Victor Ramos admits he had the jitters prior to his first college football game.

“Yes, I did,” Ramos, Haskell Indian Nations University’s red-shirt freshman quarterback, said with a smile, “but after a few snaps they went away.”

Not only was Ramos, a 5-foot-10, 210-pounder from Phoenix, playing in his first competitive game since high school, he was doing it against Missouri Southern, an NCAA Division II school.

Even though the Fightin’ Indians were overmatched in that 51-0 loss 10 days ago, Ramos was solid.

“He did a good job of controlling the offense,” HINU coach Eric Brock said. “He didn’t do everything right, but he had the right idea. He stood in there and took a lick.”

Ramos figures to take fewer licks today when the Indians entertain South Dakota Tech, another NAIA school more on the Indians’ competitive level.

Kickoff will be at 1 p.m. at Haskell Stadium.

Two years ago, Haskell edged the Hardrockers, 12-6. Last season in Rapid City, S.D., Tech rallied for a 21-19 triumph, which, as it turned out, was the ‘Rockers’ lone victory.

“On tape, they look similar to last year,” Brock said. “They have similar personnel. But defensively they have a different scheme.”

While Haskell stepped up in class for its opener, S.D. Tech took a step down last week by tangling with Trinity Bible College, a perennial punching bag, and recording a 29-0 victory.

Because of Trinity Bible’s weak reputation, Brock wonders if that new S.D. Tech defensive scheme was a red herring.

The Indians expect to rely on a balanced offense today.

Although wide receiver Hunter Smith, one of the NAIA’s top receivers last season, is out because of a shoulder injury, Ramos still has capable targets in Kaleb Harris, Martin Sivei and Brigham Bert.

Meanwhile, the Indians should feature a potent 1-2 tailback punch with Bubba Wills, who crossed the 1,000-yard rushing plateau in ’06, and freshman Quentin Haynes.

“I see those two guys sharing time,” Brock said. “I don’t think we’ll lose anything with either one in the game.”