MHS Rams suffer lopsided loss at Apollo in region play

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The Maricopa defense tries to drag down Apollo in Friday nights game in Glendale. Photo by William Lange

The Maricopa Rams’ football game at Apollo Friday night started badly and ended badly, and wasn’t very pretty in between.

A 40-16 loss to their 5A Metro rival moved MHS’s record to 4-3.

“Our kids played like they didn’t want to play,” Maricopa head coach Chris McDonald said.

He told his players the loss could be chalked up to a particularly unmotivated week of practice and should be a wakeup call.

“I think my kids realize that you play like you practice,” he said. “We were dead all week and we were dead during the game. We had our seniors pointing it out.”

Apollo had Maricopa’s defense back on its heels from the start. Sophomore quarterback Frank Sanchez received good protection from his line to move his team down field, opening with four straight first downs against the Rams.

The Hawks scored first on a rush from Roderick Lockett from the 25 at the 6:38 point in the first quarter. Maricopa’s first possession ended with a fumble in the end zone that turned into a safety, and Apollo was quickly up 9-0.

Kenny Oliver goes up for a pass reception late in the game. Photo by William Lange
Kenny Oliver goes up for a pass reception late in the game. Photo by William Lange

Apollo kicker Pedro Armenta kicked a field goal with 1:58 left in the quarter to extend the lead, 12-0.

Maricopa at last got within field goal range at 7:35 in the second quarter, and senior kicker Sam Aviles kicked it through from the 30 for the Rams’ first three points. They did not score again until the fourth quarter.

The Hawks, meanwhile, scored another touchdown with Lockett running. An attempted field goal by Apollo in the waning seconds of the half failed, and Maricopa went into the locker room down 19-3.

The Maricopa defense started to show its old spark in the third quarter, making a field goal stand and recovering a fumble. Neither offense fared particularly well until Apollo scored on a passing play from the 1 yard line for a 26-3 lead.

Maricopa’s first touchdown came in the top of the fourth quarter with junior Cameron Sanders running the ball in, and Aviles hitting the extra point.

Apollo answered with a 28-yard scoring pass to go up 33-10 with 6:15 left in the game. More than a minute later, Maricopa scored on a 35-yard pass from senior Zach Bachelder to senior receiver Kenny Oliver. An attempt at a two-point conversion failed.

The Hawks scored again on a 34-yard run by Lockett to solidify the win.

“Our kids didn’t quit,” McDonald said. “It was 40-16, and they were still out there giving it their all.”

Maricopa had 10 first downs to Apollo’s 19.

Bachelder and sophomore Jathan Washington combined for 153 passing yards. Bachelder was 8-for-26, Washington 1-for-1.

The running corps was held to just 93 yards rushing. Washington had 37 yards on 14 carries. Sanders had nine carries for 25 yards.

Senior Claytin Valenzuela led the defense with 12 total tackles, and senior Daveon Harris had two sacks.

Next week is fall break, which may be good or bad as the team prepares to host Sunnyslope.

“The good thing is, we’re going to spend much more time on playing football Monday through Thursday, I promise you that,” McDonald said.

“Playoffs start next Friday,” he said, explaining that every game now is a must-win.

Though Apollo is now only 3-4 overall, the Hawks are 2-0 in region play, tied at the top with Kellis. Maricopa and Sunnyslope are both 1-1 in 5A Metro competition.