Capital's punishment

PORTALES - Lightning struck in the third quarter of Friday's Capital-Portales football game.

But, the Rams had actually been striking all night.

Returning from their bye week with a crackle, the Rams barreled over Capital 47-0 at Greyhound Stadium, and with that victory, climbed back to .500 by improving to 3-3.

Just about everything clicked for Portales. The offense proved nearly impossible for Capital to stop. Defensively, four interceptions and a fumble recovery thwarted anything good the Jaguars managed to get going. And on special teams, Kellan Hightower returned the second half's opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.

All in all, a good way to come off a bye week.

"I'm pleased with the way that we played," Portales head coach Jaime Ramirez said. "They (the Jaguars) were missing a few players - their quarterback and their running back, and both of them are key players. So I know that they were not in full force. But the truth is, our boys played strong today and played well in all phases of the game."

Especially Hightower, who scored in each phase - on the 90-yard kickoff return, a 41-yard touchdown reception and a 26-yard pick-six.

Rams senior quarterback Julian Urioste had a big all-around day offensively. He rushed for 144 yards - including a 63-yard touchdown jaunt and an 11-yard scoring run - and also passed for 102 yards, including the 41-yard touchdown connection with Hightower.

"It feels good to finally get a win again," said Urioste, whose team had lost two in a row. "It felt good coming off the bye week because we got a whole two weeks of practice to prepare for this team. And we did, we had a good two weeks of practice."

Good blocking didn't hurt, either.

"We switched our o-line around a little bit; we just moved some guys to different positions," Urioste said. "And our receivers blocked well."

The Rams started rolling on their first play from scrimmage - which began at their own 44 - as Urioste swung one out left to Baylor Diaz, who surged ahead for a 19-yard pick-up. It was the first of a six-play drive that ended with Urioste's 41-yard scoring toss to Hightower.

Portales' next possession began with a 40-yard pass from Urioste to Jalen Allen, the latter player getting most of that yardage with some nifty running. The big play brought Portales to Capital's 12, and after a run was stuffed for no gain, Diaz took a pitch, ran right, shook tacklers, staggered but stayed on his feet, and rumbled into the end zone.

An Allen interception near midfield, which he returned to Portales' 11, helped set up the Rams' third touchdown. Allen might have gone all the way had Capital's Julian Sanchez not tripped him up, but Portales' offense didn't have any trouble capitalizing, as Urioste ran the necessary 11 yards on first down after the pick.

The Rams began their next series at their own 20, but Urioste moved them to the 37 on a 17-yard run, and then after an incomplete pass, bolted 63 more yards for a score.

It didn't take Portales long to score again. The Jaguars were facing third-and-16 from their own 26 on their ensuing drive, when Hightower stepped in front of a pass, made the interception and returned it for a touchdown.

Hightower's big kickoff return opened the third quarter, just as a monsoon-like rainstorm was lashing Greyhound Stadium. The lightning delay came a bit later, with 7:46 left in the third, and soon after play resumed, Capital surrendered the ball on downs at Portales' 14.

The Rams then went 86 yards in nine plays and scored on Romeo Gbassagee's 27-yard run.

That was it for the offense. Portales' defense had one last late-game interception, which was tipped by D.J. Martinez and picked by Stephen Bustamante. Earlier in the game, Gbassagee recovered a fumble and Justin Paden had an interception.

A thoroughly dominant night for the Rams, one that should give them confidence going forward to play Dexter next weekend.

"I hope so," Ramirez said. "I hope that we can get some confidence."