HOBBS — Rio Rancho High School football history was made here Saturday afternoon, when the visiting Rams withstood a Doug Flutie-type “Hail Mary” pass and moved into the Class 5A quarterfinals after an exciting 28-21 victory over the Eagles.

The 1 p.m. kickoff marked the Rams’ first afternoon game since September 2005, and their first road playoff game since 2000, a loss in Carlsbad. The game began with a temperature of 80 degrees, T-shirt weather for most of the fans, including a packed charter from Rio Rancho.

When quarterback Alberto Caballero’s long pass fell harmlessly to the turf, the Rams (6-5) had their first postseason victory in five tries, which included three straight home field losses in 2004-06). The win pits the Rams, the ninth seed in the 12-team bracket, into another road game with an opponent they’ve never faced, No. 1 Mayfield (9-1), two-time defending state champion.

The way the Rams’ offense played in the first half, it didn’t look like they’d be able to advance over the eighth-seeded Eagles (7-4).

After having a field goal attempt blocked on their first possession of the game, four of the Rams’ next five possessions in the half went three-and-out.

Still, the Rams had the lead at intermission, 7-6, thanks to senior defensive back Marcus Williams’ 58-yard return of a first-quarter punt. Brandon Posey added the point-after for a 7-6 lead, and the teams changed ends to start the second quarter.

Hobbs scored a mere 25 seconds later, when Caballero hooked up with Reese Franklin for the first of his three TD catches, this one a 75-yard play. The PAT was wide, and the Rams led, 7-6.

That’s how the score stood at halftime, although the Rams had an opportunity to extend their lead, but Rian Rodriguez’s 49-yarder was wide.

Hobbs took the second-half kickoff and, on the Eagles’ fifth play, Ivan Jackson snagged a Caballero aerial and returned it 60 yards to paydirt. Posey’s PAT made it 14-6.

The Rams fumbled the ball away on their next possession, and QB Orion Murphy threw a pass that was picked off to end their next possession.

Hobbs turned that theft into a one-play score on a 28-yard Caballero-Franklin strike. DeQuawn Robinson ran the ball into the end zone for a two-point conversion and the score was knotted at 14.

Murphy was intercepted on his next pass attempt, and the Eagles capitalized on its to score the go-ahead TD on the first play of the fourth quarter, this time a 10-yarder from Caballero to Franklin. With the ensuing PAT, the Rams were in the hole for the first time, 21-14.

On the Rams’ second play following the Hobbs TD, Murphy threw another pass that was picked off, but Wayne Muhammad picked off a Caballero pass two plays later.

Troy Harris coughed the ball up on the Rams’ first play following the Muhammad pick, but the Eagles were soon forced to punt.

The Rams got the ball on the Eagles’ 34, and three plays later, Murphy saw Chris Newsome at the 7, hit him with a pass, and Newsome rambled into the end zone. Posey’s PAT tied the game again.

The Rams’ defense forced Hobbs to go three and out and Williams fair-caught the punt at the Rams’ 42.

Williams got the ball on first down and broke several tackles for a 16-yard pickup. Murphy carried the ball for two yards on the next play, and then a diving catch by Aaron Holt resulted in a 14-yard gain and another first down at the Eagles’ 28.

Williams gained six yards on an inside handoff, and Murphy then passed to Harris, good for a 22-yard scoring strike and the lead. Posey’s PAT made it 28-21 and closed out the scoring, although it took a tremendous effort by the Rams to thwart Hobbs’ offense.

The Eagles ventured into the red zone and soon faced a fourth-and-one at the Rams’ 6.

Rio Rancho noseguard Matt Mego forced a fumble and Zach Drapeau picked the ball up and returned it to midfield.

The Rams tried to run out the clock, but when Murphy took a knee on fourth down, there was .6 second to play.

Caballero’s “Hail Mary” pass failed, and the Rams had won.

”I give the credit to my team and God, honestly,” Murphy said, overcome with emotion at game’s end.

“I was mentally not focusing anymore and my teammates kept believing in me,” he said, referring to the back-to-back interceptions in the second half. “I said, ‘What the heck?’ at the end and I just started throwing the ball right, I guess.”

RAMifications: There still may be some available seats on the fan bus, or even a second fan bus, if warranted. The ticket for the round-trip costs $21; the bus will leave RRHS at 1:30 p.m. To reserve a space, call Marie Posey at 261-5242.

... In other first-round games last weekend, fifth-seeded Eldorado beat No. 12 Valley, 24-21; sixth-seeded La Cueva ripped No. 11 Alamogordo 34-13; and seventh-seeded Manzano walloped No. 10 Oñate, 50-19. Other quarterfinal games this week are Eldorado at No. 4 Cibola. La Cueva at No. 3 Clovis and Manzano at No. 2 Las Cruces.