EIGHT-MAN FOOTBALL REPORT – WEEK ONE
BY: KERRY SHERMAN
Only six teams in the classification played in Zero Week, and none were in the MHPR Coaches/Media rankings. Most of the 16 teams that received votes in this week’s poll will be in action, with several games featuring two ranked squads. Action gets underway on Thursday.
THURSDAY
#5 MANCOS (0-0) VS MELROSE, NM (1-0)
It’s the season-opener for Mancos, who is looking to bounce back from a 7-4 finish in 2025, that ended with a loss in the quarterfinals. Melrose took a 32-6 win over Magdalena, NM last Friday, The Bluejays and Buffaloes have played six times in the last decade, with each winning three games. Mancos has won three of the last four, 14-6 last year, scoring twice in the fourth after trailing 6-0 entering the period. Michael Resner hit on seven of 18 passes for 69 yards and a TD to James Potts. Resner also ran for 164 yards.
FRIDAY
#1 MCCLAVE (0-0) AT ELLICOTT (0-1)
McClave brings a stacked roster into its season-opener at 1A Ellicott. The Cardinals have been making deep postseason runs lately, and are looking to get a good start to this year. Ellicott lost to Trinidad 38-0, with the Thunderhawks allowing all 38 points before halftime. Ellicott turned it over three times on interceptions. McClave and Ellicott have not played in the MaxPreps era.
#3 SIMLA (0-0) VS #8 HAXTUN (0-0)
One of the marquee games of Week One has the two-time defending champs traveling to Simla, as both teams break the seal on the 2026 season. The two teams don’t meet very often, as this is just the eighth clash in the MaxPreps era. The last two have come in the postseason, with Haxtun winning 27-20 in the 2022 semifinals, and Simla taking a 30-12 win in the 2023 semifinals. Haxtun has won five of the previous match-ups.
#4 STRATTON (0-0) AT SPRINGFIELD (0-0)
Stratton will play its first 8-man game since November 5, 2011. That was a loss to Dayspring Christian. Springfield saw its shot at making the postseason last year end with a loss to McClave in the regular season finale. There were no meetings between Stratton and Springfield listed in MaxPreps.
#6 AKRON (0-0) AT CALHAN (0-0)
After finishing runner-up the last two seasons, Akron begins its bid to not only make a third straight title game, but also to come away with the top prize. The Rams hit the road to meet up with Calhan, who has not made the postseason since 2021. The Bulldogs were bounced out of the opening round that year by Akron. The Rams have won all four previous meetings, including a 50-6 decision last year. Jax Kusel caught three passes for 101 yards for Akron, while Brody Burnside threw for 73 yards and a TD for Calhan.
#7 NORWOOD (0-0) VS #11 HAYDEN (0-0)
In another of the top contests on the slate, Norwood and Hayden meet to open the season for the third consecutive year. The last two have been snug, with the Mavericks winning 12-8 two years ago, and 20-18 last season. Cole Bray had 63 yards and a touchdown on the ground for Norwood, and Peyton Johnson went for 158 and a rushing TD for the Tigers.
#9 FOWLER (0-0) AT #10 CROWLEY COUNTY (0-0)
Last year, the championship in the Six County came down to the final week of the regular, with Crowley County beating Fowler 52-38. The Chargers got 197 yards and three TD from Levi Gibson in the rushing attack. Brock True tallied 98 yards and four touchdowns rushing, and Bronson Damgaard added 175 yards and a TD for Fowler. The teams are now in different leagues.
#12 SANFORD (0-0) AT #14 WEST GRAND (0-0)
This is the third straight year that Sanford and West Grand have squared off in the season-opener. West Grand won 28-22 two seasons ago, and Sanford began last season with a 44-24 victory. Colton Reynolds threw for a score, and Huntley Duran added one on the ground for Sanford last year. Landon Lockhart caught one for West Grand.
#13 MERINO (0-0) AT ROCKY FORD (1-0)
Merino begins the year looking to avoid posting a losing record for a third season in a row. Rocky Ford got a 36-6 win over Walsenburg last Saturday, with Jake Baca running for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Shayne Gonzales ran for one score and returned a pick for another. Merino has beaten the Meloneers in each of the last two seasons, 48-12 in 2024, and 51-0 last year. Zavier Trenkle led Merino with 168 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
#15 CENTER (0-0) AT MONUMENT ACADEMY
Both of these teams are playing their first eight-man game, but for Monument Academy, it’s also the first game in program history. Center drops from 1A after winning a total of three games in the last three years. The Vikings were 0-9 last year.
#16 LAS ANIMAS (0-0) AT ELBERT (1-0)
Las Animas looks to make the postseason for a second straight year, after the program had not been in the playoffs in the MaxPreps era. Elbert was also in the postseason, and like the Trojans, the Bulldogs were eliminated in the opening round. The Bulldogs got past Justice 40-22 last week, with Cole Nay and Hunter Neville each running for 100 or more yards and two touchdowns. This is the first match-up between Las Animas and Elbert in the MaxPreps era.