Jack Bartlett is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover McClintock High School for AZPreps265.com

PHOENIX-- After leading for most of the game, Tempe McClintock High School lost its final game of the season to Phoenix Barry Goldwater High School, 18-14, on Friday night. 

In the last seven minutes of the fourth quarter, the Chargers allowed two touchdowns and failed to score any points in their final three drives. The Chargers committed three costly penalties and two turnovers in the final five drives of the game.  

Junior quarterback Peter Clark threw an interception with close to 10 minutes left in the final quarter. The ball was hotly contested by junior wide receiver Avaunt Ortiz, but a Bulldog defender ended up with the catch.

The turnover, with Barry Goldwater trailing 14-3 at the time, fueled the Bulldog comeback. “We couldn’t stop anybody,” McClintock coach Corbin Smith said. “That’s what happened.”

After Clark’s interception, the Bulldogs completed a 20-yard pass and added 15 more yards after the Chargers were called for unnecessary roughness. That 35-yard play certainly changed the momentum and led to the Bulldogs’ first touchdown of the night. 

In the Chargers’ penultimate drive, senior running back Prince Conteh tried to put the team on his back and seal a third-straight victory for McClintock. He rushed for 20 yards on the drive, but it wasn’t enough. On fourth down, Conteh came two yards shy of moving the chains. The failed fourth-down conversion gave the ball back to the Bulldogs.

Barry Goldwater then drove downfield and scored the final points of the evening, virtually ending the Chargers’ season. 

For Conteh, he fought hard until the very end in hopes of keeping his last high school football season alive. He amassed 117 scrimmage yards, two touchdowns and hauled in a 20-yard kickoff return.

“Tough loss, but it’s just the start of the story, right now,” Conteh said. In the beginning chapters of Conteh’s early football career, it ended on a sour note. The senior fumbled twice, which was very uncharacteristic of him. 

Throughout the season, Conteh was a workhorse. He fought for every yard, outran several defensive players, and amassed over 100 yards in almost every game. 

For now, he will take, “baby steps,” Conteh said. “Grades, track. Focus on that,” in order to earn college offers to play at the next level. 

Charger teammates Peter Clark and Avaunt Ortiz had perhaps their best performances of the season. Clark amassed 102 yards passing and found Ortiz open for some big receptions. Clark connected with Ortiz for a 21-yard reception and then a 29-yard reception the following play late in the first half. Ortiz also had two big kickoff returns in the final quarter to help put the Chargers in scoring position. 

After a Derrick Henry-esque stiff arm, Ortiz found the Bulldog’s 33-yard line. The following return he ran for 68 yards to Barry Goldwater’s 32-yard line.

Junior wide receiver Donovan Slyvester had an 18-yard reception, as well. 

For most of the game, it was slow-paced and the Chargers struggled to produce much offense. They became frustrated on the sidelines as a result.

No one was more upset than coach Smith. 

“We were awful this year,” Smith said. “I got to do better and the rest of the coaches do too.”

Smith hopes to improve next season. He will need to replace Conteh at running back, but will still coach Clark, Ortiz, and Slyvester for one more season. 

In a game start-to-finish Barry Goldwater was the better team, but the Chargers made costly errors late in the fourth quarter that cost them the game. McClintock finished its 2021 season 3-6 with wins over Tempe High School, Paradise Valley High School, and South Mountain High School.