Rams trample Cougars in Homecoming Game

RIO RANCHO (Oct. 4, 2024) - Rams fans were decked out in their patriotic best for homecoming night, and they had every reason to celebrate as the Rio Rancho Rams (4-2, 1-0 in 6A-1) beat the Cibola Cougars (2-4, 0-1 in 6A-1), 28-0 in their first district game of the season.

Micah Takahashi started at Quarterback for the Rams for the second game in a row, and scored a touchdown on the opening drive, a scramble to the left from 7 yards out.

The Cougars gave up three sacks on the opening drive and handed the ball right back to the Rams.

This time, Takahashi connected with receiver Jace Pitton the right side of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown. Before the half, Takahashi struck one more time, this one a 30-yard pass to Parker Miller.

Cibola was unable to find a rhythm with quarterback Noah Carroll under pressure all night.

“I think defensively we played great. We created turnovers, we swarmed,” said head coach Nate Pino. “Offensively, we haveto clean up the penalties. The penalties are killing us.”

Both Rams’ QBs turned the ball over. Takahashi threw an interception as he was being sacked in the second quarter. Arellano gave up a fumble on a scramble, immediately after the Rams gained possession on a Cibola fumble at the start of the third.

The halftime score was 21-0, but the second half ground to a halt as the Rams took holding penalty after holding penalty.

“It’s hard to call plays sometimes when it’s second (down) and 25 (yards to go), or third and 20. There’s not a whole lot you can do with that,” Pino said.

Arellano hit Pitt for a 3-yard touchdown pass with five minutes left in the game and the Rams pulled out a decisive, if ugly, 28-0 win over the struggling Cougars.

Arellano had one touchdown and Takahashi had three. Pitt caught two and Miller caught one.

“It was homecoming week,there's a lot going on,” Pino said. “I thought the kids, even after the bye week, they were locked in. We have some things to clean up, but we’lltake a good win.”

Takahashi and Arellano have been battling for the starting QB spot for the last two games, since Arellano was benched during atough 43-27 loss to #2-ranked Centennial on Sept. 13. Takahashi started the previous game, but Arellano entered in the second half and led the team to a win.

Coach Pino is tight-lipped on who will start next week but says both quarterbacks will get chances.

“We want to keep finding opportunities for both these guys,” he said. “We want them to compete and, you know, they are two of the eleven best players we have, so we want to use them both.”

Next, the Rams face the Piedra Vista Panthers (1-4) at home on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

Cibola will play their first district home game against #3-ranked Cleveland (5-1, 1-0 in 6A) at the same time.