Pick-six seals Shamrock win over Rams

Antelope went into Friday night's game against Yuma Catholic with a plan to control the ball by using the running game. The plan worked, as the Rams held the Shamrocks to only one offensive play in the third quarter.

The problem was that Yuma Catholic was able to turn that one play into 14 points on its way to a 41-14 victory over Antelope at Ricky Gwynn Stadium.

The Rams took the second half's opening drive 86 yards on 17 plays all the way down to the Shamrocks' 5-yard line. During the drive, Antelope converted on two fourth-and-long situations as the Rams trailed 21-7.

On fourth-and-goal the Rams (5-4 overall, 4-2 2A West) attempted a halfback pass with quarterback Cody Rivera tossing to Aaron Skousen. But the Shamrocks (8-2 overall, 6-0 2A West) got pressure on the Antelope running back and Skousen threw an interception to Shamrocks' defensive back Julian Higuera before he was tackled for a loss. Higuera took the interception 85 yards for a touchdown.

"It was just right there, it was wide open and nothing but green grass," Higuera said. "I had great blockers all the way down."

Five plays later, after an Antelope punt, Higuera handed the ball off to Harris on the Shamrocks' 20-yard line. Harris then took the ball 80 yards for the score, with 2:10 remaining in the third, on what was Yuma Catholic's first play of the second half.

Harris finished the game with six carries for 184 yards and three receptions for 46 yards with three total touchdowns.

"The (holes) were big," Harris said. "I’d hit the corner and there would be one or two guys, but they’d be spread out. I could pick wherever I wanted to go."

Harris scored on the game's opening play, a 70-yard run. He got into the end zone on the next drive, this time through the air, after an 11-yard pass from Higuera.

Higuera finished the game 9-for-13 for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including a 23-yard throw to Joe Gandara.

"We had a pretty good game plan, we wanted to mix it up and spread it around. Unfortunately someone forgot to tell Antelope they were supposed to lose," Yuma Catholic coach Rhett Stallworth said. "(Antelope) played it hard and I expected it."

Antelope running back Erick Hernandez rushed for 130 yards on 29 carries and was the Rams' primary source of offense. During the Rams' 17-play drive in the third quarter, they handed the ball off to Hernandez nine times. The other eight plays were split between Rivera and Skousen.

"Our only chance was to grind it out with Erick Hernandez behind Aaron Skousen and throw in a little Cody Rivera," Antelope coach John Blabe said. "We gave it our best shot and it just wasn’t enough, but I’m proud of the way the kids played."

The loss knocked Antelope out of playoff contention, ending a streak of nine-straight postseason appearances. Blabe said he was still happy that his team kept its streak of winning seasons alive, making this Antelope's 10th straight.

The Shamrocks will host a playoff game next Friday at Ricky Gwynn Stadium. The opponent is to be determined.