Rams set to battle Warriors

Staff writer

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PORTALES — Coming off a bye week, the Portales Rams look to finish off their District 4-4A schedule on a strong note as they travel to Ruidoso tonight.

Portales (6-1, 1-0 district) finished off its previous game with an emphatic 48-10 win over Hope Christian two weeks ago and looks to extend its winning streak to three games. However, defensive coordinator Victor Lopez knows that the Warriors (5-3, 2-0) are different animals when they host games.

“I don’t know why, but they’re always a one-or-two-touchdown-better team at home,” Lopez said. “We just need to jump out to an early lead and we should be fine.”

Ruidoso runs an option-heavy offense, with running backs Cisco Mayville and Isaiah Otero combining for 1,264 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Mayville leads the team in both categories.

“Mayville’s a great runner,” Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said. “He’s been starting since he was in ninth grade. He’s been a key player on their team the last four years.”

In addition to the running backs, quarterback Brennam Stewart is second on the team with 529 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while throwing for 1,100 yards and nine scores eight interceptions. Otero has made the most of the passing game as he has 43 receptions for 714 yards and six touchdowns.

“They run the option both from under center and from the spread formation,” Ramirez said. “They run the ball well and they throw the ball well.

“They also run special teams well with the starburst play (misdirection or fake handoffs on returns). Once that guy turns his back (from the play) he can hand it off. Defensively they run a 4-3. They’re a pretty good ballclub all the way around.”

Since Portales also runs the spread option, Rams defensive end Jeremie Karngbaye, who leads the team with 16 tackles for loss, knows exactly how to stop those plays.

“I’m typically on the strong side,” Karngbaye said. “My job is to stop the quarterback. I know that Emilio (Lovato) is usually behind me to stop the running back. He plays it really well. We’ve been doing this together since eighth grade so I know his game and he knows what I’m going to do.”

For Ramirez, he’s glad his team got the bye-week last week to better prepare for tonight’s game and doesn’t think there will be a drop-off in performance with a week off.

“It was a good week for us to get healed up,” he said. “Our drive to face the next opponent and get better with every opponent has been our M.O. We want to stop them. Defensively that’s our goal. On offense, we want to execute it well. We really want to play in all three parts of the game.”

GAMEDAY

Portales (6-1, 1-0) at Ruidoso (5-3, 2-0)

When: 7 p.m. today in a District 4-4A game

On the air: KSEL-FM 105.9, streaming online at kselcountry.com

Coaches: Portales, Jaime Ramirez, 5th season, 32-20. Ruidoso, Klef Johnson, 10th season, 64-47.

Last week: Portales had a bye. The Warriors outscored Hope Christian 53-46 at home.

Last meeting: 2015, Portales mercy-ruled Ruidoso 54-0 at Blackwater Draw.

Notes: The Warriors are 4-0 at home this season. … Both teams run the option play well, so expect a lot of rushing yards. … Running back Darion Ontiveros leads Portales with 904 yards on 113 carries and 13 touchdowns. Quarterback Junior Ramirez is second with 520 yards on 67 carries and eight touchdown runs. … For the Warriors, Cisco Mayville has 851 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Quarterback Brennam Stewart second with 529 yards and eight touchdowns.

— Compiled by Matthew Asher