The Hobbs Eagles and Cleveland Storm will face off in the second round of the 2023 NMAA Class 6A Football Championships on Friday, November 10th, at 7pm ET in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
What it is: New Mexico High School Football
Matchup: Hobbs Eagles vs. Cleveland Storm
Time: Friday Nov 10, 2023, 7pm ET
Game Type: Playoffs
Bracket: 2023 NMAA Class 6A Football Championships
Round: Second Round
Locations: Cleveland – Rio Rancho, NM
Live stream: Watch here
The Eagles come into the game with a 6-5 record, while the Storm are 7-3. Cleveland is ranked 1st in the division and 3rd in the state, while Hobbs is ranked 5th in the division and 8th in the state.
The Eagles have a high-powered offense, averaging 30.3 points per game. They are led by senior quarterback Ryan Wright, who has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Wright is also a threat on the ground, rushing for over 400 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hobbs also has a solid running game, led by senior running back Matt Cassidy.
The Storm have a balanced offense, averaging 34.6 points per game. They are led by senior quarterback Micah Ford, who has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. Ford is also a threat on the ground, rushing for over 500 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cleveland also has a solid running game, led by senior running back Landyn Collins.
Both defenses are playing at a high level, with Hobbs allowing just 21.7 points per game and Cleveland allowing just 20.3 points per game.
This is sure to be a close game between two evenly matched teams. Hobbs will need to find a way to slow down the Storm’s passing game and force turnovers. Cleveland will need to protect the football and capitalize on their scoring opportunities.
This will be the first matchup between the two teams this season.
The game will be streamed live on the NFHS Network. To watch, you will need to create an account and subscribe to the service. Subscriptions are available on a monthly or annual basis.
You can watch the game on your smartphone, tablet, computer, or connected device. The NFHS Network app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.
Both teams are evenly matched, but I am giving the edge to Cleveland due to their better record and their more explosive offense. I predict that the Storm will win a close game, 31-28.
