Rams expect tough fight despite Ruidoso struggles

PORTALES — Even though the record indicates a mismatch, Portales High football coach Jaime Ramirez isn’t about to take the Ruidoso Warriors lightly in Friday’s 7 p.m. Class 4A District 3-4 opener at Greyhound Stadium.

After all, three of the losses for the Warriors (3-4) have been to Class 5A competition, while the fourth was a one-point setback to Las Vegas Robertson.

“They’re a good football team,” Ramirez said. “Their record doesn’t really indicate how good they are.”

Ruidoso has had two weeks to get ready for the game. Meantime, the top-ranked Rams (6-1) are coming off a 40-14 thrashing of defending Class 3A champion Dexter last week at Dexter.

Senior running back Wromiah Gbassagee ran for three scores while sophomore quarterback Hagen Rains threw three touchdown passes, two to Jalen Allen and another to Kellen Hightower.

“We need to establish the run and try to make sure we’re balanced,” Ramirez said. “Defensively, we need to be able to stop the run.”

Senior quarterback Gage Guardiola directs an offense that runs multiple formations, Ramirez said, adding that Guardiola is a dual threat to either run or pass.

Guardiola also plays in the secondary on defense for Ruidoso, one of numerous Warriors who play a lot on both sides of the ball. Other top players include senior wide receiver-linebacker Layson Powell, senior wide receiver-defensive back Aiden Gast, sophomore running back-defensive back Brezton Hall and junior tight end-linebacker Grant Oberheu.

Ramirez said the Rams are looking forward to the start of district play.

“It’s always exciting,” he said. “We set some goals this year, one of which is to be better each week.”

As for the rankings, the coach insists they really don’t mean anything.

“We don’t really pay any attention to that stuff,” Ramirez said. “All we want to do is to be better this Friday than we were last Friday.”

Attempts to reach Ruidoso coach Kief Johnson on Monday were unsuccessful.