The Joaquin 7th grade Rams kept their season mark unblemished (2-0) Thursday night as Nate Belrose rushed for 95 yards in a 14-0 victory over San Augustine at Ram Stadium.
The Ram 8th grade had a tougher time of it, falling to the Wolves, 26-16, to drop back to 1-1 on the season. In that game, the Rams' Tanner Williams rushed for 98 yards and a score in the first half before leaving the game with a leg injury.
Both teams will be in Tyler next Thursday to take on Tyler All Saints in the third week of their respective seasons. The kickoff for the 7th grade will be 5 p.m.
Joaquin 7th 14, San Augustine 0 -- The Joaquin Ram 7th grade took an 8-0 lead at the half and then threw a shutout defensively in a 14-0 victory over the Wolves at Ram Stadium.
Belrose carried the ball 12 times and picked up 95 yards, while Peyton Martinez added 39 yards and a score on eight carries. Brock Lawson also found the endzone, running for 21 yards, and Hunter Harper clipped 18 yards in just two carries.
San Augustine drove inside the red zone early on, but a fumble was recovered by Martinez to stop the threat.
Later in the half, the Rams moved 40 yards in nine plays as Martinez put JJHS on top with a 9-yard scoring run with 1:20 left in the half. Lawson ran in the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Belrose helped the Joaquin defensive effort as well when he recovered a San Augustine fumble early in the third quarter on the Ram 37-yard line.
Early in the fourth period the Rams scored an insurance touchdown when they marched 57 yards in six plays. Lawson bounced in the endzone from four yards out. The try for the 2-point conversion failed, but the final score was in with 3:11 left in the game.
San Augustine 26, Joaquin 8th 16 -- The San Augustine eighth grade football team used two special teams returns to hand the Joaquin Rams their first setback of the season in a 26-16 contest at Ram Stadium Thursday.
Williams carried the ball just six times in the first half for Joaquin, picking up 98 yards and scoring a touchdown before leaving the game with an injury.
Coleman Dickerson added 47 yards in 12 carries, while Nathaniel Retaumar picked up 10 yards on three tries and Trevor Baker added three yards on one carry for Joaquin.
The Wolves grabbed the early lead when Watts took the opening kickoff and raced 81 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 SAJHS lead.
But the Rams fought back later in the period when they drove 53 yards in three plays. Williams crossed the goalline from 42 yards out with 6:30 left in the quarter. Powdrill added the 2-point conversion and Joaquin led 8-6.
San Augustine came back with a 4-play, 50-yard drive for a touchdown to retake the lead, 12-8.
But the Rams regained the lead one more time before intermission, marching 53 yards in seven plays for the score. Powdrill busted into the endzone from seven yards out with 41 seconds left in the first quarter. Trevor Baker then connected with Bryan Risinger for the 2-point conversion, putting Joaquin back on top 16-12. That's where the score remained until the second half.
A punt return by San Augustine put the Wolves in the lead when Watts ran the kick back 50 yards for a score. The 2-point conversion was good and SAJHS led 20-16 with 5:15 remaining in the third.
The Wolves put together a long drive for their final points of the night, coming in the fourth quarter. San Augustine marched 70 yards in nine plays, with Watts scoring with just 30 seconds remaining in the contest.
Statistics compiled by Darrell Martinez.