Demons facing massive challenge with La Cueva

Despite what the seismographs would have you believe, the small tremor Santa Fe is sure to feel right around rush hour Friday evening isnt an earthquake.

Its just the freight train known as the La Cueva football team rolling into town.

The big, bad Bears will be in Ivan Head Stadium this week to face Santa Fe High in a matchup of the top-ranked, undefeated defending Class 6A state champion (and its roster of multiple Power-5 recruits) and the Demons, losers of six straight.

On paper, its the biggest mismatch of the regular season.

Santa Fe Highs losing streak comes on the heels of a hazing investigation that has yet to reach its conclusion.

The team got its head coach back last week but was shut out at home by Los Lunas, a result that guarantees the Demons third straight losing season.

Its just one of a handful of games that could or should give us a running clock this weekend.

Heres a look at this weekends games involving Santa Fe-area schools: The bad news is that the Jaguars have scored just 129 points this season.

The good news is 109 of those have come on the road.

Even better? All but six of those points have come in two games at Milne Stadium in wins against Del Norte and Rio Grande.

The Hive is a clear step up from those two, but at least theres something to look forward to.

Prediction: Highland 34, Capital 18 The Tigers are going to the playoffs.

Probably.

A win here solidifies that, and its a game the Cats should win.

With two games left, theyve got a clear path to a home game in the opening round should they finish with seven wins.

Thats easier said than done, but first things first.

Prediction: Taos 27, Moriarty 14 There are only eight undefeated teams left in 11-man football, and Bloomfield is one of them.

The Bobcats are ranked No.

1 for a reason, having dismantled every team in their path since Week 2.

They finally gave up some points in last weeks 20-7 win against No.

2 Bernalillo, but its the only time anyone has scored on them since the opening week a span of five straight shutouts.

Prediction: Bloomfield 40, Espanola 6 The district title is there for the taking.

Winners of five straight, the Hilltoppers can nail down a home playoff game in a 5A playoff picture that is decidedly bottom-heavy as in the bottom of the state.

The top six teams in this weeks poll hail from District 2-5A (Roswell, Artesia, Deming, Gadsden, Lovington and Mayfield).

Prediction: Los Alamos 30, Valley 24 The Elks are in serious need of a win.

Getting one against a team thats riding a 15-game winning streak and has yet to give up more than eight points in any game is a longshot at best.

The visiting Horsemen are one of the few teams with the speed at linebacker and the secondary to neutralize Pojoaques running backs.

They also have the size to dominate the line of scrimmage.

Prediction: St.

Michaels 45, Pojoaque Valley 8 Use any metric you want; this game is as lopsided as it gets.

The Bears are led by dynamic QB Cam Dyer, the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year and future member of Arizona State.

The Bears also have future Wisconsin linebacker Mason Posa, the son of Santa Fe native and former Demons star Javier Posa.

If nothing else, it will give the people of our fair city a chance to see some future college studs.

Prediction: La Cueva 55, Santa Fe High 0 The Wildcats played themselves out of playoff contention with last weeks three-point loss at Menaul.

Losers of three of their last four, they simply havent generated enough offense to stay in games, scoring 20 points in those three losses.

Prediction: Clayton 44, Questa 14 The Braves have fought the good fight this season as an independent, but their lack of experience is telling in games like this.

Its one thing to play a nondistrict game against smaller schools, but against a 3A school fighting for a potential playoff berth is another.

The Cougars have something to play for and they wont be overlooking anyone.

Prediction: Tohatchi 46, SFIS 6 While the Lobos appear to be playing out the schedule, Fort Sumner/House has its sights set on a state title run.

This team has shredded the competition all season, holding every opponent to single digits.

Theres little to expect anything different here.

Prediction: Fort Sumner 54, Escalante 6 The Dons are, without question, the best 3-5 team in the state.

Theyve run the gauntlet with a schedule that includes four teams (3As St.

Mikes, Robertson, Dexter and 2As Texico) that are still undefeated, plus a one-possession road loss at Portales.

They held Robertson and St.

Mikes to their lowest point totals of the season and have played seven of their eight games against current top-10 teams.

Prediction: West Las Vegas 34, Hope Christian 22 The Bobcats can officially nail down the district title with a win and give the program its most successful season in 11 years.

A loss sends the entire race into chaos a lot like Preps surprising loss to Cuba did a couple of weeks ago.

Were it not for that, this would be the 1-2A championship.

Prediction: McCurdy 22, Navajo Prep 20.

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