Rams overhaul Dons 21-14

"Tommy Lopez, game ball goes to you!"

There was a ferocity in Portales High School head coach Jaime Ramirez's voice while delivering the line to a cluster of sweat-soaked Portales High School youngsters, after an exhilarating 21-14 comeback win over West Las Vegas.

Sure, Lopez, a 5-foot-9-inch slot receiver-turned-quarterback, had a great game. He totaled two rushing touchdowns and a pick-six – not to mention his pass breakup on a potential game tying touchdown in the game's final moments. All of this is deserving of a game ball, but to limit it to stats would undersell just how important the performance was.

You see, on Friday night Lopez gave Rams fans hope that a slew of injuries wouldn't prevent the team from trying to avenge last year's loss in the state championship game.

"We just played, fought hard," Lopez said.

Without his performance, PHS (2-2) could've entered district play on a three-game losing streak. Though it wouldn't have much effect on playoffs, a declining team morale would've made it difficult to topple difficult district opponents.

Few can blame Rams players for a recent drop in excitement.

PHS entered this season as a 4A state championship favorite. But then the Rams lost star senior quarterback Paxton Culpepper ... senior Dallas Lozano, a running back, wide receiver and Culpepper's back-up quarterback ... and a slew of offensive lineman.

This played a major role in why the Rams scored just seven points in each of their last two losses.

In the 2023 regular season, PHS never scored less than 21 points and averaged 38.5 points per game. The season ended with a 57-21 loss to rival Lovington in the state championship, but with many difference-makers returning there was hope the Rams had the artillery to keep pace with any offense.

That, of course, has changed.

Which takes us to the second quarter of Friday's game, when WLVHS' C.J. Perea uncorked two long touchdown passes to wide receiver Daniel Bustamante.

At this point, PHS trailed 14-0, and its sputtering offense left a blowout looming.

"First half was ugly," said Lopez, who hadn't played quarterback for PHS prior to this season.

But that's when he became a beacon of hope.

With halftime approaching, Lopez, who doubles as a defensive back, nabbed a pass from Perea and returned it for a touchdown. The score was now 14-6, as the Dons blocked the extra point.

Then, PHS found a rhythm by relying on Lopez's legs – rather than his arm – and scored a touchdown in the third quarter on a short run by him. He then got the two-point conversation to make it 14-14.

In the fourth quarter, the Rams' defense remained stout, eliminating those dangerous Perea deep bombs. As a result, Lopez drove down the field and, with five minutes left, he took a snap a few yards from the end zone, bounced it outside, and slipped into the end zone, making the score 21-14 Rams.

On the ensuing possession, WLVHS regained the momentum it once lost. At one point, now around the PHS 20-yard line, Perea dropped back and floated a pass toward the end zone.

It looked like trouble – to everyone but the lurking Lopez.

"I saw the ball in the air, and I just went up," Lopez said.

Lopez batted it down, effectively sealing the victory.

"I mean, what can you say? He led our team like a true leader," Ramirez said of Lopez.

But as PHS now begins its district slate, there's no time for complacency.

Lopez knows this. From his perspective, once he understands the nuances of Ramirez's offense and develops a dynamic passing game, PHS could be a threat.

That all could wait until Saturday morning when it's time to go over film to prepare for Saturday's District 4-2 opener against Manzano in Albuquerque.

On this night, at least, where the stands rumbled, and cowbells clanged, Lopez was the unexpected hero.

"MVP," a passing PHS player told Lopez while thumping him on his chest plate outside the locker room.