The Springlake-Earth Wolverines’ varsity football team saw their season come to an end in heart-breaking fashion last Friday, as they fell to the Miami Warriors at Motley County, 42-34.
With the loss, the Wolverines finish the season with a mark of 84 overall.
Springlake-Earth got the ball to open the contest and after a big play from JJ Jaramillo on first down, took the ball down to the 13-yard line to set up first and goal for the Wolverines, their drive was derailed. Alejandro Gonzalez took the dive up the middle, but he had the ball knocked out and it was recovered by the Warriors at their own 11-yard line with 9:25 to play in the opening quarter.
Miami took over on offense and went 69 yards, capping off the 14play drive on fourth and goal, as Haiden Thompson tossed a throwback to Micah Hinshaw in the end zone for the 15-yard touchdown. The kick from Thompson was no good, leaving the score, 6-0, with 5:54 to play in the first half.
The onside kick attempt was fielded by Tim Tovar, as the Wolverine offense took over at their own 29-yard line. Jaramillo took a run to the right for 10 yards before being brought down by Luke Wheeler. Tovar carried the ball on second down and a flag on Miami made it first and 15 from the Warriors 24-yard line. On the next play, Jaramillo would call is own number as he took it around the left side for a touchdown with 4:50 to play in the quarter. His kick after was good, putting the Wolverines in front, 8-6.
Miami would take over after the kick-off and take the ball into Springlake-Earth territory, but on first down from the Wolverines’ 35-yard line, Wheeler took a dive up the middle, but he had the ball knocked out by Froylan Agundiz and it was recovered by Jaramillo at their own 38-yard line with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter.
However, it was short-lived, as the Wolverines would give it right back to Miami on the very next play, as Gonzalez fumbled on a run up the middle and it was recovered by Wheeler with 2:48 to play in the first quarter.
Miami took over at their own 35yard line and they were able to take the ball down to the Wolverine’s 11-yard line, but on third and goal, Slade Beerwinkle got into the backfield and forced a bad throw from Thompson that was picked off in the end zone by Agundiz with 45 seconds to play in the quarter.
Jaramillo picked up six yards on first down and followed it up with a pass to Tovar for a first down, down to the Miami 20-yard line to close out the first quarter. Beerwinkle’s pass to Tovar fell incomplete to open the second quarter and a run by Jaramillo was stuffed for a loss, making it third and 16.
On third down, Jaramillo delivered a pass to Beerwinkle, who took it down to the four-yard line to set up first and goal for the Wolverines. On the next play, Jaramillo would carry it into the end zone for the touchdown with 8:25 remaining in the half. His kick was blocked by the Warriors leaving the score, 14-6.
Springlake-Earth elected to kick it deep on the kick-off, but Miami got a good return from Noah Homfeld, who brought the ball up to the Miami 34-yard line where the offense would take over.
Miami would drive seven plays, 46-yards, capping off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown as Thomspon pitched the ball out to Wheeler on the option for the score with 6:04 to play in the first half. The kick from Thompson was no good, leaving the Wolverines in front, 14-12.
Bryan Longoria returned the kick-off up to their 26-yard line and Jaramillo picked up two yards on the first down run, before being brought down by Wheeler. On second down, Jaramillo took a run to the left for five yards and on the next play he connected with Tovar, who took the ball down to the Miami 31-yard line for a fresh set of downs.
Four plays later on first and goal from the nine-yard line, Agundiz took it in for a nine-yard touchdown around the right side, making the score, 20-12, after the missed kick by Jaramillo with 2:57 to play in the half.
Miami took over after the kickoff at their own 30-yard line, as Thompson rolled out and connected with Hinshaw for a 50-yard touchdown with 2:49 to play in the half. The kick was no good, leaving the Wolverines in front, 20-18.
The Wolverines, though, would answer, after taking over at their own 30-yard line, Beerwinkle pitched the ball to Jaramillo, who took it around the left side, breaking loose for a 50-yard touchdown with 2:37 to play in the half. This time, Jaramillo connected on the kick after to extend their lead to, 28-18.
The kick- off rolled out of bounds from Agundiz giving Miami the ball on their own 35-yard line to start their next drive. Thompson dumpbed the ball off to Wheeler on first down, who picked up 11 yards before being brought down by Agundiz. On the next play, Thomspon rolled out and delivered a strike to Hinshaw for the 34-yard touchdown pass with 2:24 to play in the half. The kick from Thompson was good, cutting the lead to, 28-26, going into the locker room at halftime.
Miami got the ball to begin the second half and they were able to march 45 yards, capping off the eight play drive, as Thompson connected with Breken Early for the 24-yard topuchdown pass on fourth down with 6:35 to play in the third quarter. The initial kick after was blocked by the Wolverines, but they were flagged for offsides. The re-kick by Thompson sailed through the uprights, putting Miami in front, 34-28.
Springlake-Earth took over at their own 25-yard line, as Jaramillo took a run up the middle, before cutting it out to his left for a huge gain, down to the Miami 26-yard line. Agundiz connected with Gonzalez on a pass and the Warriors were flagged for a horse collar tackle taking it down to the 10yard line to set up first and goal. On the next play, Agundiz ran it in for the score with 6:09 to play, but the kick from Jaramillo was no good, leaving the game knotted, 34-34.
Several series results in turnover on downs for both teams taking the game down to 1:59 remaining in the contest.
Miami took over at their own 23yard line. They were able to take the ball into Springlake-Earth territory, before being faced with a fourth and two from the 27-yard line. Thompson would call his own number as he took it around the right side, getting out of bounds at the 17-yard line to stop the clock. On first down, Thompson hit Wheeler in the end zone for the 17-yard touchdown with 12 seconds to play in the game. The kick from Thompson was good, pushing the score to, 42-34.
The Wolverines would cover the onside kick to get the ball at their own 32-yard line, but two plays later, Jaramillo would be tackled short of the end zone, as Miami went on to take the Area Championship, 42-34.