So Close!Rams Come up Short in State Championship Game

So Close!

Rams Come up Short in State Championship Game

James Collier

Ashland Beacon

LEXINGTON A state championship was so close Raceland could taste it.

Down 27-22 with five minutes to go, Raceland forced a Sayre punt that resulted in the Rams taking possession at the Spartans 48-yard line. The Rams methodically marched down the field to the Sayre 24 and that’s when the curse of Kroger Field bit the Rams for a third straight year. On second and eight, Sayre would sack quarterback Jake Waller for a loss of 11. Two plays later, the Rams failed to convert a long fourth down as Sayre held off the final Raceland rally cry for their first ever state championship in school history while completing the perfect 15-0 season in a 27-22 win over the Rams.

Both teams traded touchdowns on their opening drives. Jonah Arnett tossed a touchdown pass to Jaxon Rister as the Spartans held a 7-6 lead after a failed PAT by the Rams. Arnett came away with an interception on the following play by Luke Pennington and the Rams took their first ever lead in a state championship contest on a 28-yard Waller field goal and a 9-7 lead. With the Rams in full control of the game and threating to control the ball heading to the half, a botched snap on third and three forced the Rams to hand the ball back to the Spartans with 1:21 to play in the second quarter. They only needed 44 seconds to find paydirt and a 14-9 lead at the break.

Raceland opened the second half with the ball but a quick three and out followed by a failed fourth down conversion on their next possession gave Sayre the ball at the Raceland 36 and the Spartans needed only one play to push the lead to double digits at 20-9. Shannon Marushi pulled Raceland to within five with a 1-yard plunge, but Sayre countered with a rushing touchdown of their own to push the lead to 27-15. Waller dove in from a yard out for the final Raceland score.

Marushi finished with 93 rushing yards. Landen Stiltner kicked in 63. Waller threw for 92 yards. Rister had 25 yards on four catches. Parker Ison hauled in a 32-yard catch for his lone catch of the game.

Raceland closes the season at 10-5 while securing their fourth state championship runner-up finish.