Rio Rancho Takes Aim at Unseating Storm

Cleveland is in transition. Rio Rancho wants to unseat the Storm. And Bernalillo is trying to get back to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

Here’s how their 2012 football schedules shake out:

Cleveland

The defending state champion opens at Wilson Stadium on Friday, Aug. 31, against La Cueva. The Storm ended the Bears’ season last November in the 5A quarterfinals.

The Storm’s home opener is the following Friday, with El Paso Chapin visiting.

Cleveland’s nondistrict slate includes road games at Oñate, Hobbs and Sandia, and home games against Clovis (Sept. 21) and Highland.

Cibola is in town for the District 1-5A opener Oct. 26. After facing Volcano Vista on a late Saturday afternoon, Cleveland closes out the regular season Friday, Nov. 9, against Rio Rancho.

The Storm also eliminated the Rams from last year’s 5A playoffs, in the semifinals.

Rio Rancho

The Rams are expected to give Cleveland another strong challenge. They open the season Aug. 31, at home against Highland.

Rio Rancho’s home schedule is exceptionally strong. It is arguably the deepest home schedule the program has ever featured.

Other visitors include Goddard in Week 3, Las Cruces in Week 4 and Eldorado in Week 7.

Road trips prior to district include Gadsden in the second week, Clovis in Week 5, and then a matchup at Milne Stadium with Atrisco Heritage Academy, 5A’s newest program.

Rio Rancho’s 1-5A opener is a late Saturday afternoon game at Milne with Volcano Vista.

The Rams are home to Cibola before closing out the year at Cleveland.

Bernalillo

The Spartans open at home Aug. 31 against Class 3A Taos, a former district rival in 2-4A.

Roswell visits in Week 2, before Bernalillo visits Albuquerque Academy the following week.

St. Pius makes a rare visit to Bernalillo on Sept. 21, before the Spartans travel to Gallup.

Bernalillo opens league play Oct. 12 at home against Los Alamos. The Spartans’ season finale is also at home, Nov. 9 against Española Valley.

Cibola, Volcano Vista

CIBOLA: Unlike last year, when the Cougars played just about all their games on a Thursday or Saturday, they’ve got multiple Friday night appearances this year.

That includes the opener, Aug. 31 at Milne Stadium against Valley.

As usual, Cibola’s nondistrict slate ranks among the most difficult in 5A.

In Weeks 2 and 3, the Cougars face Sandia and Las Cruces. Later, after a bye week, it’s back-to-back games with heavyweights La Cueva and Manzano on consecutive Saturdays, Oct. 13 and 20.

Cibola opens District 1-5A action Oct. 26 at defending state champion Cleveland.

VOLCANO VISTA: The Hawks will be one of the first teams to open the season, on Aug. 30 at Wilson Stadium against Manzano.

The nondistrict schedule is highlighted by road games at Sandia at Mayfield, the latter coming Oct. 6 at the Field of Dreams.

The Hawks open 1-5A actionn Saturday, Oct. 27, against Rio Rancho at Milne.

The showdown game with Cibola is the season finale, Nov. 8.