Tempe High School's senior night and last game of the season tonight ended in a 27-16 loss to Marcos de Niza Friday.

 

Tempe sacked Marcos de Niza's senior quarterback, Marcos Moreno, twice in the end zone. The first being three minutes into the first quarter, giving Tempe a 2-0 lead.

 

With Nathan Clayton at quarterback, still a cast on his left wrist and a result of him landing on it wrong after a play against Estrella Foothills earlier in the season, the team started strong in passing yards.

 

Clayton had a 28- and 25-yard pass to senior wide receiver Isaiah Bruner shortly after Tempe put two points on the board, as well as a 20-yard pass to Dominick Harper, playing on the gaps the Padres left open.

 

Four minutes were on the clock in the first quarter and Clayton found Bruner wide open for 10 yards and a Tempe touchdown.

 

Just a few minutes later, Marcos de Niza came back with a touchdown pass of its own to wide receiver Joren Davis to narrow Tempe's lead 8-7.

 

In the second quarter, the Padres scored two touchdowns. The Buffaloes managed to get a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bruner and another sack in the end zone by Amaru Johnson trimming the Padres' lead 20-16.

 

The game turned quiet in the third quarter when Clayton was sacked by Padres junior J.J. Hill. The 6'6" quarterback walked off and was then taken to the hospital to address his injuries.

 

Free safety and wide receiver Omari Rogers stepped up and took the reins and led the Tempe offense. Rogers had some practice at quarterback prior to tonight’s game, but said, “It was different from practice. You have some big guys coming at you and it’s a game changer.”

 

The game finished with emotion because it was the Tempe's  seniors’ last high school football game.

 

Tempe's seniors included Jaren Walker, Cameron Peters, Isaiah Bruner, Dominick Harper, Stevie Maddox, Moses Ruiz, Jorge Arredondo, Luis Llamas, Malik Fitch, Jesus Beltran and Jaime Marmolejo.

 

As they were announced on the field, some advice from the players was shared. Jarren Walker, a free safety and wide receiver, said, "Know what you want in life and go after it." Stevie Maddox, safety and wide receiver, said, "Don't rush time because it's all we have."

Harper will be attending Arizona State University and Beltran will be joining the military.

“Senior night is always an emotional time,” said Tempe head coach Brian Walker. “Especially this year. We had four seniors that were here all four years. In this day in age, loyalty means a lot.”

 

It may be the end of the season for the Buffaloes, but Walker said, “We go back to work, we don’t stop. I’ll give them a few weeks off and then we grind.”