the 3A championship game, as well as for the district title.

Nov. 2

Las Vegas Robertson at West Las Vegas. The skinny — Or this game might be a preview of the 3A championship game/for the district title. Regardless, more than just bragging rights will be on the line in the regular-season finale for both teams. As if these two schools needed more motivation to knock each other off.