Rams dominate Tonopah; qualify for 2A state playoffs

The Rams traveled to Tonopah Valley on Friday night to take on the Phoenix. For the 4-5 Rams this was a must win if they wanted to make it to the state playoffs.

The Rams kicked off and then brought the Tonopah return man down on the 13-yard line. Tonopah had some early success running the ball. On a third and long Tonopah attempted a reverse, but running back Lee Cochran dropped the ball. The Tonopah quarterback recovered the ball but only gained three yards on the broken play. Tonopah went for it on fourth down, but Ram defensive back Will Clemans broke up the pass attempt.

The Ram offense took over on their own 36-yard line. On third down Ram quarterback Joe Zabawa handed the ball off to mini-bus running back Matt Fierros. Fierros cut up the right side and picked up 55 yards on the play. It was first and goal Maricopa on the Tonopah five-yard line. Zabawa faked the hand off to Fierros, who rolled out to the left and found junior wide-out Clemans in the back of the end zone for the TD. The extra point attempt by James Chavarria was good, giving the Rams a 7 – 0 lead.

The Tonopah offense ran the ball with some success until they reached the Ram 30-yard line. On third down and eight Ram defensive lineman Josh Burns and defensive end Justin Zabawa sacked the quarterback for a four-yard loss. Tonopah went for it on fourth and long, but they were penalized for illegal procedure. This gave the Ram offense great field position. Fierros carried the ball up the middle for a first down. On third down Zabawa hit fullback Blake Schwanbeck on a screen pass out of the backfield. Schwanbeck picked up 23 yards on the play. Zabawa faked the hand off to Fierros and scampered into the end zone from 24 yards out. Chavarria’s successful extra point gave the Rams a 14 – 0 lead.

The Ram defense held the Tonopah offense in check, forcing them to punt from their own 22-yard line. Junior punt returner Clemans caught the punt at the Maricopa 40, made a couple of cuts and ran up the right side for a 50-yard return. It was first and goal Rams on the 10-yard line. Fierros took the hand off up the right side for a five-yard gain and made back-to-back plays when he ran straight up the middle. Fierros was met at the four-yard line by three Tonopah defenders, but he lowered his shoulders and carried four defenders into the end zone for the touchdown. The Chavarria extra point was successful, and the Rams had a 21 – 0 lead with 5:24 remaining in the first half.

Tonopah had a nice kickoff return, bringing the ball up to Maricopa’s 42-yard line. Ram punter Chavarria made the touchdown-saving tackle. Tonopah continued to run at the Rams with some success, but, when it came to cracking the goal line, the Ram defense shut them down on four consecutive downs. Maricopa went into half time with a 21 – 0 lead.

In the third quarter the Ram offense was trying to put some more points on the board. On first and 15 Ram quarterback Zabawa rolled out to his right and was immediately chased by Tonopah defenders. Zabawa shook off one would-be tackler and scrambled up the right side for a first down. On third and eight Zabawa dropped back in the pocket, drew the defenders in and, at the last second, hit Matt Fierros on a screen pass. Fierros took the ball 60 yards up the right side for a Ram touchdown. With the successful extra point by Chavarria the Rams took a 28 – 0 lead.

Quarterback Zabawa shows his arm in an earlier game.

The Ram defense stopped the Tonopah running attack once again. Clemans fielded the Tonopah punt at the 50-yard line. The Rams running game gained very little yardage on first and second down so Zabawa went to the air and found Schwanbeck on a 27-yard pass completion.

It was first down on the Tonopah 19-yard line when Zabawa handed the ball off to Fierros. Fierros spun off a would-be tackler, then cut back up the middle and went untouched into the end zone, but the play was called back due to a Ram penalty. The Rams went back to Fierros who picked up 20 yards on the play.

On the next play Zabawa fired a pass into the end zone for Cody Seymore, but Tonopah cornerback Cochran picked off the pass and brought the ball out to the 25-yard line. The Ram defense didn’t let Tonopah get to the 50. Tonopah went for it once again on fourth down but came up short, giving the Ram offense the ball on Tonopah’s 48-yard line. Fierros picked up double-digit yardage on first down.

This time Zabawa handed the ball off to Schwanbeck, who picked up 20 yards on the carry. Fierros was called on again, and once again he delivered. He took the hand off up the right side, was hit by two defenders, spun back inside and trotted into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game. Chavarria’s extra point gave the Rams a 35 – 0 lead with 11:51 remaining in the game.

Tonopah scored its lone touchdown of the game on a 20-yard pass play. After the successful extra point, Tonopah trailed Maricopa 35 – 7. Tonopah attempted an onside kick, but the Rams recovered the ball on the Tonopah 40. On third and eight Fierros carried the ball up the right side for a Ram first down.

On the next play Fierros went around the right side for another first down. A nice block by Schwanbeck gave Fierros just enough time to turn the corner for a 20-yard gain. It was Schwanbeck’s turn to get in on the running attack. He went right up the middle for an 11-yard gain, landing him on the Tonopah one-yard line. On second and goal Zabawa pitched the ball to Fierros, who turned on the afterburners and caught the left corner of the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the night. After the successful extra point by Chavarria, the Rams took a 42 – 7 lead with 4:28 remaining in the game.

Do-it-all junior Clemans relieved Zabawa of his quarterbacking duties for the remainder of the game. On his first play from scrimmage he ran a quarterback keeper up the right side and dove for the first down. On second down he handed the ball off to Duane Alexander who juked one defender and went 42 yards for the touchdown. Chavarria made the extra point, and the Rams went on to win 49 – 7.

Congratulations to the Rams, Coach Tyler Brandt and his coaching staff on qualifying for the State Playoffs. Good luck this Friday at St. John’s. The team played hard and finished the regular season strong. Lots of positive things are apparent in the Ram football program this season, including new coaches, players, plays, supporters, attitudes and lots of enthusiasm.

Summary 1 2 3 4 Total
Tonopah 0 0 0 7 7
Maricopa 7 14 14 14 49

inmaricopa.com’s MVPs:
Offensive MVP – Matt Fierros (four touchdowns in the game)
Defensive MVP – Starting defensive line (held Tonopah to one touchdown)

Maricopa Varsity Football Schedule 2006 (5 – 5)
Fri 8/25 Hayden (Away) Loss 0 – 43
Fri 9/1 Arizona Lutheran (Home) Loss 7- 27
Fri 9/8 Bourgade Catholic (Away) Loss 41 – 20
Fri 9/15 Antelope (Away) Loss 29 – 6
Fri 9/22 San Pasqual (Home) Win 63 – 0
Fri 9/2 Yuma Catholic (Home) Loss 40 – 6
Fri 10/6 Baboquivari (Home) Win 55 – 0
Fri 10/13 Gila Bend (Away) Win 61 – 22
Fri 10/20 Boulder Creek (Away) Win 28 – 27
Fri 10/27 Tonapah Valley (Away) Win 49 – 7