Renegades fall short in title game

RENO — The last game is all that matters.

After opening the season with a five-point win over Spanish Springs in the Renegades division, the Greenwave youth football team found itself on the opposite end Saturday afternoon at McQueen High School.

Spanish Springs exacted revenge by quickly answering Fallon’s late game-tying touchdown by returning the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown as the Cougars upset the Greenwave, 26-13, for the Sierra Youth Football League’s Renegades title.

Both teams finished the year with identical 10-1 records.

Fallon, which previously defeated Spanish Springs, 18-13, two months ago, tied the game in the fourth quarter when Keaton Williams broke free on a long third down for a 1-yard touchdown run down the sideline. A converted conversion tied the game at 13 with 3 minutes, 19 seconds left in the game before Spanish Springs responded.

The Cougars returned the kickoff for a 58-yard touchdown run 11 seconds after Fallon tied the game. With a chance to tie the game again, Fallon fumbled on its first play and the turnover was immediately returned for a touchdown to seal the win. Fallon saw its chances of winning the program’s only championship this season evaporate in a span of 15 seconds.

The Greenwave, though, had one lead during the game, which came in the first half with both teams in a scoreless tie.

After Fallon’s defense backed up Spanish Springs to a fourth-and-24 in the first quarter, Tyler Austin used a key block at the 20-yard line and then broke loose down Fallon’s sideline for an 85-yard touchdown return. Spanish Springs, though, drove down the field on the next series, capped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass with 6:37 left in the second quarter.