Friday night excitement coming right up!

Week 2 of the football season has a few games filled with intrigue -and one of vital importance. Read on ...

St. Michael's (1-0) at Los Alamos (0-2), 7 p.m.
The skinny: The Horsemen showed they are among the best in Class AAA, but to show they might be the team to beat, they HAVE to beat the Hilltoppers. And the Hilltoppers, while no pushovers, are probably at their weakest since the 2005 season, when they went 7-3. That year, they beat the Horsemen 16-7 on the strength of fullback Nick Nelson. In fact, size and strength has been a key asset to the Hilltoppers' dominance in this series the past five years. But the Horsemen have some size of their own this season, and they might have a few more horses in their stable as well.
Prediction: St. Michael's 21, Los Alamos 16.

Moriarty (0-1) at Capital (0-1), 7 p.m.
The skinny: Welcome to must-win territory, Jaguars. After a 59-6 thumping to Cleveland last week, they are staring an 0-3 start in the face if they can't get by the Pintos. The skill players performed like it was their first game and miscues piled up because of it. Moriarty is a stronger team than expected, but its hopes hinge on its health. When quarterback Mario Rodriguez hurt his ankle last week, the Sartans of Albuquerque St. Pius X scored 21 unanswered points in a 28-7 win.
Oh, and next up for Capital after this is St. Michael's.
Prediction: Moriarty 17, Capital 10

Lovington (0-1) at Las Vegas Robertson (0-1), 7 p.m.
The skinny: Robertson played an inspired game before losing 42-41 to reigning AAA champion Portales last week. Quarterback Daniel Martinez ran for 129 yards to lead the Cardinals' attack, but it will take more than that to upend the state's other top AAA contender in the Wildcats. If the Cardinals make a game out of this, then they just might be the sleeper team the rest of the state will need to awaken to.
Prediction: Lovington 40, Robertson 24

Raton (1-0) at Taos (1-0)
The skinny: The Tigers finally got that first win of the year to open the season for the first time since 2006, and for new head coach Mike Maldonado to get it against the school that fired him last year was the best kind of revenge. But now the Tigers of Raton are here, and they have own this series for the past four years. Raton also has a very talented quarterback in 6-foot-4 Dustin Walton, who threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-13 win over Trinidad (Colo.) last week.
Prediction: Raton 34, Taos 17

Saturday
Santa Fe High (0-1) at Albuquerque Rio Grande (0-1), 1:30 p.m.
The skinny: Both teams are coming off bad losses. The Ravens were pummeled 55-0 to the Bears of Albuquerque La Cueva (the second ranked team in Class AAAAA) and the Demons were blasted by AAAA Aztec (last year's state runner-up) 56-7. So it sounds like an even match on paper. Santa Fe High still clings to the hopes of getting a winning season and making the playoffs. Playoff teams beat Rio Grande. Guess what the Demons are?
Prediction: Rio Grande 24, Santa Fe High 14

Estancia (1-0) at West Las Vegas (0-1)
The skinny: OK, so the Mike Ulibarri Era got off to a rocky start. Things can get better against the AA Bears, right? Not so fast, my friends. Estancia is ranked fifth in an always competitive class. The Bears had a 33-0 lead over Escalante, the old stomping grounds of current head coach Dusty Giles, after one quarter last week. The Dons might show improvement after a game, but that won't be enough against a proven program like Estancia.
Prediction: Estancia 34, West Las Vegas 20.