Portales dominate Dons to stay unbeaten

CMI staff

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Sophomore running back Bronte Staugaard got Portales off to a fast start with three first-quarter touchdowns Friday night and the Rams cruised to a 49-8 rout of West Las Vegas to improve to 3-0 for the season.

With the victory, the Rams, ranked fourth in Class 3A, surpassed their win total from last season (2-8). Senior quarterback Daniel Sanchez threw three TD passes before being lifted at halftime, while junior Matt Martinez had a scoring pass and a touchdown run.

Senior lineman Jorge Jimenez also got into the scoring act, falling on a punt blocked by teammate Jacob Salgado in the end zone to give the Rams a 30-0 halftime lead.

“We were just better than they were,” Rams coach Jaime Ramirez said. “We starting subbing on both defense and offense in the second quarter. I think we were just physically stronger than they were.”

Staugaard scored on a 5-yard run, then caught scoring passes of 15 and 14 yards from Sanchez as the Rams opened an 18-0 lead at the quarter despite missing their three conversion attempts.

Sanchez hit Caleb Burciage on a 50-yard TD pass in the second period before the blocked punt capped first-half scoring.

Junior Dustin Sisneros split time under center with Martinez in the second half, and each had a touchdown run in the third period. Martinez finished it off with a 59-yard scoring pass to senior Darin Bonem in the final stanza.

The Rams played another solid defensive game. The touchdown by the Dons (1-2) was only the third allowed by Portales this season.

“Our defense is the heart and soul of the team,” Ramirez said. “Offensively, we had a good night. It was nice to see all those guys get touchdowns.”

Portales 49, West Las Vegas 8

Portales 18 12 12 7 — 49

W. Las Vegas 0 0 8 0 — 8

Scoring summary

First quarter

P — Bronte Staugaard 5-yard run (kick failed)

P — Staugaard 15-yard pass from Daniel Sanchez (run failed)

P — Staugaard 14-yard pass from Sanchez (pass failed)

Second quarter

P — Caleb Burciaga 50-yard pass from Sanchez (kick failed)

P — Jorge Jimenez recovered blocked punt in nd zone (kick failed)

Third quarter

P — Dustin Sisneros 36-yard run (kick failed)

WLV — 35-yard pass (2PAT pass good)

P — Matt Martinez 42-yard run (kick failed)

Fourth quarter

P — Daren Bonem 59-yard pass from Martinez (Sisneros kick)

Records — Portales 3-0, West Las Vegas 2-1.