Football Game Preview: Animas Panthers vs. El Paso Leadership Academy East Leaders

The Animas Panthers will challenge the El Paso Leadership Academy East Leaders at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.

Animas is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of New Mexico's top teams: Carrizozo, who was ranked 25th at the time (Animas was ranked 14th). The Panthers' defense stepped up to hand the Grizzlies a 50-0 shutout on Friday. The win was familiar territory for the Panthers, who have now won three matchups in a row.

Meanwhile, El Paso Leadership Academy East blew past Fort Hancock, posting a 63-8 victory.

Animas' win bumped their record up to 7-1. As for El Paso Leadership Academy East, their victory bumped their record up to 4-2.

Animas was dealt a bruising 54-6 loss at the hands of El Paso Leadership Academy East in their previous meeting back in September of 2024. Can the Panthers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.