Triple threat at QB keeps Rams flying high

PORTALES — For most teams, at any level, losing the starting quarterback to injury is, at the least, cause for concern.

Portales High, though, has seen its signal-caller go down twice, and in both instances the Rams hardly missed a beat.

Junior Baylor Diaz, the original starter, is slated to be under center on Saturday when PHS (11-1) visits top-seeded and unbeaten Bloomfield (12-0) in a 1 p.m. battle for the Class 4A state championship.

Diaz sustained an ankle injury early in Game 5, and missed the next three games. Sophomore Hagen Rains filled in capably until going down early in a District 3-4/4A win at Moriarty in the penultimate regular-season game, and senior Kellan Hightower led PHS to a 26-3 win over the Pintos.

Diaz returned the following week in a victory over Lovington, and has started again ever since.

“Hagen Rains and Kellan Hightower had to step away from receiver spots, and filled in until Baylor got healthy,” eighth-year Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said. “Baylor had to knock some of the rust off when he came back, but he’s done an outstanding job of leading our team.”

Diaz has thrown for 15 touchdowns and 1,177 yards in his eight games, with four interceptions. Rains added 582 yards through the air and Hightower 196, with a combined eight TDs and six interceptions.

Diaz said was more concerned about the seriousness of his injury at the time than what the Rams could do.

“I just thought, ‘They’ve got to get it done,’” he said. “For me, I was just nervous.”

He acknowledged some rust when he came back, but said he thinks he’s pretty much back to full health.

Rains, who also plays linebacker on defense, sustained an ankle injury in last week’s 26-7 semifinal win at Lovington. He didn’t practice on Monday, but said he’s confident he’ll be ready for the title clash.

The only area he was concerned about when he moved to QB during a 35-26 win at Class 5A Santa Fe Capital was the speed of the game.

“Honestly, I was pretty ready,” he said. “Me and Baylor had been sharing reps (in practice) before that, but there was a lot of pressure on me. It was such a big game.”

He led the Rams to wins over Dexter and Ruidoso before going down with a second-quarter ankle injury against Moriarty. Hightower, who leads Portales with 29 catches for 795 yards and nine touchdowns as a wide receiver and also plays safety on defense, promptly took over and guided the Rams to a score, erasing a 3-0 deficit in what turned into a 26-3 victory.

Since then, he’s seen spot duty in games at quarterback.

“I’d always been getting reps (in practice), but I got more once Baylor went down,” said Hightower, adding it’s no secret what helped makes the transitions work. “Our coaches put us in good position to do what we have to do.”

Ramirez said that the injuries have turned out to solidify the QB position.

“There was a question when Baylor got hurt,” he said. “We’ve gotten to see them play with heart and fire. The job they did not only gave them confidence, it gave our other players confidence.

“All three guys have put forth the hard work and practice time. They’re all outstanding young men, and I’m honored to coach them.”