Will Anderson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Independence High School for AZPreps365.com.

GLENDALE – Independence High School’s senior night began with smiles, but ended with frowns after a nail-biting, heartbreaking finish. 

Coming off a rough 54-7 loss to Marcos De Niza last week, the Patriots lost their second straight in the 4A Black Canyon Region, as Tempe (5-3, 2-1 4A Black Canyon) took them down 22-20 at Independence on Friday night.

Despite the loss, the Patriots (1-7, 1-2 4A Black Canyon) played one of their most competitive games of the season, staying within five points for only the second time this season.

“They’re freaking going to war every single day,” Independence head coach Shane Hagen said. “They’re going to continue to fight, and they’re not going to give up on each other.”

Independence’s home offense picked up right where it left off a couple of weeks ago when the Patriots put up 42 points to beat Glendale. 

In his final home game, senior running back Thomas Kpakra rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown. Senior wide receiver and safety Daniel Rodriguez scored a touchdown of his own, but that came on an interception.

The Buffaloes (5-3, 2-1 4A Black Canyon) also brought the offensive firepower, with senior quarterback Saul Mendez throwing for 253 yards and three touchdowns. The run game was clicking for Tempe as well, totaling more than 150 yards on the ground.

“When the time came to run, we were able to run the ball,” Tempe head coach Sean Freeman said. “That’s how you win the game.”

All of the scoring in the game came in the first three quarters, as the fourth quarter featured two long Independence offensive drives that stalled. After not scoring on their previous two fourth-quarter drives, the Patriots had one more opportunity to win the game with 11 seconds left.

Independence had one timeout, and the ball at its own 45-yard line. Navarro took the snap and rolled all the way to his left, directing his receivers to find an open area in the field. 

He threw a high, wobbly pass that Tempe junior defensive back Jaiden Hart-Rodriguez intercepted to seal the game for the Buffaloes. Hart-Rodriguez isn’t new to intercepting passes, as he has three so far this season.

“I feel like I’m on an island and it’s just me and the ball,” Hart-Rodriguez said. “When it’s in the air, I just want to come down with it.”

Though the Patriots have two more games left, this loss meant the world to a large portion of the team.

Over half of the team is made up of seniors, and it just finished playing its final home game at Independence Patriots. Many of them were visibly upset after the loss. 

“They show up every day, from the spring all the way through the summer,” Hagen said. “They fight their butts off no matter what every single week.”

The Patriots will take on the Moon Valley Rockets on Oct. 24 and the Greenway Demons on Oct. 30 to complete their region schedule and the season.