Jacob Cowing brings down a 25-yard pass near the end zone.

Laboring through what is arguably 5A’s toughest region, Maricopa High School’s football team fell at Williams Field, 34-21, despite an energetic effort Friday night.

“I’m real proud of them,” head coach Brandon Harris said. “That game could have gone either way.”

Williams Field came into the game with a 6-1 record and scored first. Maricopa tied the score 7-7 after a five-yard run by senior Jacob Cowing. However, the Black Hawks scored 11 seconds later on a 65-yard run.

The Rams then embarked on a 15-play, penalty-free drive that culminated in a five-yard run by senior quarterback Jordan Huddleston. Roberto Esqueda’s second of three successful PAT kicks tied the game again at 14-14.

Williams Field scored quickly in the third quarter, but the PAT bounced off the uprights. After picking off a Huddleston pass, the Black Hawks put together another scoring drive to go up 27-14. They added to the lead with a 23-yard pass midway through the fourth quarter and began pulling starters.

Harris said instead of hanging their heads as in earlier games, the Rams kept trying to score. The result was a fumble recovery Maricopa turned into an unlikely, sack-filled possession that included the conversion of a fourth-and-13 situation.

Finally down to the 15 yard line and with Huddleston continuing to play escape artist, the Rams capped off the game with a wild scramble of slipped tackles that ended in Huddleston connecting with senior Kaireem Moreira, who scored with 23 seconds left.

“If you quit a game on a Friday night, you’ll quit in life,” Harris said. “This is nothing compared to what life gives you sometimes, so you’ve got to keep battling and fighting and keep playing until there’s zeros on the clock. That’s how I coach.”

Maricopa had 333 total yards in the game. Huddleston threw for 112 yards and was the team’s leading rusher with 91 yards. Cowing had 56 yards rushing and 56 yards receiving.

The Rams’ record fell to 4-4 overall, 0-3 in 5A San Tan region competition. Williams Field rose to the top of San Tan.

Maricopa stays home Friday, Oct. 19, hosting Casteel (6-2) at 7 p.m.

[WPS_photo_gallery id=”74″]