High school football season approaches, schedules set

As someone once said, are you ready for some football?

Official practices for New Mexico high school football teams begin Monday, Aug. 4, with season opening games for Belen, Los Lunas and Valencia set for Friday, Aug. 22.

All three squads will start with long road trips; BHS visits Bloomfield, LLHS is at Roswell and Kirtland Central will host VHS.

All together, that’s more than 1,300 road miles total covered by the Eagles, Tigers and Jaguars.

The schedule for Los Lunas (8-3) is brutal out of the gate. After playing Roswell, 11-1 last season on their way to the 5A state title, the Tigers host the defending 6A champions, Cleveland Storm (12-1). LLHS lost to Cleveland 57-7 in the playoffs last season.

The Belen Eagles (4-6) don’t have a walk in the park to begin either, facing a Bloomfield squad that went unbeaten to win the 4A crown. The game last season against the Bobcats was declared no-contest because of lightning in the first half. The Plow Trophy will be on the line Sept. 5, when BHS visits county rival Valencia.

The contest against Belen will be the first home game for VHS (8-4) after visits to Kirtland Central (2-8) and Gadsden (8-4), which posted a 38-0 victory over the Jaguars last season.

A scheduling oddity has all three teams hosting homecoming games Sept. 12, against teams they defeated last season. Valley (4-7) is at Belen; LLHS hosts Eldorado (7-4); and Cuba (4-7) visits Valencia. BHS, VHS and LLHS each have a bye week later in the season.

Belen High School

Friday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m.: St. Pius at BHS (Scrimmage)

Friday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m.: BHS at Bloomfield

Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m.: Santa Fe at BHS

Friday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m.: BHS at Valencia

Friday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.: Valley at BHS (Homecoming)

Thursday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.: BHS at Del Norte (Milne Stadium)

Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m.: Miyamura at BHS

Friday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.: BHS at Los Alamos

Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.: Highland at BHS

Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.: BHS at Rio Grande (Milne Stadium)

Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m.: Capital at BHS

Valencia High School

Friday, Aug. 22, at 6 p.m.: VHS at Kirtland Central

Friday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m.: VHS at Gadsden

Friday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m.: Belen at VHS

Friday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.: Cuba at VHS (Homecoming)

Friday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.: VHS at Silver

Friday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m.: Portales at VHS

Friday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m.: VHS at Chaparral

Saturday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. VHS at Manzano (Wilson Stadium)

Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.: St. Pius at VHS

Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m.: Albuquerque Academy at VHS

Los Lunas High School

Friday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m.: LLHS at Roswell

Friday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m.: Cleveland at LLHS

Friday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m.: LLHS at Farmington

Friday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.: Eldorado at LLHS (Homecoming)

Friday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.: LLHS at West Mesa (Wilson Stadium)

Saturday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m.: LLHS at Albuquerque High (Milne Stadium)

Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.: La Cueva at LLHS

Friday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.: Santa Fe at LLHS

Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.: Atrisco Heritage at LLHS

Saturday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m.: LLHS at Sandia (Wilson Stadium)