The Valley Vikings and Piedra Vista Panthers will face off in the second round of the 2023 NMAA Class 5A Football Championships on Friday, November 10th, at 7pm ET in Farmington, New Mexico.
What it is: New Mexico High School Football
Matchup: Valley Vikings vs. Piedra Vista Panthers
Time: Friday Nov 10, 2023, 7pm ET
Game Type: Playoffs
Bracket: 2023 NMAA Class 5A Football Championships
Round: Second Round
Locations: Hutchison Stadium – Farmington, NM
Live stream: Watch here
The Vikings come into the game with an 8-3 record, while the Panthers are 5-5. Valley is ranked 8th in the division and 33rd in the state, while Piedra Vista is ranked 5th in the division and 23rd in the state.
The Vikings have a balanced offense, averaging 31.7 points per game. They are led by senior quarterback Ryan Wright, who has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. Wright is also a threat on the ground, rushing for over 400 yards and 10 touchdowns. Valley also has a solid running game, led by senior running back Matt Cassidy.
The Panthers have a high-powered offense, averaging 25.5 points per game. They are led by senior quarterback Micah Ford, who has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Ford is also a threat on the ground, rushing for over 300 yards and 10 touchdowns. Piedra Vista also has a solid running game, led by senior running back Landyn Collins.
Both defenses are playing at a high level, with Valley allowing just 22.7 points per game and Piedra Vista allowing just 25.3 points per game.
This is sure to be a close game between two evenly matched teams. Valley will need to find a way to slow down the Panthers’ passing game and force turnovers. Piedra Vista 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 Valley due to their better record and their more balanced offense. I predict that the Vikings will win a close game, 31-28.
