Rams facing new challenges

It's a new year for the Portales High football team.

Last season, the Rams fell one game short of their ultimate goal, losing in the Class 4A state finals to then-District 4-4A rival Lovington. This year brings a mostly new district and a quite different schedule.

"Every team has its own identity," said Rams coach Jaime Ramirez, entering his 13th campaign at the helm. "We have some returning guys from last year's team who are super-hungry. They're trying to work at their craft and get better."

PHS was derailed in its title bid by Lovington, losing to the Wildcats 29-21 in the district and regular-season finale and again in the state finals 57-21 at Greyhound Stadium.

Only Albuquerque Academy remains from last year's district, with the Wildcats moving up to the 5A classification and Bernalillo shifting to a new district (4A-2). PHS hosts Lovington in Game 2 before traveling to Bernalillo the following week.

"We still have high expectations and high hopes," Ramirez said of the upcoming campaign. "We have a little more experience on the defensive said, but I expect us to do our best to execute our offense and put up points."

Senior Paxton Culpepper is a third-year starter at quarterback. The Rams also return three players in the offensive line and senior Tommy Lopez at a slotback receiver.

"It's nice to have that experience on offense," Ramirez said.

Lopez, a third-year stater on defense and fourth-year starter on offense, said the Rams don't know much about some of their upcoming opponents. They plan to just take it one game at a time.

"It'll be interesting to play these new teams," he said. "Some of them moved down from 5A or 6A."

His role will change a bit as well as more of a leader.

"I've always been on both sides of the ball," said Lopez, a free safety on defense. "This year, it'll be up to me to get the energy up and get the team focused."

Running back duties are likely to be shared by seniors Dallas Lozano and Joel Lujan.

Six players are ticketed for two-way duty in Friday's opener, all seniors. Besides Lopez, they include Gideon Smith at tackle and strong side linebacker, Xavier Lujan at center and nose guard, Xavier Tarpeh at wide receiver and cornerback, Kaidyn Cordova at slot back and cornerback and Dallas Lozano at running back and weakside linebacker.

Defensively, the Rams return eight starters overall, including three in the line and three linebackers.

"We lost a lot of seniors, especially on the defensive side," Lopez said. "I want to be more of a mentor to these guys. They're filling big shoes."

In addition to Academy, the Rams' new district now includes Chaparral, Manzano, Silver, St. Pius and Valencia.

"There's always upsets out there," Ramirez said. "It's hard to say right now. We'll know a little bit more after week one."

Goddard should provide a good opening test.

"Goddard's always good," Ramirez said. "Year-in and year-out, they're probably one of the top teams in 5A."