Taos blown out in Class 4A quarterfinal.

2 Portales 41 7 Taos 11

The Taos Tigers started and ended well Friday night. Unfortunately, there was a 42-minute gap in a Class 4A quarterfinal football game against second-seeded Portales that the Rams filled in their favor. Tyrese Dawson ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, while Portales forced five Tigers turnovers for a convincing 41-11 win.

Taos, the seventh seed, finished the season 8-4, but went 3-4 after a 5-0 start. The Rams (10-1) play either No. 6 West Las Vegas or No. 3 Las Vegas Robertson next week, but winner of Saturday’s “East-versus-West” quarterfinal will determine the site. A Dons wins means West Las Vegas heads to Portales, while Robertson will play host to the Rams should it prevail.

The Tigers started off strong, answering a 59-yard touchdown run by Dawson to open the game with a methodical drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal by Angel Limas midway through the first quarter to make it 7-3, Rams. After that, Portales dominated play by scoring 34 straight points before Taos mustered a reply.

Julian Garcia started the rout with a 70-yard touchdown run for a 14-3 Portales lead with 3 minutes left in the quarter. Dawson intercepted a Jude Suazo pass, which set up a 35-yard touchdown run by Julian Urioste for 20-3 a minute later.

That remained the score at the half, but Dawson’s 8-yard touchdown run just two minutes into the third quarter made it 27-3. The Rams defense got into the scoring column with Braden Bridges’ 42-yard interception return for 34-3 with 3 minutes left in the third.

Taos didn’t score until the final minute when Suazo scooted into the end zone from 11 yards out. His 2-point pass to Anthony Maestas made it 41-11.