Rams host Chargers this week

After a week off to help heal some bruises, Portales High’s football team is ready to take on the District 4-4A portion of its schedule.

“It definitely allowed us to get healed up,” Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said of the break.

If rankings mean anything – and sometimes they’re tenuous at best at the prep level – it should be a challenging stretch.

All four district teams had last weekend off, and all are ranked in the top seven in Class 4A by MaxPreps. The Rams (7-0), now third behind Bloomfield (7-0) and district rival Lovington (4-3), host No. 6 Albuquerque Academy (5-2) in a 7 p.m. kickoff on Friday at Greyhound Stadium.

Meantime, the Wildcats are slated to entertain seventh-ranked Bernalillo (6-1).

“Everybody in our district is a good team,” Ramirez said. “Academy does a lot of good things. They play good defense, and the quarterback (sophomore Gage Conway) runs the ball well and throws it well.”

Conway has completed 43-of-100 passes for 577 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions. His favorite targets are senior wide receiver Andres Grine (19 catches, 229 yards and two touchdowns) and sophomore Finn Thompson (12 catches, 181 yards and three TDs).

Leading the rushing attack is junior Jett Galles with 65 carries for 648 yards – a 10-yard average per tote.

“Their approach reminds me of how St. Pius was,” Ramirez said, referring to one of the Rams’ earlier opponents.

Top defenders for the Chargers senior linebacker Brody Whitaker and sophomore linebacker Zachary Waghorn, both of whom have been in on more than 70 tackles this season.

“It’s no secret – we want to establish the run and stop their run,” Ramirez said when asked about keys to the contest. “We definitely have to make their quarterback uncomfortable. He has some good targets.”

Portales has played just one road game since August, with five home games and a bye over a seven-week period. The Rams wrap up the regular campaign on the road against Bernalillo on Oct. 20 and Lovington the following week.