Football: Southern Arizona playoff picture made clearer

October 25, 2014 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


CDO QB Noah Soto led a balanced attack. (Andy Morales/AIA365.com)

Oro Valley Pusch Ridge clinched a playoff spot last week and they were joined by Oro Valley Canyon del Oro, Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge, Sahuarita and Thatcher this week.

The Dorados (7-2, 4-0) battled Tucson Flowing Wells (6-3, 1-3) for most of the night but scored two quick touchdowns over a 65-second span late in the game to help turn a 28-14 score into a 42-14 blowout.

The final score was not really indicative of how close the game was played.

Flowing Wells played without the services of junior running back Dionte Flores (1,223 yards) due to a concussion and CDO played without senior leader Max Smith who was also out due to an injury. Still, there was plenty of firepower in reserve.

Each team gave up the ball on downs to start the game and then CDO found themselves pinned back at their own 4-yard line on a long third down. The Flowing Wells defense bit and Noah Soto found Zach Unger streaking down the middle of the field uncovered and hit him on a 96-yard touchdown.

Flowing Wells punted and Soto found Rome Bracy on a 40-yard scoring strike, again uncovered, to go up 14-0.

Flowing Wells marched down and Julio Sandoval hit Tyler Stiltner on a 15-yard score to cut the lead down to 14-7 but Soto dashed 41 yards on the next drive to put CDO back up 21-7.

"Everything was wide open due to our line," explained Soto. "It was kind of hard to miss when I was given all the time I needed."

Soto hooked up with Tommy Sawyer on a 28-yard scoring pass late in the third quarter to go up 28-7 but Flowing Wells was able to score again on a short pass from Sandoval to Richmond Zavalza to cut the lead down to 28-14 with 5:36 left in the game.

Then, as Flowing Wells head coach Mark Brunenkant put it, the Caballeros lost focus.

A failed onside kick put CDO in great position and then penalties and more mistakes on coverage led to a 4-yard scoring run from Tristan Peterson and a 20-yard run from Jimmy McNeil to put the game away.

"You guys put up a good show," CDO head coach Dustin Peace told his team after the game. "There were lots of fireworks tonight."

The Division III/Section V championship guarantees CDO a playoff spot but it does not guarantee a top seed and it definitely doesn't guarantee a deep playoff run.

Soto rushed for 72 yards, Padilla 58 and Peterson added 31 but the Dorados were not satisfied with the 188 yards they gained on the ground.

"We need to figure out a way to keep the boys hungry," said Peace. "Flowing Wells is very good team and we took a great step in preparing this week. Our defense made them work for their points but we need to see why we couldn't run like we wanted to."

Soto threw for 205 yards with Unger leading the way with 96 yards receiving. Sawyer had 69 and Bracy added 40.

On the other side, the loss of Flores made an obvious difference. Perhaps the team could have extended some early drives with him in the game but they also missed him on pass defense which proved to be the difference early on.

"We lost focus and our kids know they are better than that," explained Brunenkant. "Hopefully Dionte comes back next week and our guys are able to respond."

While the Dorados guaranteed themselves a playoff spot, they may finish outside of the top eight which means an away game in the first round. Flowing Wells may find themselves without a playoff bid after starting out the season 6-0.

Sandoval threw for 54 yards and rushed for 31 more to lead Flowing Wells while Dylan Valenzuela rushed for 56.

Tucson Catalina Foothills (6-3, 3-1) is the other Southern Arizona team from this section with a shot at the state playoffs. They can obviously improve their chances with a win next week over Maricopa (4-5, 3-1) but the win will not help their strength of schedule.

Pueblo (7-2, 4-0) and Sabino (6-3, 4-0) will meet up for the Division III/Section II championship next Friday in what amounts to a playoff game. The winner moves on and the loser will most likely stay home.

 

DIVISION II

Tucson Sahuaro (9-0, 4-0) and Vail Cienega (8-1, 4-0) will pay for the Section II championship next week in Vail. While both are headed to the playoffs, the winner would practically guarantee themselves a home game in the first round.

Ironwood Ridge (8-1, 4-0) defeated Tucson Salpointe (7-2, 2-2) to win the Section V title. Their 48-17 win left no questions about which team is the best this year.

Tucson High (4-5, 2-2) had a shot at the section title had the Lancers won but Mountain View Marana (5-4, 3-1) made that a moot point with a 24-21 win secured in the last 3.6 seconds on a touchdown pass from Justice Summerset to Jeff Cotton.

The Mountain Lions are not eligible for postseason due to recruiting violations.

 

DIVISION IV

Sahuarita (9-0, 5-0) secured the Section II title with a 20-13 win over Tucson Santa Rita (5-4, 3-2). Safford (7-2, 4-1) cannot catch Sahuarita but they can earn a home game in the playoffs if they beat Sahuarita Walden Grove (6-3, 3-2) next week.

Walden Grove will be in the playoffs if they beat Safford. That game serves as their first playoff game.

 

DIVISION V

Thatcher (8-1, 6-0) secured the Section III championship while Benson (7-2, 4-1) remains in the hunt for an at-large bid.

 

More photos at AllSportsTucson.com