Rivalry less spooky: Rams, Storm move matchup away from holiday

RIO RANCHO — Deciding between watching football or trick-or-treating? Well, you don’t have to pick anymore.

Announced on Monday morning, the rivalry football matchup between Rio Rancho High School and Cleveland High School has been moved from Friday, Oct 31, to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct 30.

While the crosstown battle is a late October/early November staple, the 2025 installment was set to be the first ever to take place on Halloween.

This is the first time the holiday has fallen on a Friday since 2014, when the Rams and Storm faced off a week later on Nov. 7.

Cleveland will also witness another schedule change the week prior, now facing Volcano Vista at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct 24, instead of 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

It would have been some spooky history in the making, but in a town that loves its Halloween, the schools decided it would be in the best interest of everyone to make the switch.

“We just don’t want the game interfering with Halloween,” Executive Director of Athletics Todd Resch stated.

Cleveland last played on Halloween 11 years ago, defeating Cibola 43-7 before losing to the Rams a week later. For the Rams, their last Halloween matchup came in 2003, beating West Mesa 40-7.

The last time these two played on Halloween Eve? In 2009, Cleveland’s first football season. The Rams took that first matchup 50-19. The schedule was set up in 2020 for these two to meet again on the 30th, but it was never played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cleveland took last year’s meeting the day after Halloween, defeating the Rams for the eighth straight year, 40-12, on Nov. 1.

No matter what the date is, fans should be in store for another good one between these two heated rivals.