New Mexico High School Football Week 1: 124-Point Thriller Steals the Show

The first Friday night of the 2026 New Mexico high school football season delivered blowouts, defensive battles and one game that will be difficult to top all year.

Roswell and Hobbs combined for 124 points and at least 12 lead changes before the Coyotes scored with 32 seconds remaining and recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to escape with a remarkable 64-60 victory. Elsewhere, defending powers Cleveland and La Cueva looked every bit like championship contenders, while Las Cruces won a defensive battle at Rio Rancho.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Week 1 of the New Mexico high school football season:

Game of the Week: Roswell 64, Hobbs 60

Easily the game of the week, the Coyotes defended their home turf from 6A’s Hobbs in a 6A-5A clash to remember.

A combined 124 points makes this contest the eighth-highest-scoring contest in New Mexico state history.

With both teams trading scores in a 40-point fourth quarter, and while the Eagles were holding onto a 60-57 lead, Roswell quarterback Andruw Fuentez scrambled to the end zone with 32 seconds left in the game to give the ‘Yotes the go-ahead score.

Can Hobbs score in 32 seconds? Based on this game, probably. But a bad bounce on the ensuing kickoff caused a fumble, which Roswell recovered to put the insane night to bed.

At least 12 lead changes, over 1,000 yards of offense, multiple touchdowns from both quarterbacks and running backs. What more can you say?

Cleveland, La Cueva Make Early Statements

After an offseason of speculation, 6A powers Cleveland and La Cueva once do not seem to have skipped a beat over the summer. Cleveland routed Centennial, 34-7, and La Cueva rolled past Eldorado, 59-21.

Both teams scored the first 20 points in their respective contests in two games that could have been competitive. The Storm and Bears shut that idea down quickly.

For Cleveland, the night belonged to quarterback Michael Denison. In his first start, the junior tossed five touchdowns, including two to top receiver Evan Nanez. This is a duo that we will likely be seeing all fall long.

Over at Wilson Stadium, senior quarterback Monty Melendez would end up playing through an elbow injury. The injury didn't prevent Melendez from throwing five touchdown passes in the blowout.

These two look to be at full strength once again, making their matchup in mid-September that much more anticipated.

Las Cruces 14, Rio Rancho 7

It wasn’t the 47-22 shootout from last season, but the Bulldawgs once again prevailed over the Rams.
A sluggish night at home for Rio Rancho, including an opening-drive fumble that set up Las Cruces inside the five-yard line for a score, leaves them at 0-1.

An offense searching for answers at least has one: the legs of Micah Takahashi. His 34-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter kept the Rams in the fight.

The success would end there, as the Bulldawgs would force three turnovers on the night.

For LC, their running game was on display once again. Quarterback Aldo Gallegos rumbled into the end zone twice in this contest and that was all that was needed for the big road victory.

Sandia 49, Cibola 6 (Thursday)

Sandia’s transfer-infused new offense? All the new toys came out to play on Thursday night.

Deon Session and J’Ven Smith both recorded touchdowns in the Matadors' scoring frenzy of a night against the Cougars.

This included a spectacular “Odell Beckham Jr.”-esque one-handed catch from Session in the end zone, hauling in the throw from Jahleel Lewis with one hand, just before halftime.

In terms of returners, George Smith and Gad Harris scored as well, in what was an open invite to the end zone for Sandia.

The offseason hype has translated well through one week of action.

Notable Scores:

Carlsbad 20, Artesia 13

Piedra Vista 56, Farmington 20

Los Lunas 23, Mayfield 13

Belen 26, Bernalillo 14

Lovington 20, Goddard 14

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