Rams’ season ends on sour note, but ‘They didn’t quit’

It’s over. But it was a fight to the last.

The final note struck Friday night at Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson was sour, ending all hope of making it to week 11 when the Rams fell to the Falcons (8-2, 4-1) in overtime. Final score: 24-17.

Going into the game, the Rams (5-5, 3-2) were ranked No. 20 in Division III of the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s football rankings. The top 16 teams make it to the post season. Because of the loss, the Rams fell to No. 22. 

The call on which the game ended was more than questionable. 

The Falcons struck first in overtime – breaking a 17-17 tie with Ty Cruz’s touchdown run from the 2-yard-line on third down. In overtime, both teams begin from the 10-yard line. Following regular first-down rules, a team is given four attempts to score. 

With no gain on a run play by senior running back Falaah Shabazz, the Rams tested the air on second down. According to officials, sophomore quarterback Isaiah Pedro’s pass was picked off by a Falcon’s player when he aimed the ball into the left side of the end zone. However, a consensus among those close to the action on the sideline was the defensive player did not secure the ball for an interception. 

When reporters brought up the official’s call to MHS coach Cory Nenaber in a post-game interview, he expressed his own thought on the play. 
“I was about 100 percent sure that hit the ground,” he said.

Nenaber also pointed out that one official signaled a touchdown was made before the interception ruling. But that was the extent of the thoughts Nenaber wished to share on the game’s officiating, which clearly impacted the contest on more than one play. 

“The fact of the matter is, we’ve got to overcome that,” he said. “That’s just the way it is.” 

Nenaber expressed pride in the way the team played. 

“God, I’m so proud of the kids,” he said. “It could have been really easy to fold at 17-9, and to come back and then to get the two-point conversion man we’re pretty good at that.” 

The coach was referencing a seven-play drive that began with about a minute and 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Maricopa had to answer a Falcons’ touchdown with six points and a two-point conversion to tie the game. 

The Rams showed no signs of giving up and allowing the last seconds of their season to tick away. 

Pedro eventually connected with senior Tim Byrd for a 24-yard touchdown. Shabazz scored the two-point conversion by leaping into the end zone, placing the score at 17-17.

The two-minute drill scenario actually began with another questionable call that had the Rams’ sideline buzzing. With about two minutes left in the fourth quarter and Maricopa positioned on their own 48-yard-line, Pedro completed a screen pass to offensive lineman Christian Palafox.

The Rams, down 10-9, pulled out the play on third and seven. 

***ADVERTISEMENT***Rams’ coaches were left scratching their heads because a penalty call – illegal forward pass to an ineligible receiver – came late, even after the chain crew moved to set up the first-down marker. 

“My question simply to them was ‘Why didn’t you throw the flag right away then?’” Nenaber later said. 

After an incomplete pass on fourth down, the Falcons took over on the Rams’ 42. On their first play, Cruz scored on a big run, putting the Falcons up 17-9.

Reflecting on the season, Nenaber said the team could have given up after losing its first three games, but the players chose to go another direction. 

“All the way until the last horn, they didn’t quit,” he said. “I’m proud of them for that.”