Rams cruise past Bernalillo 50-6

PORTALES - At times, Portales High's football team can make things look easy.

It's not, sophomore quarterback Paxton Culpepper says.

Culpepper ran for one touchdown and threw for three more on Friday night as Portales routed Bernalillo 50-6 in District 4-6/4A football at Greyhound Stadium.

"It gets hard at times," Culpepper said after the Rams (8-1, 2-0 district), ranked second in 4A by MaxPreps, set up a showdown with rival Lovington for the district crown on Friday, also at Greyhound Stadium. "But when we're able to run the ball, we move it well."

Despite losing its first six games, Lovington (3-6, 2-0) is ranked fourth in 4A after the Wildcats won their third in a row by thumping Albuquerque Academy 43-14 on Friday.

"We just want to take it one game at a time," Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said. "We need to continue to stay focused and get better every day."

After a bit of a slow start, the Rams pretty much did whatever they wanted against the Spartans (2-6, 0-2), who dropped their fifth game in a row. PHS compiled 429 yards, with Culpepper going 16-of-23 for 242 yards through the air.

Portales didn't break through until the final minute of the opening stanza when sophomore linebacker Manny Chavez nailed Spartans running back David Llanez in his own end zone for a safety. The score came two plays after the Rams downed a punt by junior Devin Diaz at the Bernalillo 1.

Following the free kick, which gave PHS field position inside the 50, Culpepper hit junior Zane Mayberry for a 3-yard TD pass and a 9-0 lead.

"We had a great punt, and when we got the safety it got momentum on our side," Ramirez said.

Culpepper added scoring strikes of 49 yards to sophomore Tommy Lopez and 68 yards to Mayberry, and capped a 65-yard, 11 play march with a 17-yard run late in the third period to make it 36-0.

"We were struggling in the first quarter," Culpepper said. "(The safety) gave us a little momentum. We woke up a little bit.

"Everything picked up. Our defense gave us energy and the opportunity to make things happen."

Junior Zach Radloff had seven carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns, including a 94-yard run midway through the second frame for a 15-0 cushion. Mayberry caught seven passes for 124 yards.

Radloff scored his first touchdown on a 5-yard run midway through the second stanza, while junior linebacker Abraham Dunor returned a fumble 35 yards for the final score with 2:38 left after he and fellow junior Nehemiah Yorfee teamed up for a sack of Spartans QB Uriel Castro.

Portales finished with an 18-7 edge in first downs and limited the Spartans to just 150 total yards. Bernalillo's only points came on senior Jacob Pino's 58-yard interception return early in the fourth quarter on a high pass which deflected off the hands of a Portales receiver.

"They've got speed," Ramirez said of the Spartans. "They're a good team, although their record doesn't show it."

Culpepper said the Rams are looking forward to this week's challenge against their rivals.

"They're a good team," he said. "Our offense has got to be on this week, and our defense too."