There were key matches, returns, fantastic endings, defensive positions.
COVID-19 failed to avoid the football quarter-finals of Arizona’s top schools as exciting stories emerged from across the state.
Here’s what we learned:
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In what may have been the bravest decision of the year, Peoria Liberty coach Colin Thomas trusted a freshman who had never played in a college until 1:19 and that the Lions were Peoria Centennial 24-23 in the Open Division quarter-finals. . . Quarterback Navi Bruzon, raised this week to execute a play that passed through Thomas, on an inverted play, made a move in the two-point conversion attempt, rolled to the left and discovered incumbent quarterback Brock Mast open for the start. the dots carry.
“I was very nervous,” Bruzon said, “It was the most stressful five-metre pass I’ve ever done in my life, yet I kept telling myself I should breathe. The moment she left my hand, I knew it was that. I’m excited to have had a chance to help, my team wins. “
Now Thomas will have his paintings cut for him next week, discovering new games to install for a Chandler team that has won 34 in a row and beat the Lions 44-10 to open the season.
“They’re the most productive team played all year round,” Thomas said of Chandler. “We’re going to get ready. We’re very excited to play next week. “
MORE: Arizona High School football quarter-final playoff results
With Scottsdale Saguaro’s season ending Thanksgiving with COVID-19, it all comes down to Chandler and Hamilton and everyone else at the Open. Chandler and Hamilton ruled in the last undefeated groups with 50 whitening or nothing opposed to Goodyear Desert Edge and Tempe Corona. Sun, respectively. It has become transparent throughout the season that Chandler and Hamilton have the athletes, the speed and physicality that separate them. Having rated Chandler, Hamilton and Saguaro as the 3 most sensitive groups at the Open, it was necessarily a shitty shot in which to position for the last five positions. Freedom, even with 3 casualties, belonged transparently. So did Centennial, who finished 6-3. Catholic Tucson Salpointe (6-0), inactive this week over the Saguaro Pass, will see how much he deserved the number 6 spot next Saturday when he moves to face Hamilton.
The Lancers’ calendar didn’t help them prepare for what they’re going to see. Even with field marshal Nicco Marchiol injured, Hamilton has enough strong pieces to beat anyone, but maybe Chandler. Sophomore QB Roch Cholowsky, one of the most sensitive baseball players in the country Players who have committed to UCLA, can make a call for themselves as a quarterback for the rest of the time for Hamilton, but Hamilton did not want Cholowsky to beat Corona del Sol 50-0. The Huskies ran seven touchdowns with Noah Schmidt and Rodney. Clement in turn.
Phoenix Arizona Lutheran missed two games midway through the season due to the virus, but kept his undefeated season (6-0) alive at Luke Grippo’s foot. The tight junior winger threw a 42-yard basket with less than two moments to play. to beat Parker 32-30 and advance to the 2A semi-finals against Eloy Santa Cruz. It’s just the moment he’s tried basket in his best school career. The last one came from 30 yards in a game last year, he said.
Jack Schaumburg made a catch in the band line to avoid the clock with 4 seconds to play to put the Coyotes in range. Grippo had two catches for 24 yards in the winning race.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m incredibly nervous, ” said Grippo. “I made a quick prayer to God and God ended up blessing me. “
Coach David Peter said that before Schaumburg’s capture, Quarterback Tanner Plitzuweit fired. Plitzuweit five out of 7 for 46 yards in the last series.
“We needed that grip on the bands to get close,” Peter said. “It was a wonderful task through Jackson Indahl, our starter, because the high slam. We failed two more problems due to bad shots. Our center asked to exchange with our other payper and the whole team got into the clutch. “
Glendale Ironwood could have registered before the fourth quarter, beating Scottsdale Desert Mountain 27-7 in the third quarter. Then came senior quarterback Will Haskell. The San Diego State commitment led the Eagles to a 35-30 victory that brought them closer to the 5A championship. It was Ironwood’s first playoff victory since 2005, and it came on the arm and will of Haskell, who hit Elijah Sanders with a 40-yard landing with less than a minute left to play to cap off the comeback. Haskell also ran for two landings and hit a scoring pass in the rally. 214 yards and two landings. Ironwood’s 20-11 win over Peoria Sunrise earlier this year was no accident. Ironwood can play Sunrise Mountain in two weeks for the title. Sunrise won its 5A quarterfinal, beating Buckeye Verrado 35-14.
“Amazing,” Coach Chris Rizzo said of Haskell’s performance. “He and this high elegance refused to be denied the opportunity to move on. He trusted his teammates to make plays and when he made them himself. I’m incredibly proud of this group. They met through so many obstacles. “
MORE: A round-up of Arizona High School quarter-final games
Once again, Jacob Cisneros showed what it means for anthem Boulder Creek’s 6A football fortune with some other strong offensive functionality in a 38-22 victory over Shadow Ridge Surprise. He ran for 271 yards and three touchdowns, had 80 yards in reception and a touchdown, and finished with 351 multi-use yards. It is the third consecutive game in which the senior had three touchdowns. He now has 31 total touchdowns, 19 per ground, in nine games.
Boulder Creek (8-1), the most sensible seed, is the innerst thing he’s ever been in the playoffs as he prepares for gilbert Highland’s semi-finals.
“This feeling is and we have painted very hard to get here, ” said Cisneros. “But this is not the end we all want. This championship. We’ll paint harder in the next few weeks to get there. “
St. Johns made the long bus ride to Paradise Valley to play Scottsdale Christian and made the return happy, after blocking an additional point attempt with two minutes to play to retain a quarter-final victory 22-21 2A. The 342nd victory is one I probably wouldn’t forget.
“One of the games I’ve played,” Morgan told The Republic after the game.
St. Johns took a 22-15 lead in Ira Tullouse’s scoring run and the next 2-point conversion race with 9:21 for playing, after a hit went over the SCA kicker’s head and recovered in the 13th.
Much has been written about Scottsdale Chaparral’s attack, led by QB Big 3 Brayten Silbor, WR Max Minor and RB Jared Williams, but the defense is an explanation for why Firebirds are the school in the Scottsdale Unified School District that still stands, preparing to take on Phoenix. Sandra Day O’Connor in the semi-finals of the 6A next Friday. After Chaparral dropped a kick-off for a touchdown, the defense closed Queen Creek in the direction of a 26-8 victory. That came after Chaparral secured a place in the playoffs with a 52-10 win over the Phoenix Pinnacle last week.
“Extremely proud of the way they came here in combination and grew the season,” coach Brent Barnes said.
Chaparral (4-2), the last 6A team to play a match this season, had to cancel his first three matches for two positive instances of COVID in the team two days before his opening against rival Saguaro. opposed the Liberty and Centennial Open Division teams.
“The last two games are two of the most productive defensive performances since I’ve been here,” Barnes said. “It’s about betting, duties and tackles, the maximum fundamental parts of the game. We give up too many important targets and failed tackles. In the last two weeks we’ve eliminated that and flown to the ball and played physically. “
– Gilbert Campo Verde was completed to the semi-finals of the 5A with a 38-14 victory over Cave Creek Cactus Shadows, Caden Calloway’s 201 yards and 3 touchdowns in 19 hauls.
– Sandra Day O’Connor is in the semi-finals of 6A, after beating Chandler Basha 27-21 in overtime in field marshal Seth Felts’ 5-yard game choice without a shotgun. It’s a remarkable shifting season for coach Steve Casey’s show after the Eagles last year was 3-7. They are now 6-3 and preparing to receive Chaparral on Friday.
– Snowflake finished Phoenix Christian’s first season in 3A with a 38-21 win, despite some other effort from SENIOR PC Howard Russell, who added 180 yards and two touchdowns and returned an 85-yard kick to score. with 33 touchdowns.
– Glendale Cactus dominated Flagstaff Coconino at the time in the direction of a 41-7 4A goal in the quarter-finals. In a 13-7 part-time game. It’s the first time Cactus has reached the state semifinals in consecutive seasons in 10 years.
“But we have unfinished business to deal with,” said sophomore coach Joseph Ortiz, whose team last year lost a metre to beat Gilbert Mesquite in the semifinals. “The ultimate purpose is the semi-finals. “
– After betting for two weeks, Mesquite showed no rust in a 27-10 4A quarter-final win over Phoenix Northwest Christian, hosting a rematch with American Leadership Queen Creek. ALA-QC (8-1), the 3A protective champion, lost his only game this season to Mesquite, 60-42, on October 16.
– The 47-30 victory of the most sensible seed, Casa Grande over Peoria, allowed the school to qualify for the semi-finals of 4A for the first time in its history. The Cougars were led by junior quarterback Angel Flores, who ran for 110 yards and a landing and pass for 216 yards and a touchdown.
“We are very proud of our players,” coach Jake Barro said. “Of course, that doesn’t prevent there. Our ultimate goal is to win a state championship and for that we have to go through a difficult Cactus team next week. “
For concepts of articles of human interest and other news, contact Obert at richard. obert@arizonarepublic. com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.