Portales takes on Sartans

PORTALES — Coming off its first loss of the season, the Portales High football team will look to bounce back when it hosts St. Pius in a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday at Greyhound Stadium.

The contest is one of a number of “bowl games” offered by the New Mexico Activities Association, giving teams a chance to play a fifth game in this COVID-abbreviated spring season.

After cruising to victory in their first three outings, the Rams (3-1) lost at rival Lovington 36-20 on Friday night. Moreover, they lost senior quarterback Baylor Diaz to a leg injury in that contest.

Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said Tuesday that the injury is a high ankle sprain, and added that he isn’t sure Diaz will be able to play this week. If not, he said seniors Hagen Rains and Carlos Delgado are getting reps this week and both would likely see action under center.

The teams have one common opponent in Moriarty. Portales won 21-0 in its opener at Greyhound Stadium, while the Sartans (1-2) notched their only victory over the Pintos, a 21-6 decision.

“They’re a good football team,” Ramirez said. “They’re a lot like us — their senior and junior loaded.”

The teams have met each of the past two seasons, with the Sartans winning at home in 2018 and the Rams returning the favor at Greyhound Stadium in 2019.

“We’re going to have to play a good football game,” Ramirez said. “They haven’t given up a lot of points (33).”

Among the Sartans’ top players are running backs Dominic Sais and Nick Vargas; linebackers Dominic Esparza, Carson Funchess and Vargas, and defensive ends Joaquin Medina and Ezekiel Jaramillo.

The Rams found themselves in a 21-0 hole at Lovington, but battled back to get within 28-20 in the third quarter. The Wildcats (3-1) added a safety, then scored a touchdown on the final play of the night.

“I thought Lovington did a good job; they outplayed us,” Ramirez said. “We didn’t play our best game, but I liked the way we fought the whole game. We just didn’t get the job done.”