Rio Rancho Pummels Roswell: Rams Score 50 By Half, Then Cruise

Sep 06, 2008 (Albuquerque Journal - McClatchy-Tribune News Service via COMTEX) -- ZZFXQ | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Sep. 6--RIO RANCHO -- In a way, it was almost understandable that the Rio Rancho Rams couldn't manage a single point in the second half of their football game Friday night against Roswell.

That's because Rio Rancho just about ran itself silly in the first half. The Rams put up 50 points in an explosive opening 24 minutes, and cruise-controlled their way to a 50-14 win over the outmatched Coyotes.

Rio Rancho (2-0) outgained Roswell 313-83, but the firsthalf yardage was more germane on this night. The Rams had 311 of their 313 yards before halftime.

The Rams had a 29-point first quarter lead, and at one point Rio Rancho had just five first downs and 43 points.

Senior tailback Troy Harris, who finished with 151 yards, had a 4-yard touchdown run on Rio Rancho's first drive. Just 11 seconds later, linebacker Elias Large recovered a Roswell fumble in the end zone and it was 15-0.

Backup quarterback Cohen Mangin added a 1-yard rushing TD and Harris added a 59-yard score on the final play of the period as the Rams led 29-8.

The second quarter was much of the same.

Early, Harris added a 5-yard run for a 36-8 lead, which was set up when Large recovered another fumble and returned it to the Roswell 5. Moments later, starting quarterback Tyler Baker threw 31 yards to Jeric Magnant for another score.

Late in the half, Mangin tossed a 46-yard TD strike to Cody Moya, and Rio Rancho led 50-14.

Defensively, the Rams were equally dominant.

To say that Roswell (1-1) couldn't generate a running game would be like calling the Grand Canyon a little ditch.

The Coyotes put up the kind of number that every team in New Mexico can gun for the rest of the season and probably never approach: minus-50 yards on the ground.

"There was no letdown whatsoever (by the defense)," Ram coach Mike Worley said. "The defense really stepped up to the challenge."

Rio Rancho is idle next week.

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