Oct. 2: Pusch Ridge Christian 21, Sahuarita 7
Host Pusch Ridge beat Sahuarita 21-7 Friday night to set up a big game next week with Flowing Wells.
The Lions used a pesky defensive scheme to put Sahuarita quarterback Damion Hill under a lot of pressure all night. Pusch Ridge Wide receiver Ben Walker hauled in two touchdown passes in the first half to help the Lions improve to 5-1 on the season.
“We did pressure and did some things differently on defense tonight,” said Pusch Ridge coach Troy Cropp. “Sahuarita is a great team and if you give their quarterback time he will eat any team up in Tucson.”
Pusch Ridge ran a quick tempo offense to start the game that stifled the Sahuarita defensive line early on but the Mustangs did a good job adjusting quickly to force the Lions to punt.
Sahuarita took over at its on 34-yard line and put together a drive that lasted nearly 10 minutes and extended into the second quarter.
On fourth-and-6 from midfield the Lions were set to punt when an offside penalty against Pusch Ridge extended the Mustangs drive.
Sahuarita marched down inside the Pusch Ridge 5-yard line and were faced with a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. But The Lions defense stepped up and made a play as they did all night and made a goal line stand after an inside handoff lost two yards for the Mustangs.
Pusch Ridge opened up the scoring when quarterback Cody Cropp found wide receiver Ben Walker for a 25-yard pass in the corner of the end zone with 8:23 left in the second quarter to put the hosts up 7-0.
After a fumble recovery gave the ball back to Sahuarita with six minutes left in the second quarter, the Lions again applied pressure and were able to end another Mustangs drive on downs.
Pusch Ridge would get the ball back and cap off a 72-yard drive with another Cropp to Walker connection this time for a 15-yard touchdown pass and catch, making it 14-0 Lions at the half.
“Tonight we came out fighting,” Walker said. “We were firing on all cylinders tonight.”
Sahuarita gained some momentum late in the third quarter after an ill-advised pass from Cody Cropp was intercepted and returned 42 yards by Mustang safety Erik Thompson to cut Pusch Ridge’s lead to seven.
But with just 50 seconds left in the third quarter Pusch Ridge running back Tamerat McLeod all but sealed the victory for the Lions with an explosive 73-yard run, as there would be no scoring in the fourth quarter.
Pusch Ridge (5-1) prepares for a big showdown with Flowing Wells (7-0) next week.
“We will be the underdog in that game,” Cropp said. “Dionte (Flores) is the man, he is the real deal and we need to bring it next week.”
Nick Peppe
