Season openers draw near

PORTALES - If it seems as though the football season is coming on quickly, it's probably because it is - especially after last spring's COVID-abbreviated campaign.

New Mexico prep squads donned full pads for the first time on Friday and are gearing up for the start of the regular season on Aug. 20. On the other side of the state line, Texas contingents are set to begin play on Aug. 27.

Portales High gets its first look at outside competition on Thursday when the Rams welcome Las Vegas Robertson to their practice field for a 5 p.m. scrimmage. While the offensive and defensive lines return plenty of experience, the Rams are trying to figure out who will fill the skill positions.

"We're working every day to get better and better," PHS coach Jaime Ramirez said. "It's a process right now. We'll know more about who we are after next week."

Ramirez said seniors Ethan Conrow and Brandon Blidi have looked good early on at running back. He added that the Rams have a number of players competing at the receiver positions, while sophomores Devin Diaz and Elijah Kladiihbah are in contention at quarterback.

Clovis High is preparing for a 4 p.m. Wednesday scrimmage against Las Cruces High at Ruidoso.

The 45-man Wildcats roster is almost evenly distributed between sophomores (14), juniors (18) and seniors (13).

Needless to say, question marks abound, although coach Cal Fullerton said the Cats feel pretty good about their QB situation with senior Milo Acosta, who played in four of the team's five games during the spring and started the last three.

"Four months ago, we were getting through playing five games," Fullerton said. "We were senior-heavy, and they were getting most of the reps.

"The good thing about it is these guys are willing to learn, and they want to be successful."

Fullerton said he expects the scrimmage to be an eye-opener for his squad.

"It's been a good week," he said. "Our kids are extremely excited. We've had a lot of mistakes, but they're going 100 mph. When you're going that fast, you can live with that."

Clovis opens the regular season at home on Aug. 20 against rival Hobbs, while the Rams get their slate under way the following day at Hope Christian.

Other fall sports - volleyball, soccer and cross country - also began practice this week.

In soccer, the CHS boys open against Hope Christian at Leon Williams Stadium on Aug. 19. They have another home match five days later, then don't play in town again until Sept. 21 when they entertain Portales.

The Lady Wildcats, under first-year coach Ray Rodriguez, will be in Taos for a tournament Aug. 20-21 before starting their home slate against Lovington on Aug. 23.

Meantime, the PHS girls are in Roswell for a tournament Aug. 20-21 while the boys host New Mexico Military at Greyhound Stadium on Aug. 21.

In volleyball, the Lady Cats open at home against Artesia on Aug. 26 while the Lady Rams, under first-year coach Jacki Bailey, visit Hobbs on Aug. 24.

The cross country opener for both schools is Aug. 27 in the Clovis Invitational at Ned Houk Park.