Reigning 6A champ Rio Rancho has new faces in very important places

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For Rio Rancho coach David Howes and his Rams players, the major objective for this upcoming season isn’t trying to duplicate last year’s perfect 13-0 campaign that concluded with the Class 6A state title.

Instead, Howes insists, the players must continually believe the journey is just as important as the destination.

Everything is about “the process” and living up to the legacy and winning tradition established at Rio Rancho.

In 2015, a season after winning the state championship, the Rams fell to 7-4 overall, losing to Las Cruces by 41 points in their first playoff game.

Howes has taken steps entering the upcoming season to minimize the chances of history repeating itself. After the hard lessons of two years ago, fighting complacency within the program and getting the players to focus on the task at hand is an everyday battle, he said.