Correction ... best 0-4 team. Should have won that game vs Damonte. Bad spot on 4th down and 2 inches as the Rams RB reached the ball well over the mark. Yet, ball was spotted a good 2 feet back. Still, some might question the call to run the ball from the shotgun when all you needed was 2 inches. Ball is snapped, the RB received the handoff, stumbles before the line of scrimmage, yet finds a crack to get thru and falls and reaches the ball over the line a scrimmage by a good 6-8 inches. I was holding the pole from where he needed to get past from Damonte's sideline. But, I guess in high school football, the ball gets marked from where the knee hits the ground. Not blaming the call on the field. Instead, I question the St. Mary's coaching staff on why not just take the snap under center and QB sneak for the 2 inches. I mean we are only talking 2 inches and the Rams line was doing there job against a much smaller Damonte d-line. The Rams were moving the ball just fine on the ground and with swing out passes to the sides and letting the play-makers make the play. But, we are talking 2 inches!!! SMH! Instead, the Rams are now 0-4 and are 2 TD underdogs going into their last non-league game vs BOD. Rams could possibly enter league at 0-5, yet still make the playoff if they can win their league (TCAL) against the likes for Tracy and Lincoln. This Rams team is young with a junior QB and sophomore RB that will do much better next year. For this year, it appears to be a learning experiense. Unfortunately, it's been an experience on learning how to lose instead of how to win. Still, the coaches really went out on a limb to schedule this year's team against some very formidable opponents. Just glad no one is hurt thru week 4.
It appears the confidence in QB Noah May throwing the ball is not as high as I thought it would be. Against Damonte, he had one INT and a couple of overthrown balls. But, very rarely did he throw the ball over the middle. I also question just before the first half ended, why throw for the TD on 4th down deep in Damonte territory when they should have settled for something shorter called getting the 1st down. SMH! The Rams appear set to primarily run the ball with sophomore #22 Washington and junior #29 Morris. Word I received is that St. Mary's #3 Jamar Marshall, considered a big-time kickoff/punt returner and WR for the Rams and a state qualifying hurdler in track and field quit the team (before the Central Catholic game), reason not disclosed. Quite possibly this could be the year the Rams lose to Tracy and/or Lincoln and not win league and not make the playoffs. Would love to be optimistic, but realistically, it does not looks so good. Still have hope.
The QB for Damonte Ranch, Michigan commit, #12 Cade Mcnamara, is the real deal! That kid has an arm and is very accurate in his throws. He also throws well on the run. He also has a huge heart for the game, pulling out big 4th down conversions running the ball that were critical in beating St. Mary's. Take him out of the game and St. Mary's wins the game. Michigan is getting themselves a good one.
Despite the Rams loss, overall, they played better and really had a shot to pull off the upset. Despite being a 2 TD underdog to BOD, an upset victory is still quite possible. Hopefully, the Rams coaches learned from this game vs Damonte, too. We'll see. GO RAMS!!!