The lead changed hands four times in the fourth quarter Thursday night, and when the final horn sounded it was the Joaquin 8th grade Rams recording a wild 32-28 victory over Winona at Wildcat Stadium.
In the seventh grade matchup, Winona outscored Joaquin 14-0 in the final two periods to break an 8-8 tie and take a 22-8 victory over the Rams.
The Joaquin junior high teams will be at home next Thursday when they host Arp.
Joaquin 8th 32, Winona 28 -- Nathaniel Retaumar rushed for 189 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries (31.5-yard per carry average) as he helped rally the Joaquin Rams past Winona in the fourth quarter.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Wildcats' Joseph Hart scored on a 6-yard run with 2:09 left in the half to put the 'Cats in front. Hart also added the 2-point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
A Joaquin fumble was turned into a touchdown by Winona's Bolton just 26 seconds later when he stepped off a 48-yard scoring run. The try for two failed, but the Wildcats led 14-0 at the half.
The Rams began putting together an offensive punch in the second half. Retaumar capped a 3-play, 55-yard drive with a 47-yard scoring jaunt with 5:38 left in the third. Tanner Williams, who rushed for 52 yards on eight carries, added the two-point conversion, the Rams had cut the lead to 14-8.
A couple minutes later it was Joaquin taking the lead for the first time on a 42-yard scoring jaunt by Retaumar. The score came just one play after Shiloh Stone recovered a fumble for Joaquin. Williams tacked on the 2-point conversion with 3:57 on the clock to give JJHS a 16-14 lead.
The contest began to get even more wild in the fourth quarter.
Hart scored on a 4-yard run with 6:55 left. The try for two failed, but the Wildcats were back on top, 20-16.
Two plays and 61 yards after the kickoff Joaquin was celebrating as the Rams took the lead back on a TD run by Retaumar. Trevor Baker added the 2-point conversion and Joaquin was ahead 24-20 with 5:54 showing on the clock.
Bolton found the endzone for Winona on the first play after the ensuing kickoff. He scored on a 92-yard run. Hart added the 2-point run and Winona was back on top, 28-24, with 5:32 showing on the fourth-quarter clock.
Williams then hit paydirt for Joaquin to put the Rams on top for good with 3:08 on the clock. Williams also added the 2-point conversion for a 32-28 Ram lead.
Joaquin then held Winona on four downs and the Rams ran out the clock on their next series.
Coleman Dixon added 28 yards rushing on seven carries for Joaquin, while Cole Powdrill picked up 12 yards on four attempts.
Winona 22, Joaquin 7th 8 -- Nate Belrose ran for 141 yards on nine carries and Peyton Martinez added 30 more on nine tries, but the Ram 7th grade came up short to Winona, 22-8, Thursday night at Wildcat Stadium.
Brock Lawson completed 1-of-2 passes for the Rams, throwing for seven yards.
The Rams played ball control for the entire first period, holding on to the football and scoring at the end of the period. Belrose scored on a reverse from 54 yards out to complete a 9-play, 80-yard drive. Lawson added the 2-point conversion to give the Rams an 8-0 lead.
Winona came back to knot the score at 8-8 with 3:26 left before intermission when Brian McHam scored on a 7-yard run. Wheeler added the try for two and the score was tied at 8-8 at the break.
Owens scored on a 61-yard run with 4:23 on the clock in the third quarter to put the Wildcats in the lead for the first time. Wheeler added the 2-point run and Winona led 16-8.
Owens then added an insurance touchdown for Winona with 3:59 left in the game to drop the Rams to 2-2 on the year, 0-1 in District 9-2A D-II play.
(Statistics provided by Darrell Martinez)