Rams romp in win at Dexter

DEXTER — Senior running back Wromiah Gbassagee ran for three touchdowns and backup quarterback Hagen Rains threw for three more on Friday night, helping Portales High romp to a 40-14 victory over defending Class 3A state champion Dexter.

The Rams (6-1), Class 4A’s top-ranked team, built an early 20-0 lead and coasted past the Demons (5-2), whose only scores came on a fumble recovery late in the first half and on a drive against PHS reserves late in the game.

“Things went really good considering we had our stating center, right tackle and quarterback out (with injuries),” Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said. “Hagen Rains played a really good game.”

Gbassagee ran in from two yards out in the first quarter and added two more TDs in the second half while Rains, a sophomore, had a pair of scoring strikes to senior Jalen Allen and another to Kellen Hightower.

Ramirez said starting QB Baylor Diaz should be good to go next week after suffering an injury in a win over Capital at Santa Fe on Oct. 4, and will likely return to the starting lineup.

PHS begins Class 4A District 3-4 play against Ruidoso (3-4) on Friday at Greyhound Stadium. The Rams visit Moriarty (2-5) the following week before closing the regular season at home on Nov. 1 against rival Lovington (4-3).

Ramirez expects a stiff challenge from all three opponents.

“I think everybody in our district is tough,” he said. “I think we have the toughest district in 4A.”