Rams set for first true home game

While they were technically the "home" team once, the Portales Rams are looking forward to their first game at Greyhound Stadium tonight.

The Rams (1-3) host the Dexter Demons (1-3) in a game which will also serve as Homecoming for PHS.

Portales broke into the win column last week with a 48-28 win at Raton, and first-year coach Jaime Ramirez is hoping to build on the success. Turnovers have been the big bugaboo.

"We're moving the ball a lot better the last couple of weeks," Ramirez said. "We moved the ball well against (Las Vegas) Robertson (in a season-opening overtime loss). We just need to take care of the ball."

Meantime, the Class 2A Demons have played a competitive schedule in their own class, although their one win was a 35-7 decision against Class 1A Hagerman.

Ramirez was scheduled to sit out this game after he was ejected in the second quarter at Raton, but he said the New Mexico Activities Association overturned the ejection this week. The problems were over some players' armbands which were worn on their belts (a technicality), and an argument over an illegal-receiver-downfield call on which he was assessed a personal foul.

He said the first part of it was "an oversight on my part."

This will be the teams' first meeting on the varsity level, and Demons coach Frank Sandoval expects it to be a challenge.

"To me, it looks like they're catching on to the coach's offense," Sandoval said of the Rams. "We haven't put a whole bunch of points on the board (except for the Hagerman game)."

The Demons are coming off a 7-0 loss at Tucumcari, and were also beaten at Texico 19-0. They'll face a third member of District 2-2A next week when they take on top-ranked Santa Rosa.

Portales lost at Texico 35-23 on Sept. 7, a game which the Rams were to have hosted but was moved after a lightning storm caused problems with the lighting at Greyhound Stadium.

Top players for Dexter include senior running back-outside linebacker Aldo Ramirez, junior tackle-inside linebacker Anthony Sandoval and junior wide receiver-free safety Kevin Bonner.

"I think it's going to come down we contain their passing attack," Sandoval said. "I'm impressed with how well they moved the ball against Texico."

Gameday

What: Dexter (1-3) at Portales (1-3)

When: 7 p.m. today at Greyhound Stadium

Last week: The Demons lost at Tucumcari 7-0. The Rams earned their first victory, a 48-28 decision at Raton.

Last year: The teams did not meet.