Volcano Vista hasn't had much luck against Cleveland recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Hawks will be playing at home against the Storm at 7:00 p.m. The two teams have allowed few points on average (Volcano Vista 15, Cleveland 13.6) so any points scored will be well earned.
Volcano Vista is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of New Mexico's top teams: Rio Rancho, who was ranked eighth at the time (Volcano Vista was ranked fifth). The Hawks and the Rams were almost perfectly matched up on Friday, but the Hawks suffered a 28-27 defeat. Surprisingly, this marked the Hawks' sixth straight game in which the away team has come away the victor.
Ismael Mendez III
| 08/28/25 @ Las Cruces | 115 |
| 10/02/25 vs Piedra Vista | 94 |
| 10/17/25 vs Rio Rancho | 85 |
| 09/06/25 @ Sandia | 59 |
| 08/21/25 @ La Cueva | 26 |
Despite the loss, Volcano Vista got top-tier performance from Justus Foutz, who picked up 54 receiving yards and one TD, and also punched in a pair of scores on the ground. Ismael Mendez III also helped out with an impressive 85 receiving yards.
Meanwhile, Cleveland waltzed into their game on Friday with three straight wins... but they left with four. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Panthers 54-0. The score at the end of the third wound up being the final score as the Storm just coasted through the last quarter.
Volcano Vista better keep an eye on Jordan Hatch. He was instrumental in Cleveland's win, throwing for 255 yards and three touchdowns while completing 78.6% of his passes, and also punching in one rushing score. Hatch is on a roll when it comes to passing touchdowns, as he's now passed for three or more in each of the last four games he's played. Evan Nanez was Hatch's top target, picking up 105 receiving yards and one score.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Cleveland proved: they limited Piedra Vista to a paltry 2.1 yards per carry. The team can thank Jacob Garcia for the heroic effort on defense: he. Cleveland didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 7.1.
Cleveland's win bumped their record up to 7-1. As for Volcano Vista, their defeat was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 6-2.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Volcano Vista has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 182.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Cleveland struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 155.5 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Volcano Vista took a serious blow against Cleveland when the teams last played back in October of 2024, falling 38-3. Will the Hawks have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
