It wasn’t pretty but it was a win.

Host Rio Rancho survived eight fumbles, two of which they lost, an interception, three blocked punts and a dismal 4-of-12 conversion on third down but still held off Hobbs, 24-20, Friday evening.

Credit the tenacious Rams defense and the play of quarterback Tyler Baker, he of the slippery fingers, and running back Troy Harris for the hard-fought victory.

Rams quarterback Tyler Baker gallops 26 yards down the west sideline for a first-half TD.

The defense was right in the face of the Hobbs quarterbacks throughout the game, while Baker rushed for 107 yards on 18 carries, including two long touchdown runs, and Harris hauled the ball 19 times for 147 yards, unofficially.

After Hobbs took the opening kickoff and went three-and-out, the Rams got a seven-yard run by Harris and then Baker was picked off on the next play.

The Eagles then went three-and-out twice; the Rams did it again, before Rio Rancho put together a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by a 26-yard dash down the west sideline by Baker.

A run for two points failed, but the Rams got that back early in the second period when Hobbs, backed into the shadow of the south goalpost by the Rams defense, opted to give up a safety on what could have been a punt out of the end zone.

With 1:27 left before halftime, the Eagles scored a TD on a 7-yard pass; their run attempted run for a deuce failed, leaving the Rams with an 8-6 lead.

Not about the run out the clock and head to the locker room, the Rams passed their way downfield on passes to Steven Calzada, Jeric Magnant and Cody Moya before a second-and-goal from the 4.

Baker dropped back and threw the ball into the corner of the end zone, where Magnant was covered by a taller defender but managed to make a one-handed catch of the pigskin for the score.

Brandon Van Bastian’s point-after gave the Rams a 15-6 lead when intermission arrived.

Van Bastian booted a 14-yard field goal for the only points of the third quarter, which ended with the Rams holding an 18-6 lead.

Hobbs came back with another TD pass with less than nine minutes to go in the game, and a two-point conversion sliced the Rams’ lead to a precarious 18-14.

With little more than three minutes to play, Baker bolted right on a fourth-down play, got two blocks from Teddy Waterman, and upped his team’s lead to 24-14. Van Bastian’s kick sailed wide left, and Hobbs returned the ensuing kickoff 71 yards to “make it a game” again, 24-20.

The Eagles’ onside kick was recovered by the Rams, who then ran out the clock.

Coach Michael Worley attributed the fumbles to first-game jitters but Baker said he’d shoulder the blame.

“That’s all on me. He’s trying to take some of the pressure off me, whatever you want to call it, but I wasn’t covering the ball. It’s all on me,” he said.

How about that magnificent Magnant catch?

“That was a heck of a catch. Talk about athleticism. He’s the future receiver of this program – and he’s good,” Baker exclaimed.

“I hear people say he’s small (Magnant is listed at 5-foot-9) at times; I kind of get mad,” he continued. “He’s such a good athlete. He’s not scared of anything. He’s an amazing athlete – I look up to him.”

The Rams are home again Friday when Class 4A Roswell visits.

RAMifications: Former quarterbacks Chris Charley and Orion Murphy are lending their expertise this season to Baker and back-up Cohen Mangin, who played briefly when Baker suffered a minor cramp.

… For more information, including prices, of the fan bus trips to Roswell for the game with Goddard on Sept. 19 and the game one week later to Clovis, call Kay Baker at 220-5158. The bus will load at the fieldhouse at 1:30 p.m. for the trip to the Wool Bowl in Roswell and at 1 p.m. for the trip to Leon Williams Stadium in Clovis.