Cats, Rams ready to go

CLOVIS - It hasn't been that long since the COVID-delayed 2020-21 New Mexico Activities Association football season ended.

For Clovis High's squad, though, the new campaign couldn't come soon enough, coach Cal Fullerton said.

"The kids were excited to be out there and be in a helmet again," he said of Monday's opening drills in shorts and T-shirts. "They're excited to play, and they're coachable."

The Wildcats, who went 3-2 in an abbreviated schedule during March and April, welcomed around 88 prospects (including freshmen) for the start of drills on Monday. CHS opens its 2021 campaign on Aug. 20 against rival Hobbs at Leon Williams Stadium.

Players were to add shoulder pads and helmets to their practice workouts beginning today before going full-pads on Friday.

Meantime, Portales High had 45 varsity candidates, including nearly a dozen seniors, report for 10th-year coach Jaime Ramirez. The Rams, coming off a Class 4A state championship in 2019, were 4-1 during the spring.

Clovis was hard-hit by graduation, notably in the skill positions, although most of the offensive and defensive linemen return.

"We're kind of figuring it out as we go," said Fullerton, beginning his fifth season at the helm. "We lost a lot of seniors, and we'll be younger than we have the last two years. But the seniors last year set the pace for these kids."

For the most part, he added, the Cats will try to two-platoon.

"There will probably be a couple of guys going both ways," he said. "Most of the guys we'll be able to spell (on offense or defense) without that much of a dropoff."

This year's schedule includes only two teams from the spring slate - Hobbs and Rio Rancho. Clovis is in a seven-team district which includes Santa Fe High and five Albuquerque schools - Albuquerque High, Eldorado, La Cueva, Manzano and Sandia.

Other contests for CHS are at home against El Paso Ysleta (Aug. 27) and against Frenship at Wolfforth, Texas (Sept. 3).

The Cats have a 4 p.m. preseason scrimmage slated on tap Aug. 11 against Las Cruces High at Ruidoso.

Portales began its fall drills with a midnight practice on Sunday night/Monday morning, Ramirez said, adding that fathers cooked a breakfast for the players after the opening 2 1/2-hour workout.

Portales has gone a combined 16-2 the past two seasons, capping it off with a 6-0 win over St. Pius on April 3 at Greyhound Stadium to provide Ramirez with his 100th victory as a high school head coach.

"We're looking forward to a full season," he said. "Everybody's excited to get going."

As with Clovis, the Rams return a bunch of players in both lines, but will be looking to fill a number of skill positions, including quarterback.

The Rams have a 5 p.m. Aug. 13 scrimmage on tap at their practice field against Las Vegas Robertson. The season opener is set for 5 p.m. on Aug. 21 against Hope Christian in Albuquerque.

The Rams' district slate this season includes Lovington, Ruidoso and Silver.

Ramirez said the team doesn't really set long-range goals.

"We're focused on getting better every day and just working hard," he said. "We want to be playing our best football during district play and the playoffs."