Rams topple Hope Christian in season opener

ALBUQUERQUE — Hot turf, cool customers.

The Portales Rams never trailed Saturday and took care of business in a 22-13 victory over Hope Christian at Milne Stadium.

The opening-week win is the fourth in the last five seasons for Portales (1-0), which also got a little bit of revenge from last season’s 10-3 defeat at Greyhound Stadium.

The games were polar opposites, both in the score and the temperature. The Huskies and Rams initially tried to move the game to 5 p.m. due to concerns about the heat in Albuquerque, but no dice as the game contract was already in place.

“It was 130º on the turf,” Portales coach Jaime Ramirez said. “Our boys overcame that, played tough.”

Junior quarterback Baylor Diaz had three touchdown passes,with two bombs to Jalen Allen in the first half. The two went for 67 yards to put Portales on the board, then blew things open with a 99-yard score in the second quarter.

Senior Kellan Hightower keyed the third quarter with a 50-yard touchdown reception followed by a pick on the next Hope Christian series.

“Baylor threw the ball well, we ran good routes,” Ramirez said. “We had trouble with our run game a little bit. We were inconsistent in terms of getting momentum and rhythm, but our guys found ways to make big plays. They willed that third quarter, and I think that was the difference in the ballgame.”

The Huskies got a touchdown on a Blair Miller run in the fourth, but settled for field goals on deep drives in the first and fourth quarters.

The Rams go back on the road Saturday, with St. Michael’s hosting another 1:30 p.m. tilt. That will be followed by three home games.

Ramirez was happy to get the win, and excited because the things Portales did wrong are correctable.

“We learned about our run game and some fixes we have to make,” Ramirez said. “At times on the pass protection, we didn’t move our feet right. Those are areas we can easily work on.”