The countdown to kickoff

Yes, soccer is on the pitch and the volleyball nets have been hoisted all across the high school scene in New Mexico, but the fall season doesn't really begin until football kicks off. We stand just a day away from the start of the 2009 season, and with that in mind, here are five important questions in Northern New Mexico that we will enthusiastically wait for the answers.

1. St. Michael's was just 24.6 seconds away from making the Class AAA state championship for the second year in a row before fate - and a Lovington touchdown - changed the course of the 2008 season. The young Horsemen will be among the favorites again, but who will emerge to challenge them?
Let's start with the season-opening opponent, Bloomfield. The Rams reached the AAA semifinals before losing to eventual AAA champion Portales. They finally broke the hex that District 1AAA has in the playoffs (only one postseason win), but can they take that next step to the championship game? A win over the Horsemen vaults them to favorite status.
Speaking of Portales, the Rams travel to Brother Abdon Field on Oct. 10. That in all likelihood will determine who the top seed is for the AAA state playoffs.
2. Can Bernalillo live up to the hype?
The Spartans made a dramatic upswing in District 2AAAA, coming only seven points away from an undefeated district season and its first ever district title be it at the AAA or AAAA level. Most of the players return from that squad, including Division I-A prospect Ivan Luna. But Bernalillo has to replace its quarterback, and the question remains about how well Alan Favela will do in place of Josh Galindo. Favela is a converted tight end who can run with the ball, but his passing skills are still suspect. That might limit the touches Luna gets as a split end and speedy wideout James Roy get. If the Spartans can throw the ball, look for them to make history.
3. How will the first year of the Ray Holladay Era - and the last year of Santa Fe High in Class AAAAA - be ?
Sadly, it will not be a triumphant arrival or departure for either subject. Holladay is slowing remolding the program in the image he wants, but it could be a good one in the years to come. That rationale comes from the Demons imminent reclassification to AAAA, and going into a district with Capital, Los Alamos and Bernalillo as the top teams. Still, those three programs have flourished for the most part over the last four seasons. Jumping into AAAA won't automatically guarantee that Santa Fe High will be contenders, but they will automatically jump ahead of Española Valley and Taos in the pecking order.
As for the Demons' final year in AAAAA? Look forward to that Oct. 24 matchup at Albuquerque High. It could be their last - and best - chance at a win against a AAAAA school.
4. Can McCurdy School exceed last year's Class A state semifinal appearance?
Since only nine schools occupy Class A, there aren't many teams the Bobcats have to contend with to achieve a similar finish this year. But, two teams that always are a factor are Clayton and Fort Sumner. Clayton has size and the four-time reigning A champion Foxes have the tradition. One knock against the Bobcats is their youth. It was great when the expectations weren't there and the Bobcats played better than some might have anticipated. It might prove to be a hindrance because of the trappings of success (an overinflated sense of one's ability, a lackadaisical attitude toward the work needed to improve). McCurdy has the tools to be a very good football team, but it has to match that skill with hard work and determination.
5. Who will be a surprise team in the North?
When Las Vegas Robertson regained defensive coordinator Leroy Gonzales from New Mexico Highlands University, it certainly raised the specter of a Cardinal return to glory. Then Estevan Vigil, the erstwhile No. 1 running back, decided he was a track athlete rather than a football player. There went the Cardinals' foundation on offense. Still, District 2AAA has two teams that could make a surprising run - The Dons of West Las Vegas and the Pojoaque Elks. The Elks returned their entire 16-man roster from last year, plus added as many players to the squad. Added depth means an easier load for everyone involved. West Las Vegas was on the way to rebuilding the football program under Mike Maldonado, but now the task belongs to former Dons defensive coordinator Mike Ulibarri. He has a track record of being able to build a program - which he did at Santa Fe High before leaving in the summer of 2008. Had he stayed, there is no doubt the Demons make the playoffs. At West Las Vegas, there is no doubt that he will get the Dons back to their winning ways of earlier in this decade.
It could be as soon as this season.
The next 11 weeks will tell that story.