Pusch Ridge, Benson, Bisbee advance; Flowing Wells, Pueblo eliminated
- Updated
News and scores from Saturday's high school football playoff games.
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 3 Pusch Ridge Christian 38, No. 14 Payson 13
Third-seeded Pusch Ridge Christian cruised past No. 14 Payson for a 38-13 win on Saturday night, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs for the third straight season.
Now the Lions have another shot at doing something for the first time in program history – reaching the state semifinals.
Pusch Ridge (10-1) goes for its 11th straight win next Saturday when it hosts sixth-seeded Mohave Valley River Valley, last year’s state champion. A victory there will snap an 0-for-4 skid in the second round of the postseason and set the school’s single-season wins mark.
“A playoff win is a playoff win” senior captain James Raica said. “It’s awesome.”
Sophomore running back Tamerat McLeod rushed for a game-high 98 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions while Raica and Pusch Ridge’s defense limited Payson to just one offensive score.
“In the past years, we haven’t had a team that’s so tight,” said Ben Walker, a senior tight end and defensive end. “This year, that’s there and we have the work ethic. I’ve been here on varsity all four years and I’ve never seen a work ethic like this one.
“We’re willing to go get it done and ti think that’s what’s going to get us over this hump.”
With Pusch Ridge up 17-7 late in the second quarter, Walker hauled in 46-yard catch from senior quarterback Cody Cropp. A few plays later, with less than a minute left in the first half, Cropp connected with sophomore Mitch Maas for a 21-yard touchdown to give the Lions a commanding 24-7 lead.
Payson shifted the momentum midway through the third quarter when Taran Sarnowski scooped up a Pusch Ridge fumble and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown. A failed extra-point made the score 24-13 with 4:50 left in the quarter.
The Lions wasted no time extending their lead once again.
McLeod scored on a 4-yard run with 2:09 remaining in third to make it 31-13 and all but seal the game.
And, as if that score wasn’t enough, McLeod danced his way through Payson’s defense for a 44-yard touchdown, moments after Pusch Ridge came up with a fourth-down stop midway though the fourth quarter.
“This is good beginning,” McLeod said. “This is kind of like the Flowing Wells win but it’s a little more special because it’s in the playoffs.”
Although Pusch Ridge led the entire game, things could have been differently if penalties hadn’t negated two Payson touchdowns. Fourth-year coach Troy Cropp hopes to have the miscues on both sides of the ball fixed by the time River Valley comes tow next week
“We made our mistakes; we’ve got some things we have to clean up to move on,” Troy Cropp said. “We’ve got to get better at what we do an play more physical than we did.”
The Lions are the lone Tucson-area team left in the Division IV state playoffs after No. 9 Flowing Wells and No. 13 Pueblo were both eliminated on the road Saturday night.
Top-seeded Benson and No 6 Bisbee each advanced to the second round of the Division V state playoffs.
“It’s a home playoff win, there’s not a lot of teams playing right now,” Troy Cropp said. “We’re just happy, blessed and fortunate to be out here. We don’t take it for granted; it’ great to be playing right now.”
Daniel Gaona
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 8 Phoenix Northwest Christian 52, No. 9 Flowing Wells 28
PHOENIX – Flowing Wells’ dream season came to end on Saturday night, with a 52-28 loss at Phoenix Northwest Christian.
The No. 9 seeded Caballeros (9-2) couldn’t handle No. 8 seed Northwest Christian’s second half barrage on the road in the first round of the Division IV playoffs. It was the team's first postseason appearance since 2001.
“It hurts, we put in so much work and to end like this,” said Flowing Wells senior running back Dionte Flores.
The Crusaders jumped out to a 21-7 lead. Flowing Wells cut it to seven, but Northwest Christian outscored 35-14 in the second half and scored twice after Caballeros fumbles.
“I think we came out a little bit flat and we just can’t turn the ball over,” said Flowing Wells coach Mark Brunenkant. “We gave them a short field a couple times.”
Brunenkant said that while losing is tough, he’s proud of the season the Caballeros had.
“It’s a great success, we went from 1-9 two years ago to 9-1, 9-2 now, and to qualify for the state playoffs, this doesn’t take any damper of the season as a whole,” Brunenkant said.
Flores said Flowing Wells’ success this season “really surprised” him.
“It was a great season honestly, I didn’t really think two years ago I’d end up in this place but I love this community,” said Flowing Wells senior quarterback Julio Sandoval. “This is like my second family and I’m glad we went out how we went out, that’s a great football team we played and I’m glad to see how we handled against them.”
Many were surprised that Flowing Wells got sent on the road in the first round, even Sandoval, but he down played that. Flowing Wells had the No. 8 ranking heading into its regular-season finale but dropped a spot despite a 62-28 victory that night.
“We were all a little confused by that, but you gotta do what you’re given,” Sandoval said. “You gotta battle back against what you’re given, so coming into the game we were a little shaken up but we got here, got ready just like them, we put our pads on just like them we both played our hardest and the outcome showed.”
James Kelley
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 4 Goodyear Estrella Foothills 42, No. 13 Pueblo 13
At Estrella Foothills, the 13-seed Warriors started the game with a touchdown quickly on their first drive, but were unable to capitalize on the momentum the rest of the way. Frankie Gomez connected with Justin Pledger on an 82-yard pass, followed by a 2-yard touchdown run the next play by Elliot Perez-Guillen to give Pueblo an early. After their first drive, however, the Warriors were only able to score seven more points the rest of the game. Estrella Foothills running back Joe Logan accounted for four touchdowns on the ground, as the Warriors were unable to stop the rushing attack all night.
Highlight reel
In the third quarter, Pledger took the kickoff 84 yards to set up a touchdown of his own, on the next play, bringing Pueblo back in the game.
Player of the game
Pledger. Playing offense, defense, and returning kicks, the senior finished with 208 total yards and a touchdown.
By the numbers
25: Pueblo was appearing in the first playoff game for the program in 25 years.
He said it
"The bond these guys have is unbreakable and goes beyond football. They brought back a winning tradition to the program I could not be more proud of." — Pueblo coach Brandon Sanders
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 1 Benson 56, No. 16 Hopi 14
Senior quarterback Nick Hernandez passed for three touchdowns and was one of three players to rush for a score as top-seeded Benson cruised to a 56-14 win against No. 16 Hopi on Saturday night.
The unbeaten Bobcats host No. 8 Miami next Saturday, with a chance to move on to the state semifinals for the first time since 2008. Benson (11-0) had lost in the first round each of the last three seasons.
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
No. 7 Bisbee 36, No. 10 Chinle 12
Seventh-seeded Bisbee topped visiting No. 10 Chinle 36-12 on Saturday night to notch its first postseason win since upsetting Scottsdale Christian in the opening round of the 2007 2A state playoffs.
The Pumas (8-2) travel to play at second-seeded Glendale Joy Christian next weekend, with a chance to pull within one win of advancing to its first state title game.
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Nov. 7: No. 3 Pusch Ridge Christian 38, No. 14 Payson 13
Third-seeded Pusch Ridge Christian cruised past No. 14 Payson for a 38-13 win on Saturday night, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs for the third straight season.
Now the Lions have another shot at doing something for the first time in program history – reaching the state semifinals.
Pusch Ridge (10-1) goes for its 11th straight win next Saturday when it hosts sixth-seeded Mohave Valley River Valley, last year’s state champion. A victory there will snap an 0-for-4 skid in the second round of the postseason and set the school’s single-season wins mark.
“A playoff win is a playoff win” senior captain James Raica said. “It’s awesome.”
Sophomore running back Tamerat McLeod rushed for a game-high 98 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions while Raica and Pusch Ridge’s defense limited Payson to just one offensive score.
“In the past years, we haven’t had a team that’s so tight,” said Ben Walker, a senior tight end and defensive end. “This year, that’s there and we have the work ethic. I’ve been here on varsity all four years and I’ve never seen a work ethic like this one.
“We’re willing to go get it done and ti think that’s what’s going to get us over this hump.”
With Pusch Ridge up 17-7 late in the second quarter, Walker hauled in 46-yard catch from senior quarterback Cody Cropp. A few plays later, with less than a minute left in the first half, Cropp connected with sophomore Mitch Maas for a 21-yard touchdown to give the Lions a commanding 24-7 lead.
Payson shifted the momentum midway through the third quarter when Taran Sarnowski scooped up a Pusch Ridge fumble and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown. A failed extra-point made the score 24-13 with 4:50 left in the quarter.
The Lions wasted no time extending their lead once again.
McLeod scored on a 4-yard run with 2:09 remaining in third to make it 31-13 and all but seal the game.
And, as if that score wasn’t enough, McLeod danced his way through Payson’s defense for a 44-yard touchdown, moments after Pusch Ridge came up with a fourth-down stop midway though the fourth quarter.
“This is good beginning,” McLeod said. “This is kind of like the Flowing Wells win but it’s a little more special because it’s in the playoffs.”
Although Pusch Ridge led the entire game, things could have been differently if penalties hadn’t negated two Payson touchdowns. Fourth-year coach Troy Cropp hopes to have the miscues on both sides of the ball fixed by the time River Valley comes tow next week
“We made our mistakes; we’ve got some things we have to clean up to move on,” Troy Cropp said. “We’ve got to get better at what we do an play more physical than we did.”
The Lions are the lone Tucson-area team left in the Division IV state playoffs after No. 9 Flowing Wells and No. 13 Pueblo were both eliminated on the road Saturday night.
Top-seeded Benson and No 6 Bisbee each advanced to the second round of the Division V state playoffs.
“It’s a home playoff win, there’s not a lot of teams playing right now,” Troy Cropp said. “We’re just happy, blessed and fortunate to be out here. We don’t take it for granted; it’ great to be playing right now.”
Daniel Gaona
- Arizona Daily Star
No. 3 Pusch Ridge Christian 38, No. 14 Payson 13
Third-seeded Pusch Ridge Christian cruised past No. 14 Payson for a 38-13 win on Saturday night, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs for the third straight season.
Now the Lions have another shot at doing something for the first time in program history – reaching the state semifinals.
Pusch Ridge (10-1) goes for its 11th straight win next Saturday when it hosts sixth-seeded Mohave Valley River Valley, last year’s state champion. A victory there will snap an 0-for-4 skid in the second round of the postseason and set the school’s single-season wins mark.
“A playoff win is a playoff win” senior captain James Raica said. “It’s awesome.”
Sophomore running back Tamerat McLeod rushed for a game-high 98 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions while Raica and Pusch Ridge’s defense limited Payson to just one offensive score.
“In the past years, we haven’t had a team that’s so tight,” said Ben Walker, a senior tight end and defensive end. “This year, that’s there and we have the work ethic. I’ve been here on varsity all four years and I’ve never seen a work ethic like this one.
“We’re willing to go get it done and ti think that’s what’s going to get us over this hump.”
With Pusch Ridge up 17-7 late in the second quarter, Walker hauled in 46-yard catch from senior quarterback Cody Cropp. A few plays later, with less than a minute left in the first half, Cropp connected with sophomore Mitch Maas for a 21-yard touchdown to give the Lions a commanding 24-7 lead.
Payson shifted the momentum midway through the third quarter when Taran Sarnowski scooped up a Pusch Ridge fumble and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown. A failed extra-point made the score 24-13 with 4:50 left in the quarter.
The Lions wasted no time extending their lead once again.
McLeod scored on a 4-yard run with 2:09 remaining in third to make it 31-13 and all but seal the game.
And, as if that score wasn’t enough, McLeod danced his way through Payson’s defense for a 44-yard touchdown, moments after Pusch Ridge came up with a fourth-down stop midway though the fourth quarter.
“This is good beginning,” McLeod said. “This is kind of like the Flowing Wells win but it’s a little more special because it’s in the playoffs.”
Although Pusch Ridge led the entire game, things could have been differently if penalties hadn’t negated two Payson touchdowns. Fourth-year coach Troy Cropp hopes to have the miscues on both sides of the ball fixed by the time River Valley comes tow next week
“We made our mistakes; we’ve got some things we have to clean up to move on,” Troy Cropp said. “We’ve got to get better at what we do an play more physical than we did.”
The Lions are the lone Tucson-area team left in the Division IV state playoffs after No. 9 Flowing Wells and No. 13 Pueblo were both eliminated on the road Saturday night.
Top-seeded Benson and No 6 Bisbee each advanced to the second round of the Division V state playoffs.
“It’s a home playoff win, there’s not a lot of teams playing right now,” Troy Cropp said. “We’re just happy, blessed and fortunate to be out here. We don’t take it for granted; it’ great to be playing right now.”
Daniel Gaona
- Arizona Daily Star
No. 8 Phoenix Northwest Christian 52, No. 9 Flowing Wells 28
PHOENIX – Flowing Wells’ dream season came to end on Saturday night, with a 52-28 loss at Phoenix Northwest Christian.
The No. 9 seeded Caballeros (9-2) couldn’t handle No. 8 seed Northwest Christian’s second half barrage on the road in the first round of the Division IV playoffs. It was the team's first postseason appearance since 2001.
“It hurts, we put in so much work and to end like this,” said Flowing Wells senior running back Dionte Flores.
The Crusaders jumped out to a 21-7 lead. Flowing Wells cut it to seven, but Northwest Christian outscored 35-14 in the second half and scored twice after Caballeros fumbles.
“I think we came out a little bit flat and we just can’t turn the ball over,” said Flowing Wells coach Mark Brunenkant. “We gave them a short field a couple times.”
Brunenkant said that while losing is tough, he’s proud of the season the Caballeros had.
“It’s a great success, we went from 1-9 two years ago to 9-1, 9-2 now, and to qualify for the state playoffs, this doesn’t take any damper of the season as a whole,” Brunenkant said.
Flores said Flowing Wells’ success this season “really surprised” him.
“It was a great season honestly, I didn’t really think two years ago I’d end up in this place but I love this community,” said Flowing Wells senior quarterback Julio Sandoval. “This is like my second family and I’m glad we went out how we went out, that’s a great football team we played and I’m glad to see how we handled against them.”
Many were surprised that Flowing Wells got sent on the road in the first round, even Sandoval, but he down played that. Flowing Wells had the No. 8 ranking heading into its regular-season finale but dropped a spot despite a 62-28 victory that night.
“We were all a little confused by that, but you gotta do what you’re given,” Sandoval said. “You gotta battle back against what you’re given, so coming into the game we were a little shaken up but we got here, got ready just like them, we put our pads on just like them we both played our hardest and the outcome showed.”
James Kelley
- Arizona Daily Star
No. 4 Goodyear Estrella Foothills 42, No. 13 Pueblo 13
At Estrella Foothills, the 13-seed Warriors started the game with a touchdown quickly on their first drive, but were unable to capitalize on the momentum the rest of the way. Frankie Gomez connected with Justin Pledger on an 82-yard pass, followed by a 2-yard touchdown run the next play by Elliot Perez-Guillen to give Pueblo an early. After their first drive, however, the Warriors were only able to score seven more points the rest of the game. Estrella Foothills running back Joe Logan accounted for four touchdowns on the ground, as the Warriors were unable to stop the rushing attack all night.
Highlight reel
In the third quarter, Pledger took the kickoff 84 yards to set up a touchdown of his own, on the next play, bringing Pueblo back in the game.
Player of the game
Pledger. Playing offense, defense, and returning kicks, the senior finished with 208 total yards and a touchdown.
By the numbers
25: Pueblo was appearing in the first playoff game for the program in 25 years.
He said it
"The bond these guys have is unbreakable and goes beyond football. They brought back a winning tradition to the program I could not be more proud of." — Pueblo coach Brandon Sanders
- Arizona Daily Star
No. 1 Benson 56, No. 16 Hopi 14
Senior quarterback Nick Hernandez passed for three touchdowns and was one of three players to rush for a score as top-seeded Benson cruised to a 56-14 win against No. 16 Hopi on Saturday night.
The unbeaten Bobcats host No. 8 Miami next Saturday, with a chance to move on to the state semifinals for the first time since 2008. Benson (11-0) had lost in the first round each of the last three seasons.
- Arizona Daily Star
No. 7 Bisbee 36, No. 10 Chinle 12
Seventh-seeded Bisbee topped visiting No. 10 Chinle 36-12 on Saturday night to notch its first postseason win since upsetting Scottsdale Christian in the opening round of the 2007 2A state playoffs.
The Pumas (8-2) travel to play at second-seeded Glendale Joy Christian next weekend, with a chance to pull within one win of advancing to its first state title game.
- Arizona Daily Star
Nov. 7: No. 3 Pusch Ridge Christian 38, No. 14 Payson 13
Third-seeded Pusch Ridge Christian cruised past No. 14 Payson for a 38-13 win on Saturday night, advancing to the second round of the state playoffs for the third straight season.
Now the Lions have another shot at doing something for the first time in program history – reaching the state semifinals.
Pusch Ridge (10-1) goes for its 11th straight win next Saturday when it hosts sixth-seeded Mohave Valley River Valley, last year’s state champion. A victory there will snap an 0-for-4 skid in the second round of the postseason and set the school’s single-season wins mark.
“A playoff win is a playoff win” senior captain James Raica said. “It’s awesome.”
Sophomore running back Tamerat McLeod rushed for a game-high 98 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Lions while Raica and Pusch Ridge’s defense limited Payson to just one offensive score.
“In the past years, we haven’t had a team that’s so tight,” said Ben Walker, a senior tight end and defensive end. “This year, that’s there and we have the work ethic. I’ve been here on varsity all four years and I’ve never seen a work ethic like this one.
“We’re willing to go get it done and ti think that’s what’s going to get us over this hump.”
With Pusch Ridge up 17-7 late in the second quarter, Walker hauled in 46-yard catch from senior quarterback Cody Cropp. A few plays later, with less than a minute left in the first half, Cropp connected with sophomore Mitch Maas for a 21-yard touchdown to give the Lions a commanding 24-7 lead.
Payson shifted the momentum midway through the third quarter when Taran Sarnowski scooped up a Pusch Ridge fumble and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown. A failed extra-point made the score 24-13 with 4:50 left in the quarter.
The Lions wasted no time extending their lead once again.
McLeod scored on a 4-yard run with 2:09 remaining in third to make it 31-13 and all but seal the game.
And, as if that score wasn’t enough, McLeod danced his way through Payson’s defense for a 44-yard touchdown, moments after Pusch Ridge came up with a fourth-down stop midway though the fourth quarter.
“This is good beginning,” McLeod said. “This is kind of like the Flowing Wells win but it’s a little more special because it’s in the playoffs.”
Although Pusch Ridge led the entire game, things could have been differently if penalties hadn’t negated two Payson touchdowns. Fourth-year coach Troy Cropp hopes to have the miscues on both sides of the ball fixed by the time River Valley comes tow next week
“We made our mistakes; we’ve got some things we have to clean up to move on,” Troy Cropp said. “We’ve got to get better at what we do an play more physical than we did.”
The Lions are the lone Tucson-area team left in the Division IV state playoffs after No. 9 Flowing Wells and No. 13 Pueblo were both eliminated on the road Saturday night.
Top-seeded Benson and No 6 Bisbee each advanced to the second round of the Division V state playoffs.
“It’s a home playoff win, there’s not a lot of teams playing right now,” Troy Cropp said. “We’re just happy, blessed and fortunate to be out here. We don’t take it for granted; it’ great to be playing right now.”
Daniel Gaona
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