With time running out and the Joaquin Ram 7th grade and Frankston battling in a scoreless tie, the Rams needed an edge. They received that edge in running back Peyton Martinez.
Joaquin had gotten the ball on the Frankston 39-yard line with just 2:12 remaining and one last chance to pick up a win. In the first five plays the Rams moved the ball to the FJHS 21-yard line. Then Martinez took a pitch from Brock Lawson. But instead of running around the end with 1:02 remaining, Martinez stopped, looked down field and found a streaking Justin Hooper for a 21-yard touchdown pass.
Lawson tacked on the 2-point conversion and Joaquin secured the 8-0 victory in this defensive struggle at Jeff and Opal Austin Stadium in Frankston.
The eighth grade contest was also a wild one as the Rams came from behind late to secure a 30-28 victory.
Both Joaquin squads will travel to West Rusk next Thursday to take on the Raiders.
Martinez led the Joaquin ground attack with 40 yards on 12 carries, while teammate Nate Belrose added 28 yards on seven attempts.
Lawson completed 1-of-3 passes for 23 yards. He was, however, picked off once.
The contest was a defensive battle for the first three quarters. Both teams shut down their opponent when they needed to, but it was the Rams' offense that began coming alive late in the fourth.
Lawson was intercepted earlier in the fourth, but the pick didn't hurt Joaquin as the Ram defense rose to the occasion. Frankston ran the ball five plays, but couldn't generate any offense and gave possession back to Joaquin with 2:12 remaining.
When the option play was called Martinez hit Hooper in stride and the celebration began.
The Joaquin offensive line was also credited with some outstanding play in the contest. It is made up of Clay Adkison, Hayden Jergins, Cutter Smith, Ruston Miller, Reagan Hovey, Justin Bloodgood and Justin Hooper.
Joaquin 8th 30, Frankston 28 -- Nathaniel Retaumar rushed for 107 yards on 19 carries, but none of his yards were more important than the ones that put him in the endzone with 37 seconds remaining Thursday night to give Joaquin a come-from-behind 30-28 victory over Frankston.
Tanner Williams added 66 yards and a score on 14 carries to the Joaquin ground game, while Cole Powdrill rushed for 12 yards and a TD.
Joaquin's offensive line was opening up some holes when the game was on the line. The Ram linemen include Bryan Risinger, Josh Darnielle, Colby Hamilton, Blake Durham, Blake Harvey, Cordra Brown and Abram Arcibar.
The Rams broke on top in the first quarter, despite Frankston controlling the close for most of the period. Retaumar hit paydirt from two-yards out. Baker then hit Bryan Risinger for the 2-point conversion to put the Rams on top, 8-0, with 1:17 left in the opening period.
Kendrick Rogers tied the score for the Indians at the 7:45 mark of the second period with a 61-yard run. He also tacked on the 2-point conversion.
The Rams came right back grabbed the lead before the half with a 7-play, 49-yard drive. Powdrill bounced in from two yards out. Williams ran in the 2-point conversion with 4:54 left in the half and the Rams led 16-8 at the break.
Rogers wasted little time in the third quarter to tie the score. He took the kickoff at his own 25-yard line and sprinted 75 yards for the score. He also converted the 2-point conversion and suddenly Frankston had tied the game, 16-16.
The Indians scored again just before the end of the period, moving 79 yards in seven plays. The 2-point conversion was no good, leaving Frankston ahead 22-16.
The Rams then drove the ball to the Frankston 13-yard line and lost it on downs. But Frankston fumbled soon after and Williams was there to pick up the loose ball for JHHS. Williams scored on the next play from 14 yards out and Retaumar added the conversion with 3:48 remaining to give the Rams a 24-22 lead in this tight contest.
Two plays after they received the ensuing kickoff, the Indians were back in the endzone, this time on a 62-yard TD pass to Rogers. The try for two failed, leaving Frankston with a 28-24 lead.
The Rams drove the ball and then lost it in Frankston territory on downs.
The Indians then took over with 1:40 remaining, but fumbled it two plays later and an alert Joaquin fell on the loose ball. Three plays later Retaumar scored on an 11-yard run with 37 seconds remaining.
Frankston received the ball with one last chance to score. The Indians looked like they might, moving the ball down to the Joaquin 17-yard line. But the Joaquin defense stiffened and preserved the win.
Statistics courtesy of Darrell Martinez.