One week, two paths

Centennial heads into rivalry week with a win behind it. Las Cruces arrives looking to rebound. By Friday night, one of them will have the final word on the regular season. 

The Hawks (6-3) host the Bulldawgs (6-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in a matchup between two teams coming off very different results. Centennial defeated Eldorado 21-7 in Albuquerque, while Las Cruces fell 30-17 at home to Carlsbad. 

Centennial quarterback Ruiz Laborin completed 12 of 17 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown against Eldorado. The senior also rushed for 136 yards and two scores, accounting for 304 yards of offense. Sophomore MJ Frias caught four passes for 85 yards and a touchdown as the Hawks finished with 430 total yards. 

Centennial sits second in District 2-6A at 5-1, behind unbeaten Volcano Vista. Las Cruces is 3-3 in district play after a game in which the Bulldawgs were tied 17-17 with Carlsbad through three quarters before the Cavemen scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth. 

The rivalry brings another opportunity for Las Cruces standouts Aldo Gallegos and Denton Walter, a University of New Mexico commit, to finish the regular season on a stronger note. 

Eight-man playoff picture 

Mesilla Valley Christian has already secured its next step. The SonBlazers closed the regular season 8-1 overall and 4-0 in District 4 with a 48-12 victory at Lordsburg, earning the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the eight-man state playoffs. 

Sophomore Jaxson Warner led the way with 213 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries. He also caught a 37-yard touchdown pass, giving him five scores in the win. Warner enters the postseason with 1,218 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, and 29 total touchdowns. He has also recorded five interceptions on defense. 

Senior Kobe Redfearn added 72 rushing yards and two touchdowns, along with 58 passing yards and a score against Lordsburg. Redfearn has thrown for 1,266 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. 

According to the official NMAA eight-man playoff bracket, MVCS will face the winner of No. 5 Magdalena and No. 12 Cloudcroft in the Nov. 6-7 quarterfinals. That first-round game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Magdalena High School. The SonBlazers' quarterfinal date, time and location remain undetermined. 

Elsewhere, Gadsden (6-3) looks to carry momentum into its finale after beating Chaparral 29-7. The Panthers visit Deming (1-8) at 7 p.m. Friday, with Gadsden sitting 3-3 in District 2-5A. 

Mayfield (2-7) closes at home against Artesia (5-4) at 1 p.m. Saturday after a 52-15 loss to Roswell. Organ Mountain (3-6) travels to Clovis (1-8) at 7 p.m. Friday following a 54-0 loss to unbeaten Volcano Vista. 

The Class 2A through 6A playoff brackets have yet to be released, leaving Friday and Saturday's results as the final regular-season statements for five area teams. MVCS, meanwhile, has already earned a place in November. 

For the SonBlazers, the wait is part of the reward. For everyone else, there is still one more game to play.