It’s often said football is a game of inches, and Flowing Wells didn’t give up any in its 29-27 overtime win over visiting Maricopa on Friday night in the first 5A Southern game for both teams.
At least it didn’t when it mattered most.
The Caballeros stuffed Maricopa’s 2-point conversion to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2015, when they started 7-0 en route to a 9-2 season.
Quarterback and kicker Benicio Ruiz amassed 199 total yards, two touchdowns, three PATs, and threw the game-winning 2-point conversion.
“He’s one of our best athletes and I always trust Ben (Benicio) to do the right thing and make big plays, and that’s what he did in tough moments,” said Flowing Wells fourth-year coach Brian Hook.
Despite the final score, Flowing Wells was in control going into the fourth quarter with a 21-7 lead thanks to Quinn Van and Alfredo Guzman scoring a touchdown each in the third quarter.
Maricopa (2-2) cut into the lead with a touchdown on a run from quarterback Jose Cardona Jr. making it 21-14
The Caballeros had a chance to go up two scores with under five minutes left but missed a field goal from Maricopa’s 2-yard line.
“I hate to say it, it was the snap. It was a little high, our holder got mixed up and it threw me off,” Ruiz said.
It must be mentioned though that Flowing Wells’ usual long snapper, Angel Perez was hurt earlier in the game, and could not return.
Maricopa used all but six seconds before tying the game at 21 and sending it to overtime.
Ruiz ran in the touchdown for the Caballeros before finding Xavier Galligan, setting up a must-score situation for Maricopa.
Cardona and the Rams answered quickly, connecting with Julian Lopez before being stopped on their own 2-point try.
“I was full throttle; we needed that score. I wanted to win and we did it,” Ruiz said.
“It adds a lot of meaning this year moving forward. We have ambitions of making the postseason. It’s been a long time since we’ve done that so that’s our goal,” Hook said.
Flowing Wells last made the postseason in 2018 when Mark Brunenkant was the head coach and Hook was the offensive coordinator.
Flowing Wells will look to continue its undefeated start to the season Friday at home against Phoenix Carl Hayden (1-3) in the Caballeros’ last non-region game of the season.
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