Rams looking to build on victory over Valencia

After reaching the Class 4A state championship game in 2023, Portales High’s football team has had a bit of a rough go this season, in part due to injuries.

Still, the Rams (3-3, 1-1 District 2-4A) find themselves in reasonably good shape in the district after Friday’s 34-21 victory over Valencia at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium.

They’ll try to keep it that way on Friday when they visit Silver (2-4, 0-2) in a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Things haven’t gone all that well this season for the Colts, either, but Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said they’re still a team to be reckoned with.

“They’re always a good football team,” he said. “They always do a great job.”

Silver is coming off a 14-6 loss at St. Pius last Thursday. The only game the Colts have been blown out was in a 45-6 loss to Class 5A Deming in early September.

PHS is looking to build on Friday’s victory, and put together back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

“I think any time you get a win, it’s a confidence-builder,” Ramirez said. “We just want to be 1-0 this week. That’s all that really matters.”

He said the Colts are “a pass-happy team” behind junior quarterback Josiah Madrid. Defensively, they are likely to throw a couple of different looks at the Rams.

“We have to have a good week of practice and travel well,” Ramirez said. “We have to put pressure on the quarterback and make him move.”

Portales will close the regular campaign with two of its final three district tilts at home. The Rams host St. Pius next Friday, then after a bye visit Albuquerque Academy on Oct. 26 and end the regular season at home against Chaparral on Nov. 1.

Cats hit the road to Cruces – Clovis High, still looking for its first win, continues District 3-6A play on Friday at district-leading Las Cruces High in a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The Bulldawgs (4-2, 2-0) are ranked fifth in Class 6A by MaxPreps, one of four district teams in the top 10. Their two losses were at Volcano Vista (27-24) and against Rio Rancho Cleveland (35-25).

“They do some really good things,” first-year Wildcats coach Stan Hodges said. “And, of course, we’ve got a long trip ahead of us.”

Clovis (0-5, 0-1) is coming off a 56-8 setback to Carlsbad on Friday night at Leon Williams Stadium.

Cruces is averaging just under 40 points per game. Junior quarterback Gunnar Guardiola has completed 62 percent of his passes, with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions, with senior receiver Nae Libby and junior receiver Francis Winnikoff combining for nine touchdowns and nearly 1,000 yards to this point.

Hodges said the Bulldawgs’ offensive line averages between 280 and 290 pounds.

“We’ve definitely got our work cut out for us,” he said. “But I told our guys I don’t care who we’re playing. We’ve got to take care of ourselves, and just work to become an improved football team.”