The Dexter (NM) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Hatch Valley (Hatch, NM) today at 7:00 PM at Dexter HS. This game is part of the “2024 Nusenda Credit Union State Football Championships – 3A” tournament.

Hatch Valley vs Dexter Football Game Info:

What: New Mexico High School Football Playoffs
Who: Hatch Valley vs Dexter
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
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Game preview: Hatch Valley vs Dexter

The Hatch Valley Bears and the Dexter Demons are set to face off in a thrilling high school football playoff game, following a decisive 60-6 victory by Dexter over Hatch Valley last month. This playoff clash promises to be an exciting matchup, with both teams bringing their unique strengths to the field.

Team Records and Rankings

• Hatch Valley Bears: With a 7-4 overall record, the Bears have shown resilience, boasting a 3-3 district record and a solid 3-2 home and away performance. Their offensive game has been powered by a strong rushing attack, averaging 225.3 yards per game, but they’ll need to improve their passing game, which averages just 50.4 yards per game. Defensively, they average 9.1 tackles per game and 0.1 sacks per game.
• Dexter Demons: The undefeated Demons have been dominating all season with a perfect 10-0 record, including a flawless 6-0 district record. Dexter’s offense has been prolific, averaging 398.5 total yards per game, including 276.3 rushing yards per game and 122.2 passing yards per game. Their defense has also been impressive, averaging 44.4 tackles and 3.2 sacks per game, making them a well-rounded team in all phases of the game.

Head-to-Head: Last Meeting

In their previous meeting on October 25th, Dexter completely overpowered Hatch Valley, winning 60-6. The game saw Dexter dominate in all four quarters, building a commanding lead with a balanced offensive attack and tough defense. The Hatch Valley Bears were only able to muster a single touchdown in the third quarter, while Dexter poured in 60 points across the game.

Scoring Averages

• Hatch Valley: The Bears have struggled to maintain consistent scoring throughout the game, averaging just 24 points per game. Their scoring breakdown is as follows: 3.0 points in the first quarter, 7.0 in the second, 4.6 in the third, and 4.9 in the fourth.
• Dexter: The Demons, on the other hand, have been a scoring juggernaut, averaging an impressive 43.7 points per game. They put up 18.3 points in the first quarter, 14.3 in the second, 8.7 in the third, and 5.7 in the fourth.

Key Players

• Hatch Valley:
  • Orrin Russell leads the Bears with 104.6 rushing yards per game.
  • Omar Gonzalez has been key in passing with 47.4 yards per game and has also contributed in the receiving game.
  • Nathan Ruiz leads receiving with 25.7 yards per game.
• Dexter:
  • Omar Loya is Dexter’s top rusher with 75.5 yards per game.
  • Cj Granados is a dual threat with 122.2 passing yards per game and 158.6 total yards per game.
  • Kaesn George has 70.6 receiving yards per game and has been a key player in their offense.

Common Opponents

Both teams have faced several common opponents this season, with Dexter winning all seven matchups, while Hatch Valley has a 4-3 record against the same teams. Notably, both teams defeated Cobre, Hot Springs, and Pojoaque Valley, but Dexter’s victories were more dominant, including a 51-0 win over Cobre and a 38-2 triumph over Hot Springs.

The Path to the Playoffs

• Hatch Valley: Despite a mixed season, the Bears have shown they can compete, particularly at home, where they have a 3-2 record. They’ll need to find more consistency in their offense and defense to challenge Dexter in this playoff matchup.
• Dexter: The Demons enter this game with a perfect 10-0 record, including a strong performance in district play, where they went 6-0. Their high-scoring offense and strong defense make them the favorites heading into this game, and they’ll be looking to continue their undefeated streak.

Conclusion

This playoff game between Hatch Valley and Dexter will be a true test of both teams’ abilities. Hatch Valley will need to find ways to improve their offense, especially in the passing game, while Dexter looks to continue their dominant run. With Dexter’s explosive offense and solid defense, they are the heavy favorites, but Hatch Valley will be hoping to pull off an upset and prove that anything can happen in the postseason. The game kicks off today at 7:00 PM, and fans can expect a thrilling contest!