Pinto’s Drop to 3A Football is Biggest District Realignment Change for Area Schools

Moriarty High School’s football team won’t be going to the Class 4A playoffs next season, but the Pintos might have a legitimate shot at a state title run after dropping down to 3A for the next couple of seasons.

The move comes after the New Mexico Activities Association released the 2026-28 district realignments. We also have the new districts for East Mountain’s Timberwolves below.

It was the NMAA’s trying to equally breakdown it’s football schools that causes the move. Moriarty remains in 4A competition in its other sports.

A championship shot won’t be easy for Moriarty because the Pintos have landed in District 2-3A, which includes Hatch Valley, Hope Christian, Hot Springs, NMMI, Ruidoso, Socorro, and Silver. The Pintos face one-way drives of Silver (265 miles), Hatch Valley (240 miles), Hot Springs (210 miles), and NMMI (165 miles).   

Here’s a breakdown of the new district alignments, which are not finalized until schools have had an opportunity to appeal. We have also included comparisons of travel time for various teams that face longer treks across the state.

East Mountain High School

• Baseball (3A District 4/5): Bosque, Dexter, Hatch Valley, Hot Springs, NMMI, Ruidoso, Sandia Prep, Socorro, Tularosa.
• Basketball (3A District 5): Bosque, Cottonwood Classical, Cuba, Sandia Prep.
• Cross Country (3A District 5): Bosque, Cottonwood Classical, Cuba, Sandia Prep.
• Golf (A-3A District 1/5):Bosque, Cottonwood Classical, Evangel Christian, Laguna Acoma, Legacy Academy, Menaul, NACA, Navajo Prep, Northwest, Oak Grove, Pine Hill, Rehoboth, Sandia Prep, Shiprock, To Hajiilee.
• Boys Soccer (3A District 1): Bosque, Cottonwood Classical, Oak Grove, Rehoboth, Sandia Prep.
• Girls Soccer (3A District 1):Bosque, Cottonwood Classical, Hatch Valley, Rehoboth, Ruidoso, Sandia Prep, Socorro.
• Softball (3A District 4): Dexter, Ruidoso, Sandia Prep.
• Track & Field (3A District 5): Bosque, Cottonwood Classical, Cuba, Sandia Prep.
• Volleyball (3A District 5): Bosque, Cottonwood Classical, Cuba, Sandia Prep.

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Moriarty High School

• Baseball (4A District 2): Española Valley, Los Alamos, Pojoaque, Taos.
• Basketball (4A District 2): Española Valley, Los Alamos, Pojoaque, Taos.
• Cross Country (4A District 2): Española Valley, Los Alamos, Pojoaque, Taos.
• Football (3A District 2): Hatch Valley, Hope Christian, Hot Springs, NMMI, Ruidoso, Socorro, Silver.
• Soccer (4A District 2): Los Alamos, Pojoaque, Taos.
• Softball (4A District 2): Española Valley, Los Alamos, Pojoaque, Taos.
• Tennis (A-4A District 2): Española Valley, Los Alamos, Raton, Robertson, Santa Fe Prep, St. Michael’s, Taos.
• Track & Field (4A District 2): Española Valley, Los Alamos, Pojoaque, Taos.
• Volleyball (4A District 2): Española Valley, Los Alamos, Pojoaque, Taos.
• Wrestling (A-4A District 2-Large): Española Valley, Los Alamos, Pojoaque, Taos.

Overview

• Moriarty faces a “Tale of Two Seasons”: Most sports (Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball) have moderate travel north to the Santa Fe/Taos area, but Football involves massive road trips to the south and southwest.
• East Mountain has a highly variable schedule. Basketball and Volleyball remain very local, but Baseball and Golf will require multiple long-distance trips to the corners of the state (Shiprock/Farmington for Golf; Roswell/Silver City area for Baseball).

Moriarty High School Travel Analysis

🏈 Football (3A District 2)

• Travel Intensity: 🔴 EXTREME
• The move to 3A Football places Moriarty in a southern district, resulting in some of the longest road trips in the state.
• Longest Trip:Silver City (vs. Silver High).
  • Distance: ~265 miles (one way)
  • Drive Time: ~4.5 hours
• Other Major Trips:
  • Hatch Valley: ~240 miles (4 hours)
  • Hot Springs (T or C): ~210 miles (3.5 hours)
  • NMMI (Roswell): ~165 miles (3 hours)

🏀⚾🏐 All Other Sports (4A District 2)

• Travel Intensity: 🟢 MODERATE
• Competing against northern schools keeps travel relatively manageable compared to football.
• Longest Trip:Taos.
  • Distance: ~115 miles
  • Drive Time: ~2 hours
• Average Trip: Most opponents (Santa Fe area, Española, Los Alamos) are within 60–90 minutes.

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East Mountain High School Travel Analysis

⛳ Golf (A-3A District 1/5)

• Travel Intensity: 🔴 EXTREME
• This “Super District” covers the entire northwest corner of the state, requiring massive travel for a single match.
• Longest Trips:
  • Shiprock (vs. Shiprock & Northwest): ~210 miles (3.5 – 4 hours)
  • Farmington (vs. Navajo Prep): ~180 miles (3 hours)
  • Pine Hill (near Ramah): ~140 miles (2.5 hours)

⚾🥎 Baseball (3A Dist 4/5) & Softball (3A Dist 4)

• Travel Intensity: 🟠 HIGH
• Baseball is in a massive combined district stretching from the East Mountains to the southern border.
• Longest Trips:
  • Dexter: ~190 miles (3 hours)
  • Hatch Valley: ~185 miles (3 hours)
  • Hot Springs (T or C): ~170 miles (2 hours 45 mins)
  • Ruidoso: ~160 miles (2.5 hours)

🏀🏐 Basketball & Volleyball (3A District 5)

• Travel Intensity: 🟢 LOW
• These districts are highly favorable for travel, with most opponents located in the Albuquerque metro area.
• Longest Trip:Cuba.
  • Distance: ~80 miles
  • Drive Time: ~1 hour 20 mins
• Local Opponents: Bosque, Cottonwood Classical, and Sandia Prep are all within a 30-45 minute drive.

⚽ Soccer (A-3A District 1)

• Travel Intensity: 🟡 MIXED
• Boys: Mostly local (ABQ area) with occasional trips.
• Girls: Includes southern teams like Hatch Valley, Ruidoso, and Socorro, making the girls’ travel schedule significantly heavier than the boys’.