Facing a first-round exit in the postseason in Salpointe Catholic’s first season competing at the Class 6A level, the Lancers needed a touchdown.
Quarterback Fredo Sotelo picked up a low snap near his left ankle, rolled to his left, planted his feet and darted a pass over the middle — with three defenders nearby — to sophomore Nate Spivey for a walk-off touchdown, lifting the seventh-seeded Lancers over No. 10 seed Gilbert Williams Field 36-33 Friday night in the first round of the playoffs.
It was part of a banner night for Southern Arizona teams, who went 3-0 in the first round of the “big schools” playoffs. A fourth team, Pusch Ridge Christian, played Saturday in the 3A state semifinals.
“At no point did I ever feel comfortable,” said Salpointe coach Eric Rogers. “Williams Field is a very well-coached football team, very good football players. They’re gritty, they’re tough, they’re used to this. ... I knew this was going to come down to the wire.”
Added Rogers: “I told them at halftime: ‘If you think they’re going to roll over, you have another thing coming. They’re going to fight us until the very end and we have to be prepared for that.’ We practiced all week knowing this could come down to one play, so I feel confident we’ve been battle-tested. For us to hang tough and find a way and get a play done, I’m so freaking proud of the kids.”
The Lancers and Black Hawks were tied 9-9 at the halftime break. Salpointe opened the second half with a pair of touchdowns. Star defensive end Elijah Rushing tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage. It landed in the hands of defensive end Damian Coley, who returned the interception for a 43-yard touchdown. Sotelo completed a 64-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Gage Felix to extend the Lancers’ second-half lead to 23-9. Williams Field scored a 10-yard touchdown in the third quarter to bring the Black Hawks within a possession.
Given a chance to put the game away in the fourth quarter, Salpointe committed a series of penalties that knocked the Lancers out of the red zone, eliminating a chance for a field goal.
“We’ve got to shore that up,” Rogers said. “We’re way too undisciplined in some areas and we’re just beating ourselves. In these tight ball games, that’s how you lose.”
The self-inflicted errors continued when they muffed a punt to hand Gilbert Williams Field the ball on the 27-yard line and a chance to tie the game.
Williams Field running back Joshua Dye, who finished the night with 25 carries for 123 yards, tied the game 23-23 with a 4-yard touchdown run with just over four minutes remaining.
Salpointe faced a fourth-and-6 near midfield, but opted to punt. Lancers punter and kicker Cameron Fiske booted a 64-yard punt and pinned the Black Hawks on their two-yard line.
“It was huge,” Rogers said.
Another three-and-out by Salpointe’s defense gave the Lancers the ball with 21.8 seconds left. With 6 seconds remaining, Fiske’s 44-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Williams Field to force overtime.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime period. A Salpointe sack knocked the Black Hawks back, and they were forced to kick a 35-yard field goal.
With the season on the line, Sotelo and Spivey lifted Salpointe over the Black Hawks with a game-winning touchdown pass — the first walk-off score in Spivey’s career.
“That was one of the newer plays we added in. ... Fredo threw it, I did the best I could and just caught it,” Spivey said.
Spivey said escaping Friday with a win “is a relief.”
“We don’t gotta worry about it any more and just move on to the next one,” he said.
No. 7 seed Salpointe will battle second-seeded Gilbert Highland on the road next Friday in the 6A quarterfinals.
“We’ve got to find a way to fight, scratch and claw for 48 minutes again,” Rogers said.
“Best part? We’re practicing on Thanksgiving. There’s nothing greater. It’s my favorite holiday and it’s not because of the food. I get to be out here with our guys and coaches on Thanksgiving. It’s just a fun group to be around. To be here on Thanksgiving, there’s nothing better.”
Thomas scores twice in CDO win: Jordan Thomas rushed for a pair of first-half touchdowns and No. 6 Canyon del Oro beat No. 13 Phoenix St. Mary’s in the first round of the 4A state playoffs.
Thomas punched in a 1-yard score in the first quarter to give CDO a 6-0 lead (the PAT failed), then tacked on a 17-yard score just before halftime to make it 13-0. St. Mary’s David Galindo made it a one-score game with a 2-yard rushing score with 9 minutes left, but the visitors could get no closer.
CDO will host its second-round playoff game after No. 14 Phoenix Thunderbird upset No. 3 Tempe Marcos de Niza 17-14 in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Marana's Elijah Joplin, right, and Dezmen Roebuck celebrate after a second-half touchdown during Friday night's Class 5A state playoff win over Phoenix Sunnyslope.
Tigers run past Sunnyslope, get Notre Dame Prep next: Elijah Joplin threw for 283 yards and No. 8 Marana scored twice in the fourth quarter to hold off No. 9 Phoenix Sunnyslope 26-17 in the first round of the 5A state playoffs.
Joplin, the Tigers’ star quarterback, completed 22 of 29 passes but did not throw for a touchdown. Instead, the Tigers turned to their often-overlooked running game to put Sunnyslope away.
Matthew Jensen rushed for three short touchdowns, part of a 14-carry, 40-yard performance. Joplin added a QB sneak for a score.
Sophomore receiver Dezmen Roebuck finished with a game-high eight catches for 81 yards. He added 21 rushing yards and 36 return yards.
Jaelen Collins, Samuel Brown and Dermain Linen all intercepted passes for the Tigers, who will travel to No. 1 Scottsdale Notre Dame prep for Friday’s 5A state quarterfinals. Notre Dame Prep thumped No. 16 Paradise Valley on Friday night, 42-19.
Pusch Ridge Christian’s season ends: Mesa Eastmark beat Pusch Ridge Christian 45-10 on Saturday afternoon, eliminating the Lions from the Class 3A state playoffs in the semifinals.
Second-seeded Eastmark scored three touchdowns in the second quarter and three more in the fourth to put third-seeded Pusch Ridge away. The Lions took a 3-0 lead on Isaiah Peyton’s 30-yard field goal in the first quarter. Eastmark scored two consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter, making it 14-3. Pusch Ridge’s Bubba Mustain punched in a 10-yard rushing score and Peyton hit a PAT, cutting the lead to 14-10. Eastmark scored the final 31 points.
Eastmark’s win came one week after it beat Sabino 42-28 in the 3A quarterfinals. Eastmark will play either No. 1 Thatcher or No. 4 Show Low in Saturday’s 3A final, which will be held at Phoenix Desert Vista High School.
Photos: Canyon del Oro beats Phoenix St. Mary's in football playoffs
Canyon del Oro's Jordan Thomas (20) leaves a trail of St. Mary's defenders in his wake as he hops into the end zone with what turned out to be the winning touchdown in the second quarter of a 13-7 win in the first round of the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro’s Chase Laux (14) bounces off Jakob Coker of St. Mary’s (1) on a second quarter catch-and-run during the first round of the 4A state playoffs last November.
Canyon del Oro's Ethan Krominga (3) keeps St. Mary's PJ Lewis (10) from hauling in a Hail Mary in the end zone on the last play of the second quarter of their first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro’s head coach Dustin Peace greets his players one at a time as they go through their pre-game warm-ups before kicking off against St. Mary’s in the first round of the 4A state playoffs last November.
The Canyon del Oro team takes the field to face St. Mary's in their first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro's Vijay King (21) hangs on to drag down St. Mary's quarterback David Galindo (25) in the first quarter of their first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro’s Chase Laux (14) tip-toes out of the arms of St. Mary’s Ryan Castillo (3) on a first quarter catch-and-run in a 4A state playoff game last November.
Canyon del Oro's Sa'kylee Woodard (55) puts the pressure on St. Mary's David Galindo (25) forcing and awkward throw in the third quarter of their first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro's Ryan Madsen (16) drags St. Mary's Emrich Kerekes (51) down the field after his catch in the third quarter of their first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro's Evan Greer (54) gets just enough of St. Mary's David Galindo (25) to drop him for a sack in the third quarter of their first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro’s Jordan Thomas runs around Phoenix St. Mary’s PJ Lewis during Friday’s Class 4A state playoff game. Thomas scored both of the Dorados’ touchdowns in a 13-7 win.
Canyon del Oro's Mavrick Neustadter (8), left, Manuel Zamorano (24) and Chase Laux (14) surround St. Mary's John Munoz (24) on his sweep in the third quarter of their first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro gets close but can’t recover their own onside kick in the first quarter against St. Mary’s in the first round of the 4A state playoffs last November in Oro Valley.
Canyon del Oro’s Tristen McClelland (17) fires over the rush of St. Mary’s Riddick Pacheco (67) in the first round of the 2022 4A state playoffs last November.
St. Mary's David Galindo (25) runs out of his shoes on a keeper in the fourth quarter of their first round game in the state 4A playoffs against Canyon del Oro, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
The Canyon del Oro student section sings along to Sweet Caroline just before the Dorados second half kick-off against St. Mary's in a first round game in the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
Canyon del Oro tight end Ryan Madsen and the Dorados warm up in the final minutes before kick-off against St. Mary's in their first round game of the state 4A playoffs, Oro Valley, Ariz., November 17, 2022.
