No. 8 Catalina Foothills 21, No. 9 Yuma Cibola 16
Catalina Foothills won its second football playoff game in school history in style on Friday night.
The Falcons snared a last-minute interception at the 3-yard line to hold off Yuma Cibola 21-16 in the first round of the Division III state tournament.
Falcon junior safety/receiver Jimmy Stewart picked off the Raiders with No. 8-seeded Foothills clinging to a 5-point lead and No. 9 Cibola driving.
“I’m just extremely happy right now,” Stewart said. “We haven’t won a playoff game here in so long and I know the school wanted it. Everyone was hyped for the game, everyone came out even though it was really cold and we came out and won.”
Stewart said he noticed the success Cibola was having with junior tight end Mark Walton and reacted.
“I just figured that down in the red zone, that’s where they’re going to try and get him the ball and once I saw the ball in the air, I just went and attacked and I got it,” Stewart said.
Foothills will visit top-seeded Paradise Valley next week. Paradise Valley beat No. 16 Tempe 55-17 on Friday night.
Catalina Foothills took a 21-10 lead on a 1-yard touchdown by senior running back/linebacker Preston Kime, but Cibola cut into the lead on a 6-yard pass to senior running back Jacob Durate, who had both the Raiders’ touchdowns. The Falcons foiled Cibola’s 2-point conversion though, meaning the Raiders would need a touchdown on their last drive.
“I couldn’t be happier, I couldn’t be more proud of the team,” said Foothills junior quarterback Rhett Rodriguez. “It’s probably the greatest moment of my life.”
After Cibola’s last score, the Foothills offense drove down the field but stalled in the Raider red zone and settled for a 27-yard field goal try on fourth-and-inches, which missed.
“I’m really kind of kicking myself because I had a play and usually when I have a play, I go for it,” said Foothills coach Jeff Scurran.
Rodriguez ran for 107 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and passed for 144 yards and a touchdown, going 9 for 19.
After the game, Foothills students stormed the field to join the Falcon football players in celebration.
“It just feels great to have the support of the school behind you,” said Stewart, who had two catches for 34 yards.
Foothills junior safety Nick Lioy intercepted a Cibola pass in the end zone at the end of the second quarter.
“Eight and nine (seeds), two very evenly-matched football teams,” Scurran said. “They adjusted, we adjusted, they adjusted, we adjusted and it was just a good, entertaining high school football game. I’m glad my hair’s already gray.”
James Kelley
