Badgers Move On With 42-20 Win Over Vista Grande

Photo: Josiah Peoples with his second touchdown catch

Adam Lloyd scored four touchdowns and Josiah Peoples caught two passes for touchdowns to provide all the scoring the Prescott Badgers would need in a 42-20 win, sending the Vista Grande Spartans home for good this season. It was the second time this season that the Badgers have beaten the Spartans, the first came in September with a 31-26 win.

Cold weather conditions were not a friend to the Spartans and they struggled yo hold onto the ball early. Their opening possession was a quick three and out, then the punter could not handle the snap and the Badgers pounced to take over the ball at the Vista Grande three yard line. Ninety seconds into the game, Adam Lloyd scored on the three yard run up the middle. Johnann Gundermann added the point after for a quick 7-0 lead.

Photo: Adam Lloyd with one of his four touchdown runs on the night

The Badgers defense played inspired football and forced a second straight three and out. Prescott took over after a short punt at the Spartans 33. Two plays later Lloyd broke one 28 yards and a 14-0 Badgers lead at the 8:05 mark.

Josiah Peoples, known more for his offensive skills, sacked the Vista Grande QB and on a critical third down play, then on fourth and four a number of Badgers forced a turnover on downs by the Spartans.

Prescott took over on their own 36 yard line and two plays later Uriah Tenette threw the first of his two touchdown passes to Peoples, this one for 47 yards and a 21-0 Badgers lead midway through the second quarter.

The Vista Grande offense went three and out for the fourth time in the game and this time the low snap resulted in the punter going down to one knee to field the ball, making the play dead right there. Unfortunately, the Badgers gave it right back to the Spartans with a fumble on the very next play.

Photo: Brody Hanna had a career high 21 tackles

Desperate to make something happen offensively, Vista Grande went for it on  fourth and 12. Peoples came up with another sack, and the Badger offense moved the ball the remaining 36 yards and went up 28-0 on Adam Lloyd’s third touchdown with just thirty-one seconds left in the first half.

Things took a dramatic turn when after a play, running back Fernando Moya collapsed to the ground suffering a seizure. Everything stopped for the next thirty minutes as personnel on site, followed by an ambulance transporting Moya to the hospital. Fortunately, the last thing reported that he was doing fine.

After the teams warmed up again play resumed with just fourteen seconds left on the clock. Two plays by the Spartans finished off the first half with the Badgers in control 28-0.

The Badgers took the kickoff and scored to go up 35-0 on a 42 yard pass play from Tenette to Peoples. A running clock ensued much to the displeasure of the Spartans, especially after Vista Grande came right back to score their first touchdown. And then they followed that with a successful onside kick and another score to make it 35-14.

Meanwhile some fans were wondering if this was going to be a repeat of the near comeback rally that came up short in the first meeting. Prescott slowed the pace and did score to go up 42-14 on Adam Lloyd’s fourth touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Vista Grande scored again but the Badgers ran out the clock and now advance to the quarterfinals to meet the #3 Snowflake Lobos.

Photo: Uriah Tenette’s elusiveness frustrated the Vista Grande defense again

Uriah Tenette, who left Spartans on the ground behind him most of the night, rushed for 125 yards and completed only three passes for 96 yards, two of those touchdowns to Peoples. The other was to Eli Smith.

Lloyd, in his final game at home had a huge game with 130 yards rushing on 18 carries with four touchdowns, said, “We knew we had to play our best football and we did that. The line did a great job up front and our defense was all over the ball tonight. It was another good team win and now we get to play again. This is my senior year and I just want to go out every game and give it everything I’ve got.”

Peoples had the two touchdown receptions for a total of 89 yards, and defensively with a sack and five tackles, said, “This is playoff football and we all need to play at a higher level each time in order to keep moving on.” In regards to his two touchdowns, “I was able to get a couple steps on the defender and Uriah put the ball right where it needed to be. He just continues to find ways to make things happen. Our defense came out and did an amazing job in the first half to help our offense.”

Brody Hanna led all defenders with 21 tackles that included two sacks. In the first meeting with the Spartans, Hanna had 17. The sophomore linebacker said, “We knew this was going to be a battle again. We just came out and got right after them. Another good win for us and now we get to go play at Snowflake. Should be another tough game, but we will get at it this week in practice and be ready for the challenge.”

Vista Grande ends their season at (7-4).

PRESCOTT BADGERS 42, VISTA GRANDE SPARTANS 20

Score by Quarters- 1        2        3        4     –     T

Vista Grande            0        0       14      6     –    20

Prescott                   14     14        7       7     –    42

Scoring Summary

P-Lloyd 3 yard run (Gundermann kick)

P-Lloyd 28 yard run (Gundermann kick)

P-Peoples 47 yard pass from Tenette (Gundermann kick)

P-Lloyd 6 yard run (Gundermann kick)

P-Peoples 42 yard pass from Tenette (Gundermann kick)

VG-Gant 5 yard run (Hernandez kick)

VG-DeCastro 2 yard run (Hernandez kick)

P-Lloyd 4 yard run (Gundermann kick)

VG-Naymond-Dixon 14 yard pass from Gant (Run failed)

Bradshaw Mountain at Thunderbird

The Bradshaw Mountain Bears season came to end once again at Thunderbird High School in Phoenix with a 49-20 loss to the Titans.

Elija Little rushed for 283 yards on 22 carries and scored five touchdowns to lead the Titans. Quarterback Andrew Cohill completed eight passes for 123 yards as Thunderbird amassed 454 yards of total offense.

The Bears took the lead on a Kylin Jackson rushing touchdown, the kick was missed for an early 6-0 lead. The Titans took the lead two minutes later when Little scored and the extra point gave Thunderbird a 7-6 lead. Little scored his second rushing touchdown to make it 14-6. Brayden Munday came up with a pick-six and with the Trevor head extra point made it 14-13.

The second quarter, Elijah Little scored back to back touchdowns and it was 28-13. Bradshaw countered with a two yard rushing touchdown by Jackson to trim the Titans lead to 28-20.

Thunderbird went to the air with a pass from Cohill to Daryl Little for a 35-20 at the half.

The Titans added two more rushing touchdowns in the third quarter by Elijah Little to put the game out for reach.

Kylin Jackson led the Bears with 103 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns.

Bradshaw Mountain ends their season at (7-4).

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS PLAYOFF SCOREBORD

4A Division

Prescott 42, Vista Grande 20

Arcadia 34, Seton Catholic Prep 30

AZ College Prep 37, Estrella Foothills 14

Mica Mountain 45, Coconino 10

Snowflake 59, Canyon Del Oro 6

Thunderbird 49, Bradshaw Mountain 20

Walden Grove 30, Northwest Christian 20

Yuma Catholic 35, Combs 0

4A  DIVISION  PLAYOFFS – Quarterfinal Round, Friday at 7pm

#6 Prescott (10-1) at #3 Snowflake (11-0)

#7 Arcadia (10-1) at #2 AZ College Prep (10-1)

#9  Walden Grove (7-4) at #1 Yuma Catholic  (10-1)

# 5 Thunderbird  (10-1) at #4 Mica Mountain (11-0)