Badgers, Bears Win To Set Up Region Title Game

Photo: 34 Pace Norman, 21 Jimmy Brooks, and Max Young celebrate with 50 Menno Dow after bringing the punter Jair Briseno down in the end zone for a safety

The Prescott Badgers remained undefeated with a 46-8 non-region win over the Youngker Roughriders. The game was a good ‘tuneup’ for the big game next week in a winner take all Grand Canyon Region title game at rival Bradshaw Mountain. The other accomplishment the Badgers can achieve with a win is a perfect regular season.

The Roughriders took the opening kickoff and looked good moving the ball all the way down to the Badgers one yard line. A delay of game due to the coach and QB not being on the same page began a night of miscues by Youngker. The Badger defense took advantage of the “gift” and held the Roughriders on four plays to take over the ball at their own 2 yard line.

Photo:11 Bryce Coston splits the defense on his way to a first quarter touchdown

The Prescott offense got busy and moved the ball up to midfield before quarterback Bryce Coston called his own number and weaved his way through the Youngker defense 50 yards for a 6-0 lead. Coston ran 11 times for 116 yards in the game. Brady Costes added the extra point for a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Photo:13 Rutger Funk coming after the Youngker quarterback Jonas Phillips

The Badger defense took over again, led off the edge by Rutger Funk created more mishaps by Youngker as the visitors gave up a safety when Menno Dow along with Max Young, Jimmy Brooks and Pace Norman brought down the punter in their own end zone after he bobbled the snap. Dow had 8 tackles, 4 for losses including a pair of sacks to lead the defense.

Photo:13 Rutger Funk and 50 Menno Dow about to meet up with Youngker quarterback Jonas Phillips

Prescott started their next drive after the free kick at the Roughrider 37. Two plays later Kellan Hudak caught a 29 yard pass from quarterback James Hefferin to put the Badgers on top 16-0 with a minute and some change left in the first quarter. Hefferin threw for 74 yards with Nick Phillips having 3 receptions for 36 yards. 

Youngker’s troubles continued and in less than a minute later the pressure of the Badger defense created a fumble with the recovery by Drew Roberts in the end zone for a touchdown to push the lead to 22-0. The Roughriders finally got a moment to celebrate as they blocked the extra point attempt

The teams then exchanged pass interceptions then Costes kicked through a 36 yard field goal to make it 25-0.

Youngker was able to score on an 80 yard underthrown pass play from Jonas Phillips to Larry Moors Jr. who made the adjustment to come back for the ball. The Roughriders added two points when Phillips connected with Ethan Moreno and it seemed they were going to get the offense going, by the time they got the ball back it was five minutes into the third quarter down by 24.

Prescott had one final chance to add points but that ended with a missed field goal attempt to end the half.

Photo: 34 Jeremiah Villanueva on his way to the first of his two second half touchdowns

The Badgers put to rest any hope that the Roughriders had about making a huge comeback when Jeremiah Villanueva blasted his way through the defense for a 37 yard touchdown run. Villanueva did it again, this time on an 8 yard run with three minutes left in the third quarter for a 39-8 Prescott lead. Villanueva led the Badgers in rushing with 171 yards on 11 carries.

One final score came late in the fourth when Cruz Pereira pulled off an exciting 83 yard pick-six down the near sideline to close out the Badgers ninth straight win. 

The loss dropped Youngker to (5-3). Prescott (9-0) will make the short trip to Prescott Valley on Thursday night for a winner take all for the Grand Canyon Region title versus the Bradshaw Mountain Bears. Kickoff is at 7pm.

PRESCOTT BADGERS 46, YOUNGKER ROUGHRIDERS 8

Score by Quarters-   1        2         3         4        –    T

Youngker                  0         8         0         0       –     8

Prescott                   22        3        14        7       –    46

Scoring Summary

P-Coston 50 yard run (Costes kick)

P-Safety

P-Hudak 29 yard pass from Hefferin (Costes kick)

P-Roberts fumble recovery (Kick blocked)

P-Costes 36 yard Field Goal

Y-Moore Jr. 80 yard pass from Phillips (Moreno pass from Phillips)

P-Villanueva 37 yard run (Costes kick)

P-Villanueva 8 yard run (Costes kick)

P-Pereira 83 yard pass interception return (Costes kick)

Coconino at Bradshaw Mountain

Photo: Bears quarterback Taye Evans on his 22 yard touchdown run

The Bradshaw Mountain Bears got two third quarter touchdowns to beat the Coconino Panthers 14-0 to set up a winner take all for the Grand Canyon Region next week in Prescott Valley. It was a game that was being closely monitored by many Prescott fans to see how this one would play out. It was also the fifth straight game between the two schools where one team scored 14.

The Bears, missing Jon’te Jones from an injury last week at Buckeye, relied more on quarterback Taye Evans and receiver/defensive back and kicker Caden Dabney.

After a scoreless first half the Bears were able to break through when Evans found Dabney on a pass play. Evans would then run the ball in from 22 yards out and that would be it. Dabney made his 34th and 35th straight extra points. A fourth quarter field goal attempt failed as Coconino was left completely frustrated with their inability to score.

Bradshaw Mountain was led by Evans, who was 9-19-1, 187 with a TD, and he also rushed for 23 yards on 4 carries and the other TD. Dabney rushed for 32 yards on 8 carries and caught 6 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown. Sebastian Witkowski rushed for 40 yards on 15 carries.

The Bears defense held the Panthers to just 68 yards passing and 99 yards rushing.

The loss severely hampered the (3-6) Panthers playoff chances as they had dropped to #20 after losses to Prescott and Lee Williams. Now the loss to the Bears with their finale next week versus Flagstaff will not garnish them any power points with a win.

Next Thursday the Bears will host the 35th rivalry matchup with Prescott with the Grand Canyon Region title at stake and the Badgers opportunity to close out the regular season undefeated.

The Division 4A top 10 and how their game results.

#1 Snowflake had no problem in a 48-0 win at Mesquite as the Lobos led 34-0 at the half.

#2 Mica Mountain rolled to a second straight shutout, this one was a 42-0 win over Catalina Foothills.

#3 Arcadia fell flat in a 10-0 upset by #12 Eastmark.

#4 Prescott cruised to a 46-8 win over Youngker.

#5 Bradshaw Mountain blanked Coconino 14-0.

#6 Peoria lost a wild close game to #7 Northwest Christian 35-32.

#7 Northwest Christian should flip flop with #6 Peoria after their win.

#8 St. Mary’s beat Paradise Honors 42-28.

#9 Walden Grove won their six straight with a 41-6 win over Douglas.

#10 Thunderbird was upset at ALA-West Foothills 43-21.

BRADSHAW MOUNTAIN BEARS 14, COCONINO PANTHERS 0

Score by Quarters-    1      2      3       4   –    T

Coconino                   0      0       0      0   –     0

Bradshaw Mountain   0      0     14      0   –   14

Scoring Summary

BM-Dabney 18 yard pass from Evans (Dabney kick)

BM-Evans 22 yard run (Dabney kick)

GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS

School- 4A Rank (*)       W-L       W-L

Prescott (4)                     5-0        9-0

Bradshaw Mountain (5)  5-0        7-2

Lee Williams (11)            3-2        7-2

Coconino (20)                 2-3        3-6

Mingus                            2-3        2-6

Mohave                           1-5        1-8

Flagstaff                          0-5        0-9

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SCOREBOARD

Prescott 46, Youngker 8

Bradshaw Mountain 14, Coconino 0

ALA-West Foothills 43, Thunderbird 21

Buckeye 42, Deer Valley 20

Eastmark 10, Arcadia 0

Gila Ridge 14, Sierra Linda 7

Lee Williams 55, Mohave 0

Marcos de Niza 47, Greenway 13

Mica Mountain 42, Catalina Foothills 0

Mingus 34, Flagstaff 7

North Canyon 26, Copper Canyon 18

Northwest Christian 35, Peoria 32

Poston Butte 38, Combs 17

St. Mary’s 42, Paradise Honors 28

Tempe 40, Glendale 7

THURSDAY SCORES

Chino Valley 39, Madison Highland 0

Camp Verde 42, Scottsdale Prep 21

Snowflake 48, Mesquite 0