‘Sloppy’ season opener for Rams football

Sloppy.

Maricopa High School football coach Cory Nenaber wasn’t describing the rainy conditions that came with the Rams’ season opener Friday night, but rather, the failure to finish in the red zone.

“We were pretty sloppy to be honest,” Nenaber said following Maricopa’s 16-14 loss against Tempe High School. “I thought we were pretty sloppy. Get inside the 10 yard line three times and get no points. We don’t deserve to win the game.”

Rain drops wet the grass in Tempe during the team’s first contest, setting temperatures in the upper 80s. Some spectators endured the dripping with large umbrellas.

While the Rams’ defense had a good showing for the most part – eliminating the run and forcing the Buffaloes to go into the air – the offense failed to come through.

The game came down to a nail-biting end with Rams kicker Christian Ramirez, a junior, missing a field goal from just inside the 20-yard line. With no timeouts left and not wanting to take a 6-point risk, Nenaber decided to trust Ramirez’s leg on third down with about 30 seconds left to play.

“We didn’t have any timeouts left,” Nenaber said. “So I didn’t want to risk a bad snap, something like that.”

The Buffaloes were the first to move numbers on the scoreboard during the first quarter. A 45-yard pass completion to Tempe High receiver Massiah Smith on the Buffaloes’ second possession placed the team within the 10-yard line. With 3:46 on the clock, running back Marcus Whitmore drove the ball pass the end zone for a 6-0 lead.

After Tempe’s failed extra point attempt, the Rams were quick to answer.

Maricopa senior Tim Byrd scooped up a grounded kickoff at around the 25-yard line and rushed it to the posts.

With a 7-6 lead, the Rams seemed to pick up momentum. Tempe’s offense lost the ball three plays later when defensive back Adam Kocheiser picked off a pass at the 34-yard-line within Tempe territory and brought the ball inside the 5.

***ADVERTISEMENT***The Buffaloes defense put up an impressive stand, however, not allowing Maricopa to punch through the middle.

Tempe added another seven points before the end of the second half, but it was the final time Maricopa’s defense let another body cross the goal line.

“Our defensive line played really well,” Nenaber said. “To eliminate their run game with our four guys up front allowed us to keep guys in the secondary to defend against the pass, which they do pretty well.”

At 3:47 left in the third quarter, the Rams began an eight-play march from mid-field to the end zone, tying the score when Kocheiser, then playing offense, snagged a pass from sophomore quarterback Isaiah Pedro. Ramirez put the ball through the uprights to give Maricopa a 14-13 lead.
However, a field goal from Buffaloes kicker Jesse Hernandez early in the fourth placed Tempe on top, where they’d remain.

As the clock wound down, mistakes, including a bad snap that sailed over Pedro’s head, damaged Maricopa’s chance at getting pass the goal line.

For the upcoming week, Nenaber said his team will focus on finishing drives after getting into the red zone.

“We’re going to buckle it up on Monday and try to get back to work,” he said.

The Rams play Seton Catholic in Chandler on Friday. The game starts at 7 p.m.