Desert Edge wins behind Millender's big game

By Alex Suarez

In a 5A playoff matchup between No. 11-seed Central and No. 6 Desert Edge Friday night, the Scorpions dominated on both sides of the ball from start to finish. Desert Edge went on to win, 42-7. The offense was led by Hezekiah Millender and Vinny Mansfield as the two connected three times for touchdowns. The defense was making plays all over the field, forcing one fumble and three interceptions

Standout performers

Hezekiah Millender threw four touchdowns, two of them coming from 45 yards or longer.

Deshawn Warner had multiple sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Vinny Mansfield finished the night with three touchdown passes.

Key plays

Hezekiah Millender threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Vinny Mansfield.

Deshawn Warner recovered a fumble and returned it for the touchdown.

Christopher Cordero ran for a 27-yard touchdown.

Dominik Bagchi threw a 26-yard touchdown pass for Central.

Key quotes

"We had a good win," said co-head coach Mark Carter. "The boys played well, especially after a tough loss last week. Just shows what kind of team we have."

"Our job is to not allow the other team to score," said co-head coach Marcus Carter. "Proud of the guys the way they were moving around. They were aggressive. That's the type of football you have to play in November and December. You have to play tough aggressive defense and we did that tonight."

Up next

Desert Edge heads to No. 3-seed Higley, which defeated Canyon View Friday.

Mesa knocks of Corona to advance in 6A

By Ben Stapley

Don’t call it an upset.

Mesa High is for real and it’s football season will carry on.

The 14th seeded Jackrabbits traveled to Corona del Sol Friday night and took down the 3rd-seeded Aztecs 24-21, in a 6A first round playoff game.

Despite the close score and the seedlings, Mesa controlled Corona for most of the game, never trailed, and built up a 24-7 fourth quarter leadbefore the Aztecs nearly pulled off an epic comeback.

When Corona del Sol kicker Carston Kieffer’s 52 yard field goal attempt came up shirt and wide left, Mesa’s sideline and bleachers erupted.

For Mesa (8-3) the win avenged an early season loss to Corona (8-3), but that paled in comparison to the significance of the win for the Jackrabbit program.

Mesa has a storied football history dating back 102 years, but it was only its second playoff win since 2009.

The win also sets up a quarterfinal playoff matchup next week at Mesa Red Mountain (7-4), who beat Brophy 45-38.Key playmakersMesa’s backfield duo of quarterback Manny Pino and fullback Junior St. Cyr led a bruising rushing attack, combining for 242 yards.

St. Cyr used all of his 210 pound frame in wearing down Corona’s defense while Pino used his quickness and arm to help Mesa’s offense stay balanced.

Mino threw for 109 yards to go along with his 136 rushing yards.Wideout Tre Brown caught five passes for 88 yards.Corona del Sol running back Jonothan Kubat scored two touchdowns for the Aztecs.Stat of the game

Through the first three quarters, Mesa held possession of the ball 28 minutes compared to only 8 for Corona del Sol.Key quote

“This is such a big win for our program and I’m so happy for these kids and this community. When I got here four years ago, playoff wins were expected. When we got to this field tonight, we expected to win. This is my first freshman class, and I’m so grateful because they’ve bought into everything we’ve tried to do.” -Mesa head coach Chad DeGrenier.

Up next

Mesa will visit Mesa Red Mountain, the No. 6 seed, in the 6A quarterfinals next week. Despite both being Mesa schools, the teams did not meet in the regular season. They compete in different regions.

Thunderbird fends off Marcos de Niza rally to advance in 4A

By Anthony Perez

The No. 14 seed Phoenix Thunderbird (9-2) entered its 4A state playoff game Friday night feeling like it was an equal match to the no. 3 seed Tempe Marcos de Niza (9-2). That proved to be true and then some as Thunderbird used defense and a timely touchdown to seal a 17-14 victory Friday night in Tempe in its first postseason appearance since 2013.

Standout performers 

Thunderbird got contributions up and down the roster in the win as three different players scored. Senior Sean Mathews opened the scoring with 5:46 left in the first half when he found the end zone on a two-yard run. Thunderbird padded its lead to 10 following a field goal from about 24 yards out from senior kicker Ryan Monroe. The score that sealed the deal for Thunderbird came with 6:23 left in the game when sophomore Greg Smith made a short dash into the end zone.

Marcos de Nina’s junior quarterback Braesen Leon did all he could to try to rally his team in the fourth quarter, throwing two touchdown passes in the losing effort.

Highlight of the game 

Following a Marcos de Niza touchdown that cut Thunderbird’s lead to 10-7, it quickly responded when senior quarterback Carter Squires connected with senior wide receiver Brody Fogelson on a deep pass. This play set up Smith’s game-winning touchdown that put Thunderbird up by 10 and put the game out of reach for the host team.

Quote of the game 

“My friend, Brody, he’s my one-on-one receiver that I can just trust him to make a play. I saw that he set him up perfectly inside, the corner bit on the run, and all I had to do is put it in his hands and he can do the rest.” -  Squires on the pass to Fogelson that set up the game-winning touchdown

Up next

Thunderbird will travel to Oro Valley to face no. 6 seed Canyon del Oro, which defeated no. 11 seed Phoenix St. Mary’s.

Higley dominates Canyon View in 5A

By Matthew Self

It was cold and dry at Higley High School Football Stadium Friday night in Gilbert, but it was raining touchdowns.

No. 3-seeded Higley rode a torrential downpour of first half points on their way to a 49-12 first-round 5A playoff win over upstart No. 14 Waddell Canyon View.

Higley scored the game’s first 21 points in a 5-minute span, riding the aerial show led by sophomore quarterback Jamar Malone II.

With four minutes left in the first quarter and holding on to a 6-0 lead, Malone found Dominic Esposito for a 5-yard TD pass. After failed fake punt from Canyon View, minutes later Malone hit Carter Hancock on a 20-yard scoring pass.

Two more special teams mishaps – a fumbled kick return and a blocked punt – led to two more scores, the punt recovered in the end zone by Higley’s Donovan Aidoo for a score.

Attempting to rally, Canyon View finally responded with a 75-yard pass from Beau Devens to Santino Varvel.

Not to be one-upped, Malone responded again for a 40-yard connection to Carter Hancock with eight minutes in the second, giving Higley a comfortable 42-6 halftime lead.

Standout plays

Higley’s first touchdown was a beauty, a Jaden Taylor reception from 30 yards out, signaling the kind of night it would be for Canyon View’s defense.

Key players

Unofficially, Malone finished with 274 yards passing and four touchdowns. Malone only needed 15 yards to break 3,000 on the season and did it on the first player of the game, an 18-yard completion to Ian Seare.

Esposito, a senior, caught a touchdown and threw for one on a halfback pass to Taylor late in the game. It was Taylor’s second score of the night.

Higley’s defense suffocated Devens most of the night, with Higley defensive end Caleb Botticello picking up two early sacks to set the tone.

Key quotes

“It was great for the kids. We had a good week of practice,” coach Eddy Zubey said. “Second half got a little sloppy … but overall I’m happy.

Up next

Higley will host No. 6-seeded Desert Edge, which defeated Central Friday.

Prescott upsets Apache Junction in 4A

By Lucas Gordon

After quickly going down by 14 to start the game, No. 10 Prescott pulled off the comeback over No.7 Apache Junction to win 35-28. The Badgers improbable win came in the first round of the 4A playoffs.

Key Plays

Apache Junction started the game on fire, putting up 14 points in the first five minutes of the game.

On their first possession, the Prospectors ran the ball 12 times for 63 yards capped off by a four-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Gavin Limongello. This possession took up more than six minutes of game time.

After a quick three and out by the defense, the Prospectors put up another touchdown. On the first play of the drive Limongello's first pass of the game found junior receiver Ben Valenzuela for a 73-yard touchdown to make it a 14 point game.

Going into the second quarter, Prescott's offense started to get into rhythm. The Badgers started running wildcat plays that Apache Junction could not stop. The Badgers had a lengthy drive of their own to open up the second quarter which ended with a four-yard touchdown run by senior running back Cody Leopold.

In the second half, neither team was able to stop the other. Prescott opened the half with a four-yard touchdown run from sophomore Uriah Tenette to take the lead 21-14.

Apache Junction answered back with a rushing touchdown of its own followed by a rushing touchdown by Prescott late in the third. Apache Junction opened up the fourth with another rushing touchdown to tie the game again and Prescott answered with another rushing touchdown to take the lead once more 35-28.

In the final minutes of the game that was dominated by both offenses, it was the defense that made the most crucial play of the game.

Apache Junction was driving into Prescott's side of the field when the Badgers forced a fumble on their own 34-yard line. Prescott recovered the fumble and advanced it to the 50-yard line. From there the Badgers ran out the clock.

Key Players

For Apache Junction, junior Isaiah Savoie put up 183 yards on the ground. This included big plays of 50 and 24 yards.

Limongello also had a huge day on the ground. He scored three touchdowns using his feet and picked up 71 yards.

For Prescott, Leopold was the feature back. The senior ran for 157. yards and three touchdowns. Tenette was also important for the Badgers on the ground with 60 yards and two touchdowns.

Key Quotes

Prescott head coach Cody Collett praised his seniors when talking about the comeback: "Our seniors have unbelievable leadership. They refuse to quit and have all the heart in the world."

Up next

Prescott will travel to Snowflake next Friday to take on the No. 2-seeded Lobos, which shut out Arcadia 19-0.

"Snowflake is the preeminent program in Northern Arizona and it will be an honor to play with them,’’ Collett said. “They are a class act and they do things the right way and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Pinnacle dominates Valley Vista to advance in 6A

By Howard Schlossberg

Pinnacle is ready for 6A. Is 6A ready for Pinnacle?

The No. 4-seeded Pioneers moved to 7-4 with a convincing 46-0 first-round win over the visitors from Valley Vista, seeded No. 13.

Pinnacle got dynamic performances from its key offense contributors and big plays from everyone on defense to stymie rhe Monsoon from the get-go.

A key interception by Brock Stapley kept the Monsoon from tightening up the game early and Wyatt Horton distributed the ball nicely to his stable of receivers as Pinnacle built a big lead and never let up.

Key Plays

The game developed entirely around Pinnacle's ability to make big plays when they needed them.

Wirh Pinnacle leading 7-0, it looked like Valley Vista would tie the game on a 75-yard, 7-play drive. Except play number seven was Stapley picking off a pass at the goal line and racing all the way back to the Monsoon 21.

The play completely blunted Valley Vista's momentum and charged up Pinnacle, which scores two plays later on a Jacobie Rucker 11-yard bolt.

That made it 14-0 after one quarter and Pinnacle would not surrender the momentum.

After a short punt and great return by Duce Robinson, the Pioneers scored at 7:05 of the second on another Rucker dart, completing a 6-play, 45-yard drive.

Two more TD's in the final two minutes of the half made it 29-0 at the break, Mason O'Rourke on a 1-yard run and Robinson on a 25-yard toss from Horton in the back of the end zone, getting the honors.

That settled things, as a 43-yard field goal by Cooper King and Myles Libman's second TD reception highlighted the second half.

Key Players

Turnovers by the defense fueled Pinnacle's offense. Picks by Stapley, Luke Hoover and Ashton Leckie were huge, two of them setting up scores.

Horton and Co. did the rest, running up 314 yards of offense. He had 188 passing, 117 of them and a TD to Robinson. Rucker had two scores and gained 82 yards in a very balanced Pioneer attack that will be needed next week against Queen Creek.

Adrian Crespin did throw for 137 yards for Valley Vista and Mikel Henderson had 5 receptions for 89 yards.

Key Quotes

Head coach Dana Zupke noted that Valley Vista came out ready to play and might have changed the game had It not been for Stapley's momentum-busting interception. His team had nine penalties he knows they have to clean up.

"One 15-yard penalty can change the whole complexion of a game," he said. "We need to play with a little more discipline."

Still, his team gave him a consistent effort.

"I'm glad we didn't let up," when Valley Vista put some.pressure.on with that first-quarter drive. "We got off the field."

Up Next

Pinnacle will host No.5 Queen Creek, a 37-7 winner over Boulder Creek Friday.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona High School football playoff roundup Nov. 18, 2022