Flowing Wells lost is second straight game after starting 6-0 in a thriller as visiting Cienega shut down the Caballeros on the final play to win 28-20 on Friday night.
With just over two minutes left in the game, the Caballeros made it to the Cienega 22 before Benicio Ruiz’s final pass to Jack Youmans in the end zone fell incomplete.
“I had to stay on my P’s and Q’s, stay disciplined, defend the ball. Saw the ball in the air and put my hands up,” Cienega defensive back Jaden Rodgers said about defending the final play.
Cienega (5-3, 3-1 5A Southern) has won three straight games and five of its last six games after starting 0-2.
Cienega quarterback Julian Hainley had 113 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and 23 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Senior running back Josue Martin rushed for more than 150 yards and a touchdown, including more than 100 yards in the second half.
“I was seeing a whole lot of open space,” Martin said. “What would I say to my line? They know how to pull, they hit hard, they meet their blocks in the right place and allow me to get through to where I need to be.”
“We sprinkled in some of our counter stuff, and our line did a tremendous job,” head coach Justin Argraves said. “‘Sue’ (Josue), our running back, stood up today and did a damn good job.”
Flowing Wells (6-2, 2-2) also had a good night despite the loss, with quarterback Ruiz having more than 140 total yards and adding a touchdown through the air and on the ground. Running backs Alfredo Guzman and Jayden Simmons also did their part, combining for more than 100 yards and a touchdown between the two seniors.
Flowing Wells took the lead early in the first quarter thanks to a 20-yard scamper by Simmons to open the scoring.
Cienega answered right back, scoring on a 5-yard pass from Hainley to Ayden Billings. Youmans from Flowing Wells blocked the kick for the Caballeros to hold on to a 7-6 lead.
Flowing Wells was stopped on the following drive, but Youmans came through for his team again, getting an interception to get the ball back. Flowing Wells, however, was not able to convert.
The Bobcats marched down the field on a balanced drive that featured Hainley through the air and Martin through the trenches before scoring on another pass from Hainley to Billings, this time from 12 yards. Hainley then punched in a 2-point conversion on an option to take the lead 14-7.
While Flowing Wells got into position before halftime to try a field goal, Cienega blocked the kick to take its lead into the half.
The Caballeros came out of halftime aggressive, recovering an onside kick.
“We had an idea that they were going to come out with that onside,” Argraves said. “We had a guy there to make a play. It just went through his hands. Ultimately, they got the ball back.”
After stopping Flowing Wells, Jaiden De’Mary got the ball back for the Caballeros with an interception.
Ruiz went on to score a 20-yard rushing touchdown, creating a 14-14 tie.
Cienega, getting the ball back on its own 45 after a kickoff went out of bounds, marched down the field on a drive that included only one pass and ended with Martin getting his lone score of the night to help Cienega take the lead again, 21-14.
Flowing Wells responded with a 27-yard strike to Youmans. After a botched snap on the PAT, Flowing Wells still trailed 21-20.
The Bobcats used up the clock and forced the Caballeros to burn all their timeouts on a drive that featured a 52-yard run by Martin before Hainley rushed in a touchdown to extend the lead to 28-20.
“We had to stay focused, control the clock and maintain ball security,” Hainley said about the message on the sideline before Cienega’s final offensive drive.
Cienega then stopped Flowing Wells on the Caballeros’ final drive with the incomplete pass in the end zone.
“I have confidence in my defense,” Hainley said about Flowing Wells having the ball to close out the game. “I have the utmost confidence in all my DBs. We have a good D-line, so I knew we’d get the job done in the end.”
Although Argraves was happy with the win he still saw flaws in his team saying, “The penalties…that definitely kind of hurt us tonight. That’s just mental focus. It’s got to start with me right there.”
Cienega will host unbeaten Desert View on Friday, while Flowing Wells looks to stop its two-game skid at home against Sunnyside.
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