Grandstanding

You know that old "deja vu" theory, seeing something happen before your eyes that seems vaguely familiar to what you remember from the past.

It happened for me last weekend: seeing Clovis beat Rio Rancho on Friday night and then seeing Brigham Young dispose of the Lobos the following night. Both losing teams fell on their home fields, with the outcomes due in large part to committing too many turnovers.

Then, just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, the Rams (3-3) lost again -- and again turned the ball over five times. (The Lobos didn't lose last weekend: They had a bye week.)

That 22-16 loss to Manzano wasn't the straw that broke the camel's back, but that back is starting to feel the pain.

And although I'm not one to forecast doom and gloom, the Rams desperately need to beat visiting Eldorado tomorrow evening at Rio Rancho Stadium or they're looking at what could be a .500 season and a first-round road trip.

Here's the deal: Eldorado's no pushover, and first-year coach Charlie Dotson loves beating the Rams, especially nearly two years ago when he was the Golden Eagles' mat coach and they edged the Rams for the Class 5A state wrestling title in 2006.

Friday's game is the Eagles' final tune-up before their 5-5A season begins; the Rams have their final tune-up against Dotson's guys, then have a week off before opening the short 1-5A campaign at Gallup.

The Rams won't have any trouble beating Gallup and then West Mesa, setting up yet another 1-5A championship game against down-the-hill Cibola at Milne on Nov. 9.

If the Rams fall tomorrow and lose to Cibola, they'll be 5-5 and maybe a 9, 10 or 11 seed.

If the Rams lose to Eldorado but beat Cibola, they'd be 6-4 and, by winning the district title, play host to a playoff game.

If the Rams beat Eldorado and lose to Cibola, the Cougars are the 1-5A champs and the Rams might luck out with a first-round home game at 6-4 ... but it's not like a home field advantage has helped them in the playoffs.

For those of you with short memories, Highland, Alamogordo and Rio Grande have visited Rio Rancho Stadium and ended the Rams' last three seasons. In the Rams' only playoff road game, at Carlsbad in 2000, it was the same outcome: One and done.

So, Rams fans, sit back and keep an eye on this team. Keep in mind the starting quarterback for now is only a sophomore: Tyler Baker and his back-up, fellow soph Cohen Mangin, will only get better and gain confidence in the years to come.

Senior Orion Murphy will be back in a few weeks; you can bet he's getting tired of standing on the sideline, powerless to help his teammates other than to shout words of encouragement or pass along advice to Baker and Mangin.

Let's face it: This team needs a quality victory against a 5A team -- it has one so far -- and Eldorado will provide the Rams with a top-notch foe.

A shot of confidence, followed by a week off to heal minor bruises, could be just the ticket for this team, taking aim at a fourth straight 1-5A championship in early November.

They still need your support. (Where was everybody last Friday; the game was played in the Northeast Heights, not Jupiter.)