Photo: 24 Cody Leopold ended his amazing Badger career with over 3000 yards rushing and 55 touchdowns
#10 Prescott Badgers at #2 Snowflake Lobos
The Prescott Badgers playoff run came to an end on a cold night in Snowflake, as the Lobos beat the Badgers 23-3.
The defending 3A state champions, one of three teams moved up to Division 4A this season, proved yet again that the move did not matter, dominating the game defensively and shutting down strong Badger offense that was averaging 45 points a game. The combination of turnovers and anemic offensive numbers proved too costly to overcome.
Snowflake took the opening kickoff and went three and out. Prescott fumbled away their first possession setting up a 24 yard field goal by Sam Brown with 6:36 remaining in the first quarter.
The Badgers fell behind 10-0 with a minute left in the quarter on a two yard run by Jeff McCray.
The Lobos picked off the Prescott pass, setting up another scoring opportunity, but the Badger defense stood tall, holding Snowflake to another field goal attempt. The attempt went wide keeping the deficit at ten.
Despite the cold, Prescott continued to try and throw the ball, mostly short patterns. The Snowflake defense was up to the task all evening when it came against stopping the Badger running game.
A third turnover, the second fumble by thy Badgers after a completed pass, gave the ball back to the Lobos at the Prescott 24. A pass interference call set the Lobos up at the Prescott 5. Matt Brinhall went through the center of the line to push the Lobos lead to 17-0.
Jake Hilton, back from an injury last week, returned the kickoff to midfield. Another interception on the first offensive play gave the ball back to Snowflake at the Lobos 40. It was the fourth turnover of the game midway through the second quarter.
Ruben Solano came up with the first Badger turnover at the Prescott 21 with 4:42 left in the half. Another three and out with a punt gave the ball back to the Lobos near midfield. The Badgers held, getting the ball back at their own 33 yard line with just under a minute left. Prescott had their most effective drive of the night, moving down to Snowflake’s 42. Despite turning the ball over four times, the Badgers only trailed 17-0 at the half.
Prescott took the second half kickoff, starting at their own 20. Three pass plays resulted in just five yards, forcing a punt. A 50 punt flipped the field, allowing the Lobos to start their drive at their own 25. The Badger D stopped Snowflake on three plays. The snap was bad, and the Badgers brought the punter down at the Snowflake 12. Prescott finally had a golden opportunity to get back into the game. Unfortunately, the Lobos defense continued to stuff the Badger offense, forcing a 30 yard field goal by Cole Gross. Ahead 17-3 midway through the third quarter, Snowflake moved the ball quickly down the field, scoring on a nine yard run by Jo Jo Lerma. The kick failed, but the Badgers deficit grew to 23-3 with 5:15 left in the third quarter.
Prescott turned the ball over on downs after getting into Snowflake territory. The Lobos pulled off a fake punt when Easton Butler took off to the right, pitching the ball to Bradden Lewis, who ran the ball down to the Badger 10. Once again the defense came up with a stop, and a doink on the field goal attempt kept the game at 23-3, at the start of the fourth quarter. Another turnover on downs gave the ball back to Snowflake with seven minutes left. A tired Prescott defense was forced again to try and come up with a stop, which they did. Another missed field goal attempt gave the Badgers the ball back at their own 20.
Like their 19-3 win earlier in the season at Bradshaw Mountain, credit Snowflake’s defense, limiting the Prescott offense to a few first downs, and minimal yardage to go with it. The Badgers season came to an end with the ball at the Snowflake 6. The sixth turnover came with a pass interception at the Lobos two.
The Lobos combined for 284 yards on the ground, led by Jo Jo Lerma with 109 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Matt Brinhall made the most of his three carries and 8 yards rushing, by scoring two touchdowns. Jett McCray had a touchdown, and 75 yards on seven carries. Brimhall also led the team in tackles with 15.
#2 Snowflake improves to (9-3) and will host #6 Canyon Del Oro (10-2) at 7pm on Friday in the 4A semifinal. Prescott ends their best season since 2006, equaling that record at (9-3).
SNOWFLAKE LOBOS 23, PRESCOTT BADGERS 3
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Prescott 0 0 3 0 – 3
Snowflake 10 7 6 0 – 23
Scoring Summary
S-Brown 24 yard field goal
S-McCray 2 yard run (Brown kick)
S-M. Brimhall 3 yard run (Brown kick)
P-Gross 30 yard field goal
S-Lerma 9 yard run (Kick failed)
#8 Bradshaw Mountain at #1 American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North
A tough season finale for the Grand Canyon Region champs, as the American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North Eagles flew past the Bradshaw Mountain Bears 55-20 in Gilbert.
The Eagles wasted no time as quarterback Adam Diamante connected with Brandon Phelps for four first half touchdown passes, giving him 51 on the season, along with over 4000 passing yards, and only two interceptions
Phelps caught five passes for 146 yards, leading the way of 11 different players had receptions in the contest for ALA-Gilbert North. Braeden Belanger and Kody Thorley each caught a touchdown pass.
Trailing 41-0 at the half, the Bears got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when Grady Rose hit Tanner Mitchell on an 11 yard touchdown pass for the only score in the third quarter.
Eagles backup quarterback, Conner White ran the ball for a nine yard touchdown with 9:48 left in the game to pushed the lead to 48-7. The Bears struck again when Joel Dean returned a punt 74 yards to make it 48-14. White connected on a TD pass to Kody Thorley to increase the score to 55-14. Bradshaw Mountain would end the game on a high when Grady Rose hit Tanner Mitchell on a 78 yard pass from in the final minute.
ALA-Gilbert North’s defense held leading Bears rusher Gabriel Ricketts to just 31 yards. Jordan Kelley led Bradshaw Mountain in rushing with 54 yards. Grady Rose played his final game by completing 6-12 for 160 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Senior Tanner Mitchell had a big game with five catches for 160 yards and the two TDs.
#1 ALA-Gilbert North (10-2) will host #13 Lake Havasu (9-3), a team that has pulled off a pair of road upsets by beating #4 Poston Butte, and #5 Yuma Catholic. Kickoff set for semifinal matchup is on Friday at 7pm.
ALA-GILBERT NORTH EAGLES 55, BRADSHAW MOUNTAIN BEARS 20
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Bradshaw Mountain 0 0 7 13 – 20
ALA-Gilbert North 21 20 0 14 – 55
Scoring Summary
ALA-Phelps pass from Damante (Morris kick)
ALA-Phelps pass from Damante (Morris kick)
ALA-Phelps pass from Damante (Morris kick)
ALA-Phelps pass from Damante (Morris kick)
ALA-Beardall 4 yard run (Morris kick)
ALA-Phelps 28 yard pass from Damante (Kick failed)
BM-Mitchell 11 yard pass from Rose (Stephenson kick)
ALA-White 9 yard run (Morris kick)
BM-Dean 74 yard punt return (Stephenson kick)
ALA-White 3 yard pass to Thorley (Morris kick)
BM-Mitchell 78 yard pass from Rose (Kick failed)
CANYON DEL ORO DORADO 28, THUNDERBIRD TITANS 3
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Thunderbird 0 3 0 0 – 3
Canyon Del Oro 0 0 14 14 – 28
Scoring Summary
T-Monroe 37 yard field goal
CDO-Thomas 5 yard run (Zillman kick)
CDO-Thomas 6 yard run (Zillman kick)
CDO-Beck 45 yard pas from McClelland (Zillman kick)
CDO-Beck 33 yard pass from McClelland (Zillman kick)
LAKE HAVASU KNIGHTS 35, YUMA CATHOLIC SHAMROCKS 34
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Lake Havasu 14 0 13 8 – 35
Yuma Catholic 0 14 7 13 – 34
Scoring Summary
LH-Stopke 2 yard run (Castaneda kick)
LH-Stopke 5 yard run (Castaneda kick)
YC-Stokes 21 yard pass from Stallworth (Rush kick)
YC-Ford 8 yard pass from Stallworth (Rush kick)
LH-Stopke 1 yard run (Castaneda kick)
LH-Thompson 1 yard run (Kick failed)
YC-Seale 18 yard pass from Stallworth (Rush kick)
YC-Stallworth 7 yard run (Rush kick)
LH-Tyler 80 yard run (Cross pass from Stopke)
YC-Stallworth 3 yard run (Kick failed)
PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD
Open Division – Quarterfinals
Basha 31, ALA-Queen Creek 25
Chandler 47, Centennial 27
Liberty 56, Sandra Day O’Connor 26
Saguaro 45, Hamilton 35
6A Division – Quarterfinals
Casteel 43, Mountain Pointe 6
Highland 14, Salpointe Catholic 10
Pinnacle 24, Queen Creek 14
Red Mountain 49, Mesa 10
5A Division – Quarterfinals
Cactus 26, Horizon 18
Desert Mountain 17, Millennium 7
Higley 45, Desert Edge 42
Notre Dame Prep 65, Marana 36
3A Division State Championship
Eastmark 42, Thatcher 21
2A Division State Championship
Pima 59, Morenci 19
