Rams set to face Dons in Homecoming tilt

While it didn’t result in a win, Portales High football coach Jaime Ramirez had to be encouraged by what he saw in Friday’s 14-7 loss at Bernalillo.

Playing shorthanded without senior quarterback Paxton Culpepper and three linemen due to injuries, the Rams (1-2) hung in the game until late against the 3-0 Spartans.

“We played great defensively,” Ramirez said. “Offensively, we struggled throughout the night.”

West Las Vegas (2-1), which visits the Rams this weekend, should provide another challenge, Ramirez said.

“They’re a good football team,” he said. “Coach (Patrick) Rodriguez has done a really good job over there.”

Last year, the Dons took a 14-7 lead into halftime before PHS regrouped and won going away 48-14.

“We made some adjustments at halftime last year and our kids started executing at a high level,” Ramirez said. “

“They’re an experienced team,” Ramirez said. “They’ve got a bunch of seniors starting all over the place.”

Senior Dallas Lozano, who replaced Culpepper after he was lost for the season to a torn ACL in the previous game, himself sustained a knee injury in the second half at Bernalillo. Ramirez said the Rams were to find out early this week the severity of the injury.

If Lozano can’t go, senior slotback Tommy Lopez would likely move into the starting role.

Ramirez thinks the Rams will adjust to their situation as the season goes.

“With every game, I think we’ll get better and better,” he said.