Last-minute TD sends Rams into 4A title clash

Portales High senior Devin Diaz and junior Paxton Culpepper were having, shall we say, up-and-down days for most of Saturday's Class 4A state semifinal matchup against undefeated and top-seeded Bloomfield at Greyhound Stadium.

Suffice it to say, the duo saved their best for last.

Trailing 21-20 with just under two minutes to play, Culpepper directed the Rams into scoring position, going 3-for-4 through the air for 59 yards and scrambling for 16 yards to put PHS on the doorstep. Then on second-and-goal, Diaz went inside for his second 2-yard touchdown run of the half with 15 seconds to go, lifting the fourth-seeded Rams (11-1) to a 28-21 win over the Bobcats and setting up a date with District 4-4A rival Lovington (9-3) for all the marbles at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Greyhound Stadium.

The Wildcats, who routed Silver 45-26 in Saturday's other semifinal, handed the Rams their only loss, a 29-21 decision in the regular-season finale that gave Lovington the district title. Against the Colts in the semis, senior quarterback Wyatt Gomez went 25-of-27 through the air for 302 yards and five TDs.

Normally a linebacker/safety on defense and the team's punter, Diaz came in at running back in the second half after senior Zach Radloff was lost to an ankle injury. He gained only 10 yards on six carries, but gave the Rams the lead twice with his short scoring runs.

"The only thing I had to do was step up," said Diaz, who quarterbacked the Rams as a sophomore before giving way to Culpepper last season. "I don't know what else you can do there."

Meantime, he had a pass interception on defense and punted nine times. Several were good, including a 58-yarder with the wind behind him, but he shanked a couple as well and also had one blocked by Bloomfield junior McKell Colbert that was recovered for a touchdown by Bobcats junior Eli Snell.

Culpepper was sacked three times and finished with a net of six yards rushing. He was 15-of-30 through the air for 187 yards, but a number of his throws were well off target.

Not so on the last drive, however.

"It was just frustrating," Culpepper said. "But we got the win, and that's all I care about."

Except for a 14-5 second-quarter advantage for the Bobcats (11-1), the game was tight. PHS took its first lead at 20-14 early in the third quarter, driving 49 yards in five plays and culminating on the first Diaz TD, but the Bobcats went back in front on the blocked punt and held on until the final moments.

Bloomfield had a 394-270 edge in total yardage. Junior QB Blake Spencer went 16-of-32 for 235 yards but was intercepted twice, while senior wide receiver Drew Perez caught seven passes for 105 yards.

Seniors Andru Ontiveros and Zane Mayberry each caught five passes for PHS, which managed just 83 yards on the ground.

"We played great defense," Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said. "They kept us in the ballgame until we could get our offense going."

Bloomfield took the opening kickoff 80 yards in eight plays, capped by a 6-yard run from Perez. The Rams countered later in the stanza with a Toby Standifer 21-yard field goal and a safety when they harassed Spencer into intentional grounding in the end zone.

Lovington comes into the finale having won five in a row against the Rams. Portales beat the Wildcats twice in 2019, including a 26-7 triumph in the 4A semifinals en route to the state championship.

"It's a rivalry," Ramirez said. "What can I say? Both teams are good and both will come ready to play."

Culpepper and Diaz are hopeful the Rams will pick up their performance in this one.

"We'll have to play a lot better next week," Culpepper said. "Lovington's scrappy, and they've played a good schedule."

Diaz added: "They're well-rounded and well-coached. They don't have any quit in them. I feel that game will be a lot like this one."