October is running out, and the next opponent is already waiting.
Centennial and Mesilla Valley Christian School came away with victories Friday, while Las Cruces, Mayfield, Organ Mountain and Gadsden prepare to respond to losses. All six area programs return to district action this week as the regular season moves closer to November.
Centennial (5-3) travels to Eldorado (5-2) at 7 p.m. Friday with the district title race hanging in the balance. Eldorado and Volcano Vista are tied for first in the district, while the Hawks sit one game behind both teams.
An Eldorado victory would set up a district championship showdown with Volcano Vista next week. A Centennial win would tighten the race, with the Hawks scheduled to face Las Cruces in their regular-season finale.
Centennial enters the matchup following a 42-20 victory over Hobbs. Senior quarterback Ruiz Laborin completed 12 of 21 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown, rushed for 130 yards and three scores, and caught a touchdown pass.
Junior Corral-Jaquez added 119 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Hawks finished with 534 yards of offense. Senior Valenzuela-Chaires led the defense with 12 tackles.
Mesilla Valley Christian (7-1, 3-0 District 4) travels to Lordsburg (5-2, 2-1 district) at 7 p.m. Friday with a potential first-round playoff bye at stake. The SonBlazers beat Cloudcroft 50-0 last week, while Lordsburg fell 36-20 to Magdalena.
Of 19 eight-man teams, 12 make the playoffs, with the top four in the final rankings earning first-round byes. A win Friday could improve MVC's chances of securing one when brackets are expected Saturday.
Las Cruces (6-2) hosts Carlsbad (5-3) at 7 p.m. Friday after falling 28-14 to Volcano Vista. The Bulldawgs, who opened the season with five consecutive victories, face a Cavemen team coming off a win over Organ Mountain.
Organ Mountain (3-5) returns home Thursday after a 56-7 loss at Carlsbad. The Knights host Volcano Vista (6-2) at 7 p.m., giving Organ Mountain another opportunity to test itself against a strong district opponent.
Mayfield (2-6) hosts Roswell at 1 p.m. Saturday following a 35-0 loss to Goddard. The Trojans face a Coyotes team carrying a 7-1 record, with Mayfield looking to build on the progress that produced consecutive victories earlier this season.
Gadsden (5-3, 2-3 district) also returns home after falling 23-14 to Alamogordo. The Panthers host Chaparral (4-4) at 7 p.m. Friday, facing a Lobos team that defeated Deming 25-20 last week.
Gadsden won five of its first six games and will look to regain that form against a district opponent coming off a victory of its own.
The final stretch carries real stakes in Class 6A, where district results will shape playoff positioning. Mesilla Valley Christian, meanwhile, is nearing bracket time in eight-man football with a 7-1 record and an unbeaten district mark.
