Salmen’s Spartans nearly completed a Hail Mary pass as time expired in a 25-20 loss to the Independence Tigers in a home game held Friday.

The Spartans fell to 1-2.

Independence had gone up in the prior possession.

Salmen'€™s Julien Troullier

Salmen had the ball in Independence territory with one final chance to win it. Spartan quarterback Julien Troullier sent a pass to the end zone. A Spartan wide receiver had the ball in his grasp, but when he it the ground, it came out.

Salmen wide receiver coach Stephen O’Shaughnessy said it was a tough loss.

“I thought we played hard, but in spots we didn’t make plays we had to,” O’Shaughnessy said. “They made a couple more plays than we did. We fought to the very last play of the game. It’s just disappointing to lose a game like that. We’ve definitely got some stuff to work on to keep us from coming out on the short end of the stick.”

The Tigers took a 3-0 lead on the opening drive of the game at the eight-minute mark of the opening quarter. Salmen’s offense, which only punted twice, began its night in Independence territory, but fumbled on the first play, squandering good field position.

In the second period, the Tigers went ahead, 10-0, on a deep pass.

Before halftime, the Spartans got on the board when Troullier ran in for a score. Chris Gulino’s kick trimmed the advantage to 10-7 where the contest stood until the second half.

In the third quarter, Salmen grabbed its first advantage of the game as Jordan Stevenson scored on the ground. The failed PAT held the Spartans’ lead at 13-10.

A field goal by the Tigers knotted the score at 13-13 where the game stayed through three quarters.

Independence went ahead 19-13, but Salmen continued to battle. Trailing by that score and facing a fourth down deep in Tiger territory, Troullier had a pass tipped and Jeremiah Robinson caught it for a first down. That led to a touchdown when Troullier and Isiah Tate hooked up for the tally. Victor Arroyo hit the PAT to give the Spartans the lead, 20-19.

On the ensuing possession, Independence drove 80 yards to go up 25-20. Early in the series, the Tigers hit a pass play that put the ball around Salmen’s 30. Later in the drive, on third down, Salmen was called for pass interference, bringing the ball inside the 10. The Tigers took the lead for good on a third-down play.

Salmen returns to action Thursday night when the Spartans host Sarah T. Reed.