Joaquin Rams Stadium on Friday, October 13, 2023 –
Friday saw the Joaquin Rams varsity football team lose their 2023 Homecoming game to the San Augustine Wolves by a narrow 49-48 score.
The Rams never trailed the Wolves until the final 3:30 of the final period. Joaquin went up 7-0 points when Gauge Jordan busted free for a 68-yard touchdown run with 3:29 left in the first quarter. Jose Bravo added on an extra point kick Bravo eventually converted on six extra point kicks during the contest.
Joaquin extended their lead to 14-0 with another Jordan touchdown with 11:21 left in the second period. San Augustine answered two minutes later when Tymorion Cartwright broke free for a 9-yard touchdown run with 9:06 left in the second period. Joe Barrios added the extra point kick which cut the Ram’s lead to 14-7.
A long Elijah Hardison reception gave JHS a first-and-goal at the 8 yardline and Jordan cashed in with his third touchdown run from the 3-yardline with 6:07 left in the second stanza. The Rams extra point attempt failed but they led 20-7.
Cartwright scored his second touchdown from the 16-yardline with 1:28 left in the first half. The Wolves extra point attempt failed and Joaquin led 20-13.
Justyn Brown scored on a keeper run with 6:30 left in the third frame to help give JHS a 27-13 advantage.
Cartwright scored on a 73-yard touchdown on the Wolves first play from scrimmage and the Wolves trailed 27-20 with 6:10 left in the third quarter.
Jordan scored again on an 8-yard run with 3:45 left third frame to give JHS a 34-20 lead. The Wolves bounced back when Cartwright hit Jayden “Stooka” Clifton for a 68-yard touchdown reception. The Wolves trailed 34-27 with 3:25 left third frame.
Hardison gave Joaquin some breathing room with a 4-yard touchdown with 1:22 left in the third period and Joaquin took a 41-27 lead into the final quarter of play.
In the fourth quarter Cartwright wasted no time he hit Clifton for a touchdown reception just seconds into the fourth stanza then he scored himself on a 23-yard keeper to tie the game at 41-41 with 8:42 left in the contest.
Brown hit Jordan for a touchdown reception to help the Rams regain the lead at 48-41 at the 3:47 mark but the Wolves scored again just 13 seconds latter on a Cartwright to Jerkeldrick Malone 60-yard bomb for a score. The Wolves trailed 48-47 and they elected to go for a 2-point conversion to try for the lead. Clifton was able to pull down a pass in the endzone from Andrew Nash to give the Wolves a narrow 49-48 lead with just 3:34 minutes left in the game. The Wolves defense did the rest when Clifton stripped the ball free from the Rams. After an interference call on the Rams, SAHS was able then to run off the remaining 1:30 minutes for the win.
The Rams now stand at 1-6 overall and 1-3 in District 11 2A-1. The Rams now face the task of travelling to Timpson to face the undefeated, state ranked Bears next Friday, October 20, 2023 at H.E. Eakin Bears Stadium. The Bears (7-0) defeated the West Sabine Tigers on the road Friday by a 56-8 score.
