Thursday Grab Bag: Raise the RPMs

You know it's bad when you become a joke to Kige Ramsey.

Ramsey gave a "Likes This" thumbs up to my Facebook status yesterday: "Mable the Mustang needs a new transmission."

A brief list of car troubles since I moved to Farmington: Two blown tires. One windshield replacement. One battery replacement. One totaled car (via a deer). One damaged rental car (cracked oil pan). One new transmission and clutch on my newly acquired 1995 Ford Mustang.

Here's to Lady Luck being a bit kinder to whatever vehicle comes in contact with me. I've heard of a green thumb; I must have a grease thumb.

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Football power poll: In the words of Michael Buffer: "Let's get ready to rumble!"

1. Aztec (4-3) -- The Tigers have remained everybody's district favorite throughout the early part of the season. Now's their chance to prove it. (Previous: 1)

2. Farmington (4-3) -- The Scorpions should secure a playoff berth with a win over rival PV this week. (Previous: 2)

3. Kirtland Central (3-4) -- The Broncos have lost two, won two, lost two and won one. Their streak may switch to lose one, win one during district play as the team's results vary from week to week. (Previous: 3)

4. Bloomfield (4-3, 3-0 District 1-3A) -- The Bobcats have won three straight, including a 41-20 blowout over 3A-ranked Albuquerque Academy. Now it's time for them to coast into the state playoffs. (Previous: 4)

5. Piedra Vista (1-6) -- The Panthers play spoiler in District 1-4A and they have their best opportunity tomorrow against rival FHS. They might match up better with KC, but the district opener represents a fresh start and the emotion of playing the Scorps might help them play FHS competitively. Or not. (Previous: 5)

6. Shiprock (4-2) -- The Chieftains have to regroup after getting hammered by both competitive teams on their schedule. (Previous: 6)

7. Navajo Prep (5-3, 3-1 District 1-2A) -- The Eagles are jostling for a playoff bid in 2A after an impressive romp over Cuba. (Previous: 7)

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Prep rankings: Belen relinquished four first-place votes in the 4A poll this week, while Volcano Vista slid up the rankings.

4A
1. Belen (8) 89 points
2. Goddard 76
3. Volcano Vista (1) 71
4. Artesia 62
5. Aztec 61
6. Silver 38
7. Deming 27
8. St. Pius X 23
9. Farmington 16
10. Valencia 12

3A
1. Lovington (10) 108
2. Raton 95
3. St. Michael's (1) 91
4. Bloomfield 57
5. Socorro 46
6. Portales 45
7, Albuquerque Academy 44
8. Cobre 42
9. Robertson 34
10. Hatch Valley 25

Volleyball
4A
4. Piedra Vista
8. Shiprock

3A
6. Bloomfield

2A
9. Navajo Prep

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PV-FHS soccer leftovers: Farmington stayed undefeated in District 1-4A with a late comeback at PV today in the best soccer game I've covered this year. Both teams played well, challenged every ball and gave the crowd a show.

Farmington had won 14 straight before a 1-0 loss at Santa Fe last week -- curious, as PV beat that team 7-0 on Sept. 29.

The Scorpions handle the ball so well 1-on-1, particularly the Klepac kids. Riley McGovern makes good decisions on both ends, as do most of his teammates, although a foul in the box gave PV an easy PK that almost cost them the game. Their role players don't make mistakes, their defense challenges the ball and if they get a lead they are tough to crack.

I thought the way PV brought extra offensive players, rather than hang guys back, and attacked the Scorps' defense all game worked. If you sit back on your heels, Farmington is a tough team to play. They don't back down if you hit them in the face, but they're more manageable if you stay aggressive.

Kudos to the referees -- the game stayed physical throughout but maintained a good flow as they let a lot of calls go, particularly if the players were going for the ball. It was tough to pin the aggression on any one individual and they did a good job of keeping the game under control while remaining hands-off.

The wind stayed at a steady 20 mph during the game, creating a chill, but fall in the Four Corners is most pleasant.

Here are some stats:
Shots: Farmington 14, Piedra Vista 8
Shots on Goal: Farmington 6, Piedra Vista 5
Fouls: Farmington 11, Piedra Vista 14
Offsides: Farmington 0, Piedra Vista 2
Corner Kicks: Farmington 6, Piedra Vista 5

Significant Plays
• Piedra Vista's Shane Woodson missed a long, bending shot in the 2nd minute after keeper Brycen Campbell left the goal to contest a long through ball.

• Farmington's Thaddeus Carter clanged a shot off the crossbar in the 5th minute after he withstood a slide tackle that left a defender out of position.

• Woodson got a header on goal in the box after a corner kick in the 24th minute.

• FHS' Riley McGovern leaves the game after a collision leaves him bloodied. He re-entered in the second half and got stitches after the game.

• FHS' Anthony Klepac draws a yellow card near halftime for a slide tackle that clips Devin Santillanes from behind.

• FHS' Presley Paxon takes a nifty pass from Carter and sends it past the right post. Paxon appeared to break his wrist during the second half.

• PV's Cory Blackwater sends a header on goal off an FHS foul, but Campbell makes a pretty, leaping deflection.

• FHS' C.J. Klepac secures a corner kick from McGovern and sends a bender into keeper July Shay's chest in the 72nd minute.

• PV's Andy Moore draws a yellow card late in the half. The fourth official told me it was for language or dissent.

Speaking of Paxon's injury, it's never good when an official or player makes the desperate wave for a trainer. His left hand hung from his wrist like a shirt from a laundry rack.

If you ever wonder whether or not you've broken a bone, you haven't. Fractures are one thing, but the most gruesome-looking injuries in sports happen when bones snap and limbs go in directions they aren't supposed to.

Two of TV's most cringe-inducing moments: Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall's broken ankle and Alabama WR Tyrone Prothro's broken leg.

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Bizarre NFL: As I've said before, I spent the past two years with the Denver Broncos (2007) and Tennessee Titans (2008).

When I accepted this position at the Daily Times, the Titans were an NFL-best 13-3 and hosting the Baltimore Ravens for the right to play in the AFC Championship.

I covered that game. A late Alge Crumpler fumble in Ravens territory cost them the game, and they haven't won since. They were as good as any NFL team last year, crushing the eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers at home.

This year they may be the league's worst. There are a lot of bad teams, but you don't see the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and all the other lousy teams getting beat 59-0.

Meanwhile, the Broncos, who wouldn't have been able to stop the New Mexico Lobos the last two years on defense, are 6-0 and the toast of the league, having all but clenched a playoff spot with a win over San Diego on Monday Night Football.

The margin between winning and losing, everyone knows, is small in the NFL. But watching those two teams and their jolting reversals has me galling at how paper-thin it can be.

It's no wonder NFL coaches use so many cliches related to turnovers, injuries and field position.

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The last word: I'm curious to see how the margin of victory turns out for the district football games.

Farmington should handle PV, but will they? Will Aztec trounce everyone? Will KC win the ones they're supposed to (PV) and lose the ones they're not (Aztec, FHS)?

The four teams seem predictable when they play each other at this point. Here's how I project the district by season's end:

Aztec (7-3, 3-0 District 1-4A)*
Farmington (6-4, 2-1 District 1-4A)*
Piedra Vista (2-8, 1-2 District 1-4A)
Kirtland Central (3-7, 0-3 District 1-4A)

*Playoff teams

What do you think?

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Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher