AZTEC –  Senior quarterback Tyler Baker threw for 351 yards and five touchdowns — four of them to Jeric Magnant — to help visiting Rio Rancho defeat Aztec 44-40 Friday night.

Baker had a hot hand in the first half, completing his first six attempts and wrapping up the half by going 18 of 22 for 252 yards and 3 TDs.

Some of his best work came after Tim Foley picked off an Aztec pass and Baker led the Rams (2-1) into field goal range for Zach Rogers. Rogers’ 43-yarder as time expired gave the Rams a 31-21 lead at halftime.

Magnant was Baker’s final target, to the tune of nine catches worth 102 yards and scoring strikes of one and 14 yards.

Baker hooked up with Anthony Moreno-Chavez on a 20 yard scoring pass for the Rams’ first TD and running back Darius Morgan scored Rio Rancho’s final TD of the first half on a two yard run.

Aztec wasted little time as the  second half began, when Bryce Grady eclipsed 100 yards for the game and scored his second TD on a two yard run.

Magnant caught a 21 yard TD pass from Baker, extending the lead again to 10. But Aztec scored back to back TDs to take a 40-38 lead, only to see Baker fire a 12-yard strike to Magnant for the game’s final points and the only TD in the fourth quarter.

Baker completed 26 of 35 passes for 351 yards, 5 TDs and no interceptions.

Grady led the Tigers (1-2) with 177 yards on 28 carries and three rushing TDs.

“It was a pretty good day, just a fun game tonight,” Magnant said. “The whole week we were talking — as the pieces had to come through in order for this to happen. Our offensive line needed to step up and they did a marvelous job and Tyler was throwing perfect passes today.”

For the game, Magnant caught 13 passes for 155 yards.

“I was able to make some clutch catches and our whole team, we have so many weapons on this team it was just real fun to play tonight,” Magnant said.

“I want to say thanks to the offensive line, because they were outstanding against Aztec’s monstrous defensive line.,” Baker said. “Hats off to the defense in the second half; they stepped up when they needed to.”

Aztec’s final possession saw them with a fourth-and-five from the Rams 18, but Foley broke up a pass and the Rams easily ran out the clock for their second win of the season.

RAMifications: The Rams play host to defending Class 4A champ Goddard Friday at 7 p.m. for homecoming. The Rockets beat the Rams 52-36 in the teams’ first meeting last year at the Wool Bowl in Roswell. Goddard beat Aztec for the 4A title, last year.

… Former Rams standout Troy Harris scored the first and last touchdown in Eastern New Mexico University’s 45-7 rout at Southwestern Oklahoma last weekend. Harris finished his second collegiate game with  16 carries for 87 yards and a TD, seven catches worth 49 yards and a TD, and he returned a punt for 32 yards, giving him a game-high 168 all-purpose yards.

… The Rams were ranked eighth in the 5A coaches poll while Aztec was fourth in 4A. Rio Rancho was 12th in the KRQE-TV all-classes poll; the Tigers were not among the top 13.