It’s all Rams after 1st-period tie
Foley, Little have big nights against Monarchs
RIO RANCHO — The Manzano Monarchs became the first football team to punch Rio Rancho in the mouth this season. Manzano barely drew blood. The Monarchs, when it was said and done, despite being the first team this season to possess a lead on Rio Rancho, eventually went down hard and brutal like all the other challengers to the Rams — a knockout victim at the hands of arguably the state’s best team.
After they traded six touchdowns over the game’s bizarre first six minutes, Rio Rancho rattled off the next 44 points and the Rams celebrated homecoming with a 64-27 victory over the visiting Monarchs on Friday night.
Rio Rancho scored 50 points in the first half alone.
“Nothing has really shaken them off of their foundation,” Rio Rancho coach David Howes said, asked what he learned about his team, which was under duress for the first time this year, albeit briefly. “And they are showing the maturity we knew this team was going to have.”
Those opening six minutes were as frantic as any you could hope to see in an 11-man game.
Both teams scored three touchdowns; two of Manzano’s were pick-6’s off Ram QB Nic Little. The Monarchs led 7-6 after Devon McGhee’s 59-yard interception return — although that lead lasted only 23 seconds.
Josh Foley, who had the game’s first score, a 46-yard TD catch and run, scored on a 56-yard run as the Rams went in front 12-7.
It was 20-20 midway through the quarter, with the most electrifying play being Jordan Byrd’s 80-yard touchdown run for the Monarchs (2-2). Then Rio Rancho hit the accelerator and scored on its next six possessions.
“Really nobody panicked,” said senior receiver Derrick Reyes. “It was the first time we faced adversity.”
Foley finished with 212 yards rushing on 19 carries and two touchdowns. He also caught seven passes.
Reyes caught two TD passes from Little, and fullback Elijah Goodwin had two rushing scores — plus a fumble recovery — for the Rams, who visit Sandia next week before that mammoth showdown with 5-0 Cleveland in two weeks.
Byrd rushed for a shade under 100 yards for Manzano, and unofficially he was responsible for 155 of Manzano’s 184 yards of total offense.
Rio Rancho finished with 551 yards. Little, despite two bad throws on Manzano’s two defensive TDs, actually had a fine night, throwing for 262 yards and, unofficially, had only one other incomplete pass. He was 18 of 21.
“That offense is good and they came out firing tonight,” said Manzano coach Chad Adcox, whose team plays host to 5-0 Piedra Vista a week from today.