Badgers Use Big Second Half To Put Away Coconino 35-13

Photo: Cian Mckelvey scored two rushing touchdowns in the win

The Prescott Badgers made senior night memorable with a 35-13 win over the Coconino Panthers. It was a crispy cold night at Bill Shepard Field, but those who came out not only enjoyed a good game, but were also treated to the homecoming festivities, from the lights out game on October 7, that sent everyone home early.

Photo:  Jake Wright and Zoe Libis were named Homecoming King and Queen

Cian Mckelvey and the Badgers were ready to get going after the senior night festivities. Mckelvey said, “Looking forward to closing out our senior season on a high.” Mckelvey and company sure did that, although the Badgers actually trailed twice in the contest, both in the first half. Junior quarterback Enoch Watson ran the ball in from 4 yards for a 7-0 lead. The Badgers countered with a sharp pass from 5 yards out by Jaxon Rice to Jake Hilton. Cole Gross added the extra digit and the game was tied. Watson scored again from 2yards out, but the extra point failed. Coconino led 13-7 with 7:40 remaining in the second quarter. Prescott would move the ball down the field and take the lead 14-13 when Mckelvey score the first of his two TDs on a 10 yard blast.  The Prescott defense would go on to shut out the visitors for nearly the final 28 minutes of the game, and just plain dominate the second half.

Photo: 72 Landen Francis closes in on Coconino quarterback Enoch Watson

The Badgers put some distance between them and Coconino in the third quarter as Jaxon Rice hit Jake Hilton with a delayed slant, and weaved his way through the Panther defense getting knocked around like a ball in a pinball machine. The Badgers led 21-13 midway through the quarter. Hilton said, “This is a great way to go out on senior night. I got a great pass into the end zone and the other I just found some space, and got some key blocks to make a play. The coaches had a good game plan, and we all did what we had too.”

Prescott added some more breathing room on Coconino’s next possession. Watson was pressured by Landen Francis and threw an interception to Cody Hanna who returned the ball for the pick six, increasing the lead to 28-13 with 4:26 left in the third.

The Badger defense stopped the Panthers drive at the Prescott 18 with still eleven minutes left. The offense took it from there, moving 82 yards, capped off by a breakaway run of 49 yards by Mckelvey, who would finish with 137 yards rushing on the night. The Coconino offense used up quite a bit of clock as another drive failed. Prescott would run out the final minutes for the win.

Photo: Seniors on the PHS Spirit line

The Badgers improve to (3-1) in the Grand Canyon Region and (7-2) overall. Prescott will close out their regular season in Cottonwood, versus Mingus, on Thursday at 7pm. Coconino will battle for bragging rights in their rivalry game versus Flagstaff, in the NAU Walkup Skydome.

PRESCOTT BADGERS 35, COCONINO PANTHERS 13

Score by Quarters-     1        2        3        4   –    T

Coconino                      7       6         0        0   –   13

Prescott                        7       7       14        7   –   35

Scoring Summary

C-Watson 4 yard run (Navarro kick)

P- Hilton 5 yard pass from Rice (Gross kick)

C-Watson 2 yard run (Kick failed)

P-Mckelvey 10 yard run (Gross kick)

P-Hilton 23 yard pass from Rice (Gross kick)

P-Hanna 28 yard pass interception (Gross kick)

P-Mckelvey 49 yard run (Gross kick)

GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS

School-                            W-L      W-L

Bradshaw Mountain     4-0        6-3

PRESCOTT                       3-1        7-2

Lee Williams                  3-1        6-3

Coconino                        1-3        3-6

Mingus                            1-3        5-4

Flagstaff                          0-4        2-7

Photo: The Pride of Prescott Marching Band performing before the game

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SCOREBOARD

Bradshaw Mountain 49, Flagstaff 6

ALA-Gilbert North 56, Benjamin Franklin 14

Apache Junction 42, Arcadia 21

Canyon Del Oro 37, Empire 6

Carl Hayden 42, Washington 6

Central 35, McClintock 14

Combs 36, Arizona College Prep 20

Glendale 42, Gila Ridge 41

Greenway 49, Deer Valley 14

Lee Williams 40, Mingus 18

Marcos de Niza 52, Seton Catholic Prep 7

Sierra Linda 20, Estrella Foothills 17

Snowflake 28, Poston Butte 7

St. Mary’s 28, Lake Havasu 14

Thunderbird 52, Youngker 23

Yuma Catholic 49, Peoria 8

3A PLAYOFFS-FIRST ROUND

Eastmark 50, Monument Valley 0

Paradise Honors 26, Payson 24

Pusch Ridge 35, ALA-West Foothills 0

Round Valley 26, Florence 13

Show Low 56, Blue Ridge 7

Thatcher 62, Benson 7

Valley Christian 33, Mohave 19

2A PLAYOFFS-FIRST ROUND

Camp Verde 42, San Tan Charter 30

Holbrook 42, Veritas Prep 18

Morenci 32, Tanque Verde 0

Pima 55, Chinle 8

Scottsdale Chritsian 42, Valley Lutheran 0

Tonopah Valley 75, Heritage Academy Laveen 14

Willcox 49, St. Johns 7

1A PLAYOFFS-SEMIFINALS

Williams 56, Hayden 38

Mogollon 48, St. David 39

 

DIVISION 4 RANKINGS              (W-L)    Last week                                              

#1 ALA-Gilbert North                 6-2           1

#2 Canyon De Oro                      7-1           2

#3 Poston Butte                         6-2           3

#4 Marcos de Niza                     7-1           5

#5 Snowflake                              5-3           8

#6 St. Mary’s                               6-2          9

#7 Apache Junction                   5-3          6

#8 Arizona College Prep           5-3           4

#9 Lake Havasu                          6-2          10

#10 Yuma Catholic                    6-2           7

Grand Canyon Region Team Ranking

#11 Bradshaw Mountain          5-3         13

#14 PRESCOTT                            6-2         15

#19 Coconino                              3-5        20

#20 Lee Williams                        5-3        18

#25 Mingus                                  5-3        27

#36 Flagstaff                                2-6        33