Prep football: Week 9 games to watch and expert picks

Games to watch

1. Artesia at Roswell, Wool Bowl, 7 p.m. Friday: This is one of those weeks in which the top choice was glaringly easy to identify, as these two old rivals, who have one of the longest-standing rivalries in New Mexico, get back at it in Roswell. These are the top two teams in the Class 5A rankings, and the top two teams at the top of the District 2-5A standings. And they’ve met for the last two state championships.

2. Rio Rancho at Volcano Vista, Nusenda Community Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday: In many years, this game answers the question of who is District 1-6A’s second-best team behind Cleveland. Don’t know if that will be the case again this year, but one thing is for certain: The winner is going to have a strong chance to be a top-four seed at state and get that precious first-round bye. This Hawks defense has been excellent so far.

3. Chaparral at St. Pius, Milne Stadium, 2 p.m. Saturday: This is one of two mega Class 4A matchups in Week 9, with the Lobos, now ranked second in the division behind Bloomfield, coming to Albuquerque to take on the third-ranked Sartans. A colossally important game in District 2-4A, with Chaparral, which has won seven straight, having the chance to cement its first-place status and St. Pius needing a win to stay in the hunt.

4. Bloomfield at Bernalillo, 7 p.m. Friday: Class 4A’s No. 1-ranked team makes its only appearance in the metro area as the Bobcats, who have been on an offensive rampage of late, visit the fifth-ranked Spartans in a rematch of a state semifinal from last November. Manual Chavarria, the Bloomfield QB, is having a sensational season.

5. Texico at Eunice, 7 p.m. Friday: You know it’s a week thick with terrific matchups if this one is relegated to the No. 5 spot. But this is a stellar pairing, as Class 2A’s second-ranked Wolverines, the defending state champion, head down the Eastern plains to face the third-ranked Cardinals. Super intriguing QBs on display here, with Elijah Melancon of Eunice, primarily a thrower, and sophomore Cross Figg of Texico, who has been an excellent dual-threat quarterback.