Pintos Look to Butt Rams Out of Football Playoffs

Moriarty’s Pintos are in the New Mexico Class 4A state football tournament and will be facing Portales in the Portales Rams in the opening round with a date and time (Nov. 7 in Moriarty at 7 pm) to be determined by the schools.

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Moriarty Pintos: Ground Game Dominance at Home

The Moriarty Pintos (5-4 overall) enter the playoffs on a high note, wrapping up their regular season with a decisive 47-0 victory over Kirtland Central. Moriarty’s strength lies in its punishing ground game, a factor that has powered them to success, especially on their home turf.

• Rushing Attack: The Pintos’ offense is anchored by a potent running back duo. In their win against Kirtland, Mateo Manley-Griego rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns, while Mario Romero added 137 yards and three scores. Moriarty finished that contest with a massive 397 total rushing yards, maintaining a streak of rushing for over 150 yards in every game dating back to last season.
• Home Field Advantage: Moriarty has found a rhythm at home, winning four straight leading into the playoffs and averaging over 33 points during that stretch. Their ability to run the ball effectively is often amplified by the comfort of playing in front of their home crowd.
• Effective Two-Way Players: Mario Rivera (69 tackles), Royce Dennison (55) and Abraham Sloan (45) see snaps on both side of the ball while also ranking 1-3 in tackles for the Pintos.

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Portales Rams: Looking to Rewrite a Tough Season

The Portales Rams (2-8 overall) have had a challenging 2025 season, though they have shown flashes of competitiveness, including a district win and a couple of narrow losses. Despite their sub-.500 record, they secured a playoff spot, and the playoffs offer a complete reset and a chance to make a statement.

• Seeking Consistency: Portales has struggled to string together wins, but their two district victories prove they have the capability to execute on offense and defense when it matters.
• Key Defensive Play: The Rams will need to lean heavily on their defense, led by players like Ace Saiz (8.6 Tackles Per Game Leader) and Andru Lozano (Interceptions Leader), to slow down Moriarty’s relentless rushing attack and force them into uncomfortable passing situations.

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The Playoff Picture: Matchup Dynamics

This is a classic playoff confrontation: a run-heavy team with momentum against a resilient team looking for a season-defining upset.

Team	Overall Record	Key Strength
Moriarty Pintos	5-4	Dominant Rushing Attack & Home Record
Portales Rams	2-8	Playoff Reset & Defensive Playmakers

The winner will move on in the New Mexico 4A State Football Tournament.