The Ram 8th grade squad didn't fare quite as well as their 7th grade counterparts Thursday night as Joaquin fell behind 20-8 in the first half and their comeback fell short to the Union Grove Lions, 36-22, at Ram Stadium in Joaquin.
The loss ends the season for Rams with a 2-3 District 9-2A D-II record.
Tanner Williams rushed for 101 yards on 18 carries, but it wasn't quite enough for the Joaquin 8th grade Rams as they had a chance to at least tie the game late, before turning the ball over.
Nathaniel Retaumar added 60 yards on 11 carries for Joaquin, while Coleman Dickerson finished with 14 yards and Trevor Baker pitched in 11. Baker also completed 2-of-4 passes for 13 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
After a scoreless first quarter, Joaquin finally broke on the scoreboard in the second quarter when Retaumar completed a 13-play, 70 yard drive with a 2-yard run. baker connected with Bryan Risinger for the 2-point conversion and with 3:32 left in the half Joaquin led 8-0.
After the teams traded fumbles, the Lions were in perfect position to cut into the Joaquin lead. they drove 15 yards in just two plays to score. The try for two failed, leaving Joaquin with an 8-6 lead.
Union Grove then took the lead just before the half when the Lions broke a 62-yard touchdown run with only 10 seconds left on the clock. the score put Union Grove on top 12-8 at the break.
Joaquin didn't help its cause to begin the third quarter as the Rams turned the ball over. On the next play Michael Ross found the endzone for Union Grove on a 47-yard touchdown run. the 2-point conversion was good and with 5:32 left in the third the Lions extended their lead to 20-8.
The Rams then bounced back with a touchdown of their own. This one came on a 13-yard touchdown from Baker to Risinger. Colby Hamilton was inserted into the game to run in the 2-point conversion and with 1:44 left in the third the Union Grove lead was cut to 20-16.
But Union Grove extended the lead again in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard scoring burst by Ross with 3:34 remaining. The conversion created a 28-16 lead.
Joaquin got itself back into the game late in the fourth quarter, completing a 6-play, 50-yard drive with an 18-yard scoring run by Retaumar with 1:38 remaining. The conversion failed, but Joaquin only trailed 28-22.
The Rams tried an onside kick and Blake Harvey was there to recover it. But two plays later the Rams fumbled and the Lions added a TD with 26 seconds left by Ross.
(Statistics compiled by Darrell Martinez)