Playoff time for H.S. football, volleyball teams

It’s playoff time for area high school football and volleyball teams.

At least it is for most of them.

Football tournament

Farwell (vs. Morton), Bovina (vs. Sudan) and Muleshoe (vs. Shallowater) still have one regular-season game each, all to be played on Friday night. The Steers and Mules are both home for their regular-season finales; the Mustangs are on the road for theirs.

Elsewhere, though, it is indeed playoff time.

Clovis opens its state-title quest on the road after being awarded the ninth seed in District 2-6A. The Wildcats will visit eighth-seeded Atrisco Heritage Friday, beginning at 7 p.m.

The ’Cats finished their regular season 5-5 after a 3-1 start, and 1-3 in district play, but hope to get things rolling again in the tournament.

Portales was expecting a high seed and got it. And with a No. 2 seed in 4-4A, the Rams earned a bye week. They will return to action and begin their state title defense the weekend before Thanksgiving.

In District 3-3A quarterfinal competition, Texico travels to Dexter and Tucumcari visits Tularosa Friday, with both kickoffs slated for 7 p.m.

The eight-man playoffs roll into the quarterfinal round, with top-seeded Melrose hosting eighth-seeded Cloudcroft on Friday at 7 p.m. Fifth-seeded Dora — yet to be scored upon in this year’s playoffs so far — will visit Tatum on Friday, with kickoff slated for 7 p.m.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., 11th-seeded Logan visits three-seed Mesilla Valley.

Volleyball tournament

Seven Curry and Roosevelt county schools received bids to the New Mexico high school volleyball tournament, with two looking to defend their titles as top seeds.

The tournament will begin Thursday with pool play at three different sites in Rio Rancho — Rio Rancho High, Cleveland High and the Santa Ana Star Center.

• Class 6A: Thursday’s pool play and all matches up to the 7 p.m. Saturday championship game will be at the Santa Ana Star Center. Pool play winners receive first-round byes into Friday’s quarterfinals.

Centennial is the top seed and is in Pool A with eighth-seeded Rio Rancho No. 12 Atrisco Heritage.

La Cueva is the second seed and is in Pool B with seventh-seeded Cleveland and No. 11 Cibola.

Sandia is the third seed and is in Pool C with sixth-seeded Volcano Vista and No. 10 Piedra Vista.

Eldorado is the fourth seed and is in Pool D with fifth-seeded Las Cruces and No. 9 Clovis.

• Class 4A: Thursday’s pool play and all matches up to the 3 p.m. Saturday championship game will be at the Santa Ana Star Center. Pool play winners receive first-round byes into Friday’s quarterfinals.

Sandia Prep is the top seed and is in Pool A with eighth-seeded Silver and No. 12 Cobre.

Robertson is the second seed and is in Pool B with seventh-seeded Hope Christian and No. 11 Hatch Valley.

Portales is the third seed and is in Pool C with sixth-seeded Santa Fe Indian and No. 10 Bosque.

St. Michael’s is the fourth seed and is in Pool D with fifth-seeded Moriarty and No. 9 Shiprock.

• Class 3A: Thursday’s pool play and quarterfinals will be split between Rio Rancho High School and Cleveland High School. The four pool play winners will receive a bye into Friday’s quarterfinals at the Santa Ana Star Center. Class 3A will remain at the Star Center through the 6:30 p.m. Friday semifinals and the 1 p.m. Saturday championship game.

Texico is the top seed and is in Pool A with eighth-seeded Santa Fe Prep and No. 12 Capitan.

Santa Rosa is the second seed and is in Pool B with seventh-seeded Dulce and No. 11 Eunice.

Dexter is the third seed and is in Pool C with sixth-seeded Rehoboth Christian and No. 10 Desert Academy.

Estancia is the fourth seed and is in Pool D with fifth-seeded Raton and No. 9 Loving.

• Class 1A: Thursday’s pool play and quarterfinals will be held at Rio Rancho High School. The four pool play winners will receive a bye into Friday’s quarterfinals at Cleveland High School. The 6:30 p.m. Friday semifinals and the 5 p.m. Saturday championship game are both at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Elida is the top seed and is in Pool A with eighth-seeded Floyd and No. 12 Cimarron.

Melrose is the second seed and is in Pool B with seventh-seeded Grady and No. 11 Springer.

Santa Fe Waldorf is the third seed and is in Pool C with sixth-seeded Coronado and No. 10 Animals.

Des Moines is the fourth seed and is in Pool D with fifth-seeded Quemado and No. 9 Hondo Valley.