Rams rally for 10-7 Homecoming victory

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Maricopa High’s football team improved its record to 5-4, and 5-1 at home, after rallying for a 10-7 victory over the Gophers of Florence High School yesterday.

This was a must win for the Rams to stay in the 3A state playoff hunt – and for Clemans family bragging rights as the quarterback cousins Will Clemans (Maricopa) and Cash Clemans (Florence) squared off against one another (see related story).

It was a defensive battle right out of the gate as both offenses struggled to move the chains. The Rams defensive intensity was riding sky high early in the first quarter when junior defensive lineman Derrick Gonzales sacked Gopher signal caller Cash Clemans deep in Florence territory to force a punt.

On the Gopher’s next possession, Rams defensive end Tony Jones sacked Clemans forcing the Gophers to punt it away. The Rams defense held the Gophers offense in check forcing the Gophers to punt it away on its three first quarter possessions. Jones finished the game with two sacks and has 15 on the season.

The Rams offense started to move the chains late in the first quarter when junior running back running back Blake Schwanbeck ran for 16 yards landing on the Florence 28 yard line. Maricopa’s Clemans completed an eight-yard pass to wide out Cody Seymore and Matt Fierros ran for eight yards to end the first quarter.

The Rams offense had a great opportunity to get on the board first when they went for it on fourth down inside the one yard line. The Gopher defense came up big, however, and stuffed Clemans on the keeper and the Gopher offense took over on downs deep in its own territory.
On second down Gopher quarterback Clemans shook three Rams defenders, displayed some fancy footwork and scampered for 59 yards. Clemans was brought down from behind by his cousin Will, playing on the defensive side of the ball, at the Rams 31 yard line.

Two plays later Clemans hit wide out Andy Martinez for a 24-yard gain. Later in the drive Clemans hit Dalton Gay from seven yards out for the touchdown. The point after attempt was successful by Martinez, giving the Gophers a 7-0 lead at the half.

The Rams offense struck gold on its first possession of the second half when Schwanbeck ran for eight yards, Fierros went for 16 yards up the middle and Clemans ran for 18 yards on the keeper. The Gophers were flagged for a late hit on Clemans putting the Rams on the Gopher 29 yard line. Schwanbeck picked up another eight yards landing on the Gopher eight yard line. On the next play Clemans was sacked in the back field.

On fourth and four from the Gopher nine yard line, the Rams ran a play Boise State made famous, the old statue of liberty. Clemans raised his right arm and hid the ball behind his back. Running back Fierros grabbed from Clemans hand went up the left side for the nine-yard touchdown. The PAT was successful, knotting the score at 7-7.

In the middle of the fourth quarter and the Gophers driving for the go-ahead touchdown Rams sophomore Kendell Morris picked off Clemans pass deep in Rams territory, giving the Rams offense the ball on their own 25 yard line. Fierros picked up yardage on the ground, but on third down Clemans was picked off, giving the ball back to the Gophers.

On the Gopher’s first offensive play, Rams junior cornerback Vince Davis forced a fumbled and recovered the ball.

With time winding down and the score 7-7, the Rams offense put the ball in the hands of Fierros and Schwanbeck. Fierros picked up 25 yards and, on the next play, Schwanbeck shook a defender and went for 29 yards.

Head coach Tyler Brandt called Fierros’s number to cure the team’s kicking woes and he responded by kicking a 35-yard field goal on his first attempt of the season, giving the Rams the winning points in their 10-7 victory.

“Number one you earned it, number two we have to finish and get better and number three we played with passion,” Brandt told his team after the game.

Next up for Brandt and his Rams is a match-up at Globe Friday at 7 p.m.

Maricopa Rams 2007 Football Schedule:
8/24 Estrella Foothills (Won 20-13)
8/31 @ Wickenburg (Lost 24-6)
9/7 Bourgade (Won 45-40)
9/14 @ Coolidge (Lost 61-12)
9/21 Empire (Won 28-21)
9/28 Fountain Hills (Lost 31-19)
10/5 @ Safford (Lost 24-13)
10/12 Santa Cruz (Won 30-22)
10/19 Florence (Won 10-7)
10/26 @ Globe

Photos by Amy Jamieson