Jaxson Webster is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover American Leadership Academy - Ironwood for AZPreps365.com

QUEEN CREEK-- The American Leadership Academy-Ironwood Warriors dropped their senior night contest to the Coolidge Bears on Friday night.

The Bears (5-4) used a potent running attack from Tad Lynch, who scored the only two touchdowns for Coolidge in its 14-3 win. Coolidge's two trips to the end zone were enough to get by a Warrior (4-5) defense that held the Bears scoreless twice inside the red zone.

“I don’t think tonight was a night that reflected how hard they played,” ALA-Ironwood coach Travis Epperson said.

On the opening kickoff, Epperson showed his team was ready by attempting an onside kick. Coolidge would recover the ball on its own 47-yard line. After driving downfield thanks to a few scrambles by quarterback Connor Ferguson, the Bears found themselves within striking distance. Coolidge tried to break into the end zone with a barrage of pitch and running plays, but the Warrior defense would stop all four attacks and force a turnover on downs. 

Inside their own 10-yard line, the Warriors struggled without running back Ryan Hammer, who tore his ACL in last week’s game. Coolidge would force a punt and get 15 yards after a late hit was called, giving the Bears the ball on their own 47-yard line once again.

This time the Warriors were overpowered by the 190-pound Lynch, who drove the Bears up to the outskirts of the red zone. On third-and-three, Lynch blasted through ALA-Ironwood on his way to a 27-yard score to put the Bears up 7-0.

The Warriors received the ball back with 3:57 remaining in the first quarter on their own 37-yard line. Quarterback Connor Mault would convert on two separate third downs, but a surplus of penalties quickly put an end to the drive.

Coolidge took over with :30 left in the first quarter and would not surrender the football until there was only 3:50 left in the half. The Bears took almost nine minutes off the clock by converting on a fourth down, as well as two other third downs. All of this would be for naught though, as Devon Elliott intercepted Ferguson’s pass in the end zone on fourth-and-goal.

Before the half ended Epperson's offense tried a flea-flicker and an end around to get the offense going. Neither attempt worked, but a third trick play on fourth down ended up working when punter Jett Brewster found Ashton Williams for a first down. Despite the trickery, the Warriors would run out of time and head into half down 7-0.

“Offensively I wish I could’ve called a play to get us an opportunity,” Epperson said.

That opportunity would come to start the second half. Due to some taunting penalties that occurred before half time, the Bears were forced to kick-off from their own eight-yard line. The Warriors would start with the ball on Coolidge’s 33-yard line. ALA-Ironwood would get inside the 10-yard line after Mault found freshman Ayden Williams for a 26-yard gain. Then, Coolidge would treat the Warriors to a taste of thier own medicine, as they forced ALA-Ironwood to settle for a field goal by Gustav “The Swedish Sensation” Hogedal to make it 7-3.

“The first day of practice I walked into the locker room,” Hogedal said. “Coach Epperson asked me what sport I played and I said, 'Soccer'. He said, ‘Yeah, well you’re the kicker of the team.’”

With 8:40 left in the third quarter, the Bears took the field looking for some insurance. It only took one play for Lynch to break off a 55-yard touchdown to quickly make it 14-3.

From there, both offenses struggled to generate any offense the rest of the third quarter. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Mault fumbled the ball, giving the Bears a chance to make it a three-score game. But the Warriors' resilient defense, led by two-way player Travis Mbuya, kept the Bears at bay.

“Holding them to 14 points is solid,” Epperson said.  

However, the Warriors would never be able to capitalize on the strength of their defense, as the Bears would force a turnover on downs in the Warriors final possession. Coolidge would run out the clock and win by a final score of 14-3. 

“We just had too many mental mistakes that we needed to fix,” Mault said.

In all, 14 seniors played their final home game for the Warriors, but they’ll have one more shot next week as they’ll hit the road to face the Sequoia Pathway Academy Pumas.

“I’m so grateful that we have one more chance next week to stay together,” Epperson said.