Friday nightβs matchup between Marana and Desert View had it all.
A rattlesnake nearly slithered onto the field near halftime before the Marana Fire Department boxed it up and escorted it out of Tiger Stadium. The umpire sustained a leg injury and was carted off the field.
And, oh, and there was also a showdown between two unbeaten teams, with the Jaguars outlasting the host Tigers 46-28.
Desert Viewβs fourth win of the season was led by its standout running back tandem of Serge Gboweiah and Carlos Alvarez. Desert Viewβs rushing duo combined for 444 yards on the ground, including 315 from Gboweiah, and four touchdowns.
βIt was a hard-fought game,β Gboweiah said. βThe linemen did their job, they were able to push and I was able to run behind them. β¦ Once I break something, (Alvarez) comes in when I need a break and then I get I back in when heβs tired.β
For the last two seasons, Gboweiah and Alvarez have been Desert Viewβs top two players for offensive production, which was on display once again Friday night.
βIt was big, because both of those guys have to play both ways,β said Desert View coach Robert Bonillas. βBeing conditioned and practicing and doing what we do as a program allows them to go out and be successful.β
In the first quarter, Marana quarterback Elijah Joplin, Southern Arizonaβs second-leading passer heading into Friday night, connected with wide receiver Sam Brown for a 53-yard strike to set up the Tigers in the red zone, but Marana fumbled the ball away.
Desert View responded with a methodical drive and capitalized it with a goal-line touchdown by star Alvarez to take a 6-0 lead.
On the following drive, Marana running back Matthew Jensen dropped a lateral pass, which left everyone believing it was an incomplete pass. After Jensen realized the game officials hadnβt blown the whistle to signal the play done, he bursted down the sideline for a 40-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead.
Gboweiah scored Desert Viewβs next touchdown, with Jaguars wide receiver Enrique Cancio making a one-handed grab in the end zone to push Desert View ahead 20-14 at halftime.
The Tigers garnered momentum to begin the second half with a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff, which was followed up by Marana receiver Jaelen Collins catching a red-zone touchdown to get a 21-20 lead. Collins batted a pass down and intercepted the ball.
That would be the only positive sequence for the Tigers in the second half besides Joplinβs 12-yard rushing touchdown to end Desert Viewβs 17-point swing that was focused around Gboweiah and Alvarez.
βWe all came out as a unit and kept our heads in the game,β said Gboweiah. βWe just made great plays.β
Desert View (4-0) will return home to face Nogales next Friday for homecoming; Marana (4-1) hosts Sunnyside.
βWe still gotta clean up some mistakes, but great job by the kids and the coaching staff to come out here prepared to face a well-coached team,β Bonillas said. βHey, it was a hell of a win for our boys and the coaching staff.β