Week 1 prep football games to watch

1. Cleveland at Centennial, Field of Dreams, 1 p.m. Saturday: We get an elite 6A matchup right out of the gate, as two of the division’s powers, who met in last season’s semifinals, get together on what is sure to be a broiling afternoon in Las Cruces. The Storm’s only loss in 2024 came to Centennial. Cleveland is riding a 12-game winning streak since.

2. Los Lunas at Roswell, Wool Bowl, 7 p.m. Friday: A tremendously attractive pairing here, as the Tigers look to make an early statement that they’ll be among the contending teams in 6A. The Coyotes open defense of their 5A state title with plenty of new faces, but the same expectation of a deep run in November.

3. Volcano Vista at La Cueva, Wilson Stadium, 7 p.m. Thursday: These have been Albuquerque’s two strongest programs for many years. The Bears are going to be a super interesting team to watch over the next 11 weeks. Last year's game was halted at halftime by inclement weather.

4. Artesia at Carlsbad, 7 p.m. Friday: No Week 1 list is complete without the Eddy County War, which dates to 1913 and is renewed at Ralph Bowyer Stadium in Carlsbad on Friday. Are the Bulldogs the favorites to win another 5A state title? Cavemen have lost the last three in this rivalry.

5. Las Cruces vs. Mayfield, Field of Dreams, 7 p.m. Friday: I’m still getting used to the idea of this being the season opener, but nevertheless the Trojans and Bulldawgs remain a strong rivalry game even if they aren’t in the same district or class anymore. Both were in their respective state semifinals last November.

6. Texico at Santa Rosa, 7 p.m. Friday: This is a bonus sixth game in Week 1, as the two teams that met in the Class 2A final last November now meet again to open the 2025 season. The Wolverines were an undefeated state champion last year.

WEEK 1 PREP FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

THURSDAY

• Mescalero Apache at Alamo Navajo, 7 p.m.
• Manzano at Highland, Milne, 7 p.m.
• Volcano Vista at La Cueva, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Cuba at Santa Fe Indian, 7 p.m.
• Bernalillo at Valley, Community, 7 p.m.

FRIDAY

• Belen at Bloomfield, 7 p.m.
• Santa Fe at Capital, 7 p.m.
• Artesia at Carlsbad, 7 p.m.
• Albuquerque High at Cibola, Community, 7 p.m.
• Springfield, Colo. at Clayton, 6 p.m.
• Gateway Christian at Cloudcroft, 7 p.m.
• Farmington at Clovis, 7 p.m.
• Pojoaque at Crownpoint, 7 p.m.
• Alamogordo at Deming, 7 p.m.
• Lordsburg at Duncan, Ariz., 7 p.m.
• Organ Mountain at Eldorado, Wilson, 7 p.m.
• Carrizozo at Elida, 7 p.m.
• Tatum at Escalante, 6 p.m.
• Los Alamos at Española Valley, 7 p.m.
• Mountainair at Grady, 7 p.m.
• Dulce at Hagerman, 7 p.m.
• Lovington at Hobbs, 7 p.m.
• Roy at Hondo Valley, 7 p.m.
• Tularosa at Hot Springs, 7 p.m.
• Dexter at Jal, 7 p.m.
• Valencia at Kirtland Central, 6 p.m.
• Logan at Magdalena, 7 p.m.
• Estancia at Loving, 7 p.m.
• Logan at Magdalena, 7 p.m.
• Grants at Miyamura, 7 p.m.
• Las Cruces vs. Mayfield, Field of Dreams, 7 p.m.
• Mesilla Valley at Menaul, 7 p.m.
• Sandia at Piedra Vista, Hutchison Stadium, 7 p.m.
• Fort Sumner/House at Ramah, 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.
• Eunice at Ruidoso, 7 p.m.
• Texico at Santa Rosa, 7 p.m.
• Santa Teresa at Silver, 7 p.m.
• Robertson at Socorro, 7 p.m.
• Navajo Prep at Shiprock, 7 p.m.
• St. Michael’s at Taos, 6 p.m.
• Tucumcari at Thoreau, 7 p.m.
• Raton at Tohatchi, 7 p.m.
• Hatch Valley at West Las Vegas, 6 p.m.
• Newcomb at Wingate, 7 p.m.
• Hozho Academy at Zuni, 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

• 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.
• McCurdy at Cobre, 4 p.m.
• Hope Christian at Del Norte, Milne, 11 a.m.
• Chaparral at Gadsden, 11 a.m.
• Laguna-Acoma at Legacy Academy, at Bernalillo HS, noon
• Goddard at Portales, Greyhound Stadium, 6 p.m.
• Navajo Pine at Questa, 1 p.m.
• Gallup at Tuba City, Ariz., 7 p.m.