Games to watch in the 2025 prep football season

Where should your eyeballs be pointed during the 11 weeks of the 2025 prep football regular season?

Here are some of top menu items for the metro area’s 25 programs between now and Saturday, Nov. 1 (the full metro schedule appears with this story):

WEEK 1: The season opens with three games in Albuquerque, with the Volcano Vista-La Cueva pairing at Wilson Stadium one of the best on the entire menu across the state.

Bernalillo and Valley meet at Nusenda Community Stadium, and Manzano takes on Highland at Milne.

There’s an intriguing Week 1 game on Friday at Wilson, between Eldorado and Organ Mountain. The Knights might be one of those under-the-radar teams in 6A.

Los Lunas faces a strong test, on the road in the Wool Bowl against defending Class 5A state champion Roswell.

Possibly the No. 1 game in New Mexico on opening weekend comes Saturday at the Field of Dreams, with 6A champ Cleveland visiting Centennial. St. Pius, expected to be a strong contender for a 4A title come November, opens on Saturday versus West Mesa.

WEEK 2: Volcano Vista heads to the FOD for a Thursday nighter against Las Cruces, which might be the strongest 6A outfit from outside the metro area.

On Friday at Wilson, La Cueva plays host to Pinnacle, Arizona, from Phoenix; these two went two overtimes in Flagstaff last August, with the Bears winning.

Los Lunas’ difficult start continues with a home game against Cleveland.

The metro area’s two smallest 11-man programs, Hope Christian and Legacy Academy, face each other on Saturday.

WEEK 3: This time it’s Rio Rancho visiting the FOD to play the Bulldawgs, and this is an elite matchup for a Thursday night.

Albuquerque Academy’s lone home night game of the season is Friday, against Hope Christian. Also Friday, Valley coach Billy Cobos, who played for Goddard, leads Valley against the Rockets at Wool Bowl.

A couple of handsome 4A games this week, with St. Pius playing Moriarty (the Sartans had to come from 22-0 down in Albuquerque to beat the Pintos last year), and Bernalillo visiting Portales.

WEEK 4: Two future Division I linebackers will be on display Thursday night at Community Stadium, with Carlsbad junior Colton McKibben (with 15 D1 offers already, many from the power conferences) in town to play Hayes Baum (already committed to the Lobos) and Cibola.

Organ Mountain beat St. Pius at the FOD last year; the Knights are also in town on that Thursday to take on the Sartans.

But the best game on the slate — indeed, this is likely the best matchup of the entire regular season in New Mexico — is Las Cruces coming north to face Cleveland on Friday.

Week 4 is filled with other terrific games, like Centennial playing at Rio Rancho, Sandia facing La Cueva, and Eldorado going to Los Lunas. Those three games also are on Friday.

WEEK 5: This is the opposite of Week 4; there are few marquee games featuring metro-area teams.

The Friday nighter between Eldorado and Volcano Vista comes closest to piquing interest among the all-metro games. El Paso Pebble Hills is at Cleveland, and this was a competitive game (one score through three quarters) when they met in West Texas last season.

WEEK 6: This is the quietest week of the regular season, with nine of the metro’s 25 teams on their bye week, including all of District 1-6A’s local members.

Class 4A is where the action is, with St. Pius at Silver, Portales at Valencia and Española Valley playing in Bernalillo. The Sundevils and Spartans both were state semifinalists last November.

WEEK 7: It’s La Cueva-Eldorado week in District 2-6A, and this remains one of the state’s most entertaining rivalries. The Eagles fancy their chances this year.

New Cibola head coach David Howes led Rio Rancho to a pair of undefeated state championships when he was with the Rams, and now he and the Cougars take on Rio Rancho in a district matchup.

On Saturday, St. Pius heads across town to face Albuquerque Academy, and these two staged a terrific game 12 months ago, a game that was tied headed to the fourth quarter.

WEEK 8: The La Cueva at Los Lunas showdown could determine first and second place in District 2-6A. That is Friday night. So is Eldorado-Sandia, and it’s always fun when those two get together.

St. Pius is home to Portales, a definite game to watch in that 4A district.

WEEK 9: Things begin to heat up here in Week 9.

Just on Friday, you’ve got a special afternoon game between Silver and Academy (a 3 p.m. kickoff because the Chargers are hosting a humongous cross country meet on Saturday morning), and a visit to the metro by defending Class 4A state champion Bloomfield. The Bobcats are at Bernalillo, and these two played one another in the state semifinals last season.

Rio Rancho and Volcano Vista also meet on Friday.

Saturday’s slate features what could be a super interesting game in 4A between Valencia and Manzano.

WEEK 10: The two best games on Friday feature St. Pius at Valencia, and Cleveland going to Community Stadium to meet Volcano Vista. Both potentially could yield a district champion.

On Saturday, Valley is at Milne to welcome Los Alamos, and the District 1-5A champion could emerge from this game.

WEEK 11: The final week of the regular season comes on Halloween, and is highlighted by the battle between Cleveland and Rio Rancho, this year at RRHS.

Los Lunas and Sandia square off in District 2-6A. This might have some postseason implications and/or seeding implications for one or both.

Class 2A Legacy Academy suffered only one regular-season loss a year ago, at Santa Rosa in Week 11. The Lions return the visit this season, a game scheduled at Bernalillo.

2025 METRO-AREA PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

WEEK 1

Thursday, Aug. 21

• Manzano at Highland, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Volcano Vista at La Cueva, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Bernalillo at Valley, Community, 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 22

• Belen at Bloomfield, 7 p.m.
• Albuquerque High at Cibola, Community, 7 p.m.
• Organ Mountain at Eldorado, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Valencia at Kirtland Central, 6 p.m.
• Mesilla Valley at Menaul, 7 p.m.
• Sandia at Piedra Vista, Hutchison Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Aztec at Rio Grande, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Atrisco Heritage at Rio Rancho, 7 p.m.
• Los Lunas at Roswell, Wool Bowl, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 23

• Moriarty at Albuquerque Academy, 1 p.m.
• Cleveland at Centennial, Field of Dreams, 1 p.m.
• West Mesa at St. Pius, Community, 11 a.m.
• Hope Christian at Del Norte, Milne, 11 a.m.
• Laguna-Acoma at Legacy Academy, at Bernalillo HS, noon

WEEK 2

Thursday, Aug. 28

• Bernalillo at Highland, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Volcano Vista at Las Cruces, Field of Dreams, 7 p.m.
• Cibola at Sandia, Wilson, 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 29

• Santa Fe at Belen, 7 p.m.
• Atrisco Heritage at Centennial, Field of Dreams, 7 p.m.
• Valencia at Gadsden, 6 p.m.
• St. Pius at Grants, 7 p.m.
• Pinnacle, Ariz., at La Cueva, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Cleveland at Los Lunas, 6 p.m.
• Shiprock at Moriarty, 7 p.m.
• Navajo Pine at Menaul, 7 p.m.
• Manzano at Rio Grande, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Clovis at Rio Rancho, 7 p.m.
• Mayfield at West Mesa, Community, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 30

• Albuquerque Academy at Del Norte, Milne, 11 a.m.
• Hope Christian at Legacy Academy, at Rio Rancho HS, 11 a.m.
• Albuquerque High at Valley, Milne, 3 p.m.

IDLE: Eldorado

WEEK 3

Thursday, Sept. 4

• Rio Grande at Atrisco Heritage, Community, 7 p.m.
• Rio Rancho at Las Cruces, Field of Dreams, 7 p.m.
• Menaul at Ramah, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 5

• Hope Christian at Albuquerque Academy, 7 p.m.
• Alamogordo at Albuquerque High, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Eldorado at Cibola, Community, 7 p.m.
• Clovis at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
• Los Lunas at Farmington, Hutchison Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Valley at Goddard, Wool Bowl, 7 p.m.
• Hozho Academy at Legacy Academy, at Bernalillo HS, 7 p.m.
• Del Norte at Manzano, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• St. Pius at Moriarty, 7 p.m.
• Bernalillo at Portales, Greyhound Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Highland at Taos, 6 p.m.
• Belen at Valencia, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 6

• Volcano Vista at Sandia, Wilson, 11 a.m.

IDLE: La Cueva, West Mesa

WEEK 4

Thursday, Sept. 11

• Carlsbad at Cibola, Community, 7 p.m.
• Organ Mountain at St. Pius, Milne, 6 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 12

• Menaul at Alamo Navajo, 6 p.m.
• Valley at Belen, 7 p.m.
• Del Norte at Capital, 7 p.m.
• Las Cruces at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
• Los Alamos at Highland, 7 p.m.
• Sandia at La Cueva, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Eldorado at Los Lunas, 6 p.m.
• Santa Fe Indian at Legacy Academy, at Bernalillo HS, 7 p.m.
• Bernalillo at Moriarty, 6 p.m.
• Centennial at Rio Rancho, 7 p.m.
• Albuquerque High at Santa Fe, 7 p.m.
• Cuba at Valencia, 6 p.m.
• West Mesa at Volcano Vista, Community, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13

• Hope Christian at Manzano, Wilson, 11 a.m.
• Miyamura at Rio Grande, Milne, 11 a.m.
• Albuquerque Academy at St. Michael’s, 1 p.m.

IDLE: Atrisco Heritage

WEEK 5

Thursday, Sept. 18

• Belen at Del Norte, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Rio Rancho at El Paso Eastlake, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 19

• Atrisco Heritage at Albuquerque High, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Cibola at Clovis, 7 p.m.
• El Paso Pebble Hills at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
• Moriarty at Espanola Valley, 6 p.m.
• La Cueva at Farmington, Hutchison Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Valley at Miyamura, 7 p.m.
• Manzano at Portales, Greyhound Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Sandia at Santa Fe, 7 p.m.
• Valencia at Silver, 7 p.m.
• Eldorado at Volcano Vista, Community, 7 p.m.
• Los Lunas at West Mesa, Wilson, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 20

• Chaparral at Albuquerque Academy, 2 p.m.
• Estancia at Hope Christian, Wilson, 11 a.m.
• Legacy Academy at McCurdy, 1 p.m.
• Highland at Rio Grande, Milne, 11 a.m.

IDLE: St. Pius, Bernalillo, Menaul

WEEK 6

Thursday, Sept. 25

• Los Alamos at Del Norte, Milne, 7 p.m.
• West Mesa at La Cueva, Wilson, 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 26

• Sandia at Atrisco Heritage, Community, 7 p.m.
• Miyamura at Belen, 7 p.m.
• Espanola Valley at Bernalillo, 7 p.m.
• Rio Grande at Capital, 7 p.m.
• Manzano at Chaparral, 7 p.m.
• Fort Sumner/House at Menaul, 6 p.m.
• Eldorado at Santa Fe, 7 p.m.
• St. Pius at Silver, 7 p.m.
• Portales at Valencia, 7 p.m.
• Highland at Valley, Milne, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 27

• Hope Christian at Santa Fe Indian, 11 a.m.

IDLE: Cleveland, Rio Rancho, Cibola, Volcano Vista, Albuquerque High, Los Lunas, Albuquerque Academy, Moriarty, Legacy Academy

WEEK 7

Thursday, Oct. 2

• Capital at Valley, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Piedra Vista at Volcano Vista, Community, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3

• Moriarty at Aztec, 6 p.m.
• Valencia at Chaparral, 7 p.m.
• Rio Rancho at Cibola, Community, 7 p.m.
• Menaul at Clayton, 6 p.m.
• La Cueva at Eldorado, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Cleveland at Farmington, Hutchison Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Bernalillo at Kirtland Central, 7 p.m.
• Belen at Los Alamos, 7 p.m.
• Highland at Miyamura, 7 p.m.
• Legacy Academy at Raton, 7 p.m.
• Del Norte at Rio Grande, Milne, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 4

• West Mesa at Atrisco Heritage, Community, 3 p.m.
• St. Pius at Albuquerque Academy, 1 p.m.
• Los Lunas at Albuquerque High, Milne, 11 a.m.
• St. Michael’s at Hope Christian, Wilson, 11 a.m.

IDLE: Sandia, Manzano

WEEK 8

Thursday, Oct. 9

• Rio Rancho at Piedra Vista, Hutchison Stadium, 6 p.m.
• Capitan at Legacy Academy, at Rio Rancho HS, 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 10

• Aztec at Bernalillo, 7 p.m.
• Moriarty at Bloomfield, 6 p.m.
• Cibola at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
• Volcano Vista at Farmington, Hutchison Stadium, 7 p.m.
• La Cueva at Los Lunas, 7 p.m.
• Eldorado at Sandia, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Portales at St. Pius, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Albuquerque High at West Mesa, Community, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 11

• Santa Fe at Atrisco Heritage, Community, 11 a.m.
• Pojoaque at Hope Christian, Milne, 11 a.m.
• Albuquerque Academy at Manzano, Wilson, 11 a.m.
• Escalante at Menaul, 1 p.m.

IDLE: Valley, Highland, Del Norte, Rio Grande, Belen, Valencia

WEEK 9

Thursday, Oct. 16

• Sandia at West Mesa, Community, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 17

• Silver at Albuquerque Academy, 3 p.m.
• Highland at Belen, 7 p.m.
• Bloomfield at Bernalillo, 7 p.m.
• Piedra Vista at Cleveland, 7 p.m.
• Valley at Del Norte, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Albuquerque High at Eldorado, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Legacy Academy at Estancia, 7 p.m.
• Rio Grande at Los Alamos, 7 p.m.
• Santa Fe at Los Lunas, 7 p.m.
• Grants at Moriarty, 6 p.m.
• Rio Rancho at Volcano Vista, Community, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 18

• La Cueva at Atrisco Heritage, Community, 11 a.m.
• Farmington at Cibola, Community, 3 p.m.
• Valencia at Manzano, Wilson, 11 a.m.
• Chaparral at St. Pius, Milne, 2 p.m.
• Hope Christian at Robertson, 1 p.m.
• Menaul at Questa, 6 p.m.

WEEK 10

Thursday, Oct. 23

• Highland at Capital, 7 p.m.
• West Mesa at Eldorado, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Belen at Rio Grande, Milne, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 24

• Miyamura at Del Norte, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Bernalillo at Grants, 7 p.m.
• Atrisco Heritage at Los Lunas, 7 p.m.
• Cloudcroft at Menaul, 6 p.m.
• Cibola at Piedra Vista, Hutchison Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Albuquerque Academy at Portales, Greyhound Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Farmington at Rio Rancho, 7 p.m.
• Albuquerque High at Sandia, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Moriarty at Taos, 6 p.m.
• Legacy Academy at Tucumcari, 7 p.m.
• St. Pius at Valencia, 7 p.m.
• Cleveland at Volcano Vista, Community, 7 p.m.
• Hope Christian at West Las Vegas, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25

• Los Alamos at Valley, Milne, 11 a.m.
• Santa Fe at La Cueva, Wilson, 11 a.m.
• Silver at Manzano, Wilson, 3 p.m.

WEEK 11

Thursday, Oct. 30

• Capital at Belen, 7 p.m.
• Del Norte at Highland, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Santa Rosa at Legacy Academy, at Bernalillo HS, 6 p.m.
• Santa Fe at West Mesa, Community, 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 31

• Taos at Bernalillo, 7 p.m.
• Volcano Vista at Cibola, Community, 7 p.m.
• Atrisco Heritage at Eldorado, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Kirtland Central at Moriarty, 6 p.m.
• Cleveland at Rio Rancho, 6 p.m.
• Albuquerque Academy at Valencia, 7 p.m.
• Rio Grande at Valley, Milne, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 1

• La Cueva at Albuquerque High, Milne, 11 a.m.
• Los Lunas at Sandia, Wilson, 11 a.m.
• Manzano at St. Pius, Community, 11 a.m.

IDLE: Hope Christian