Yuma Catholic gets repeat, rallies past Tempe Prep

November 29, 2014 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Yuma Catholic got a jolt from Tempe Prep Saturday afternoon in their Division V title game as the Knights grabbed a shocking 14-0 lead behind the perfect game plan.

But special team prowess and sophomore sub Jaylen Barnes turned things around early in the second period and helped Yuma Catholic repeat as D-V champs with a 38-27 win over Tempe Prep at North Canyon High School.

The victory gave Yuma Catholic its first perfect season (14-0) and extended its winning streak to 18 games. It was also the Shamrocks third championship in four years. Tempe Prep had its 12-game winning streak broken and finished 12-2. Both losses to Yuma Catholic. This one was much tougher than the meeting Aug. 29 won by Yuma Catholic, 56-27.

Tempe Prep knows how to win with defense and ball control and had those two facets clicking the first 15 minutes as a pair of scoring drives saw it grab a 14-0 edge early in the second quarter. At that point Tempe Prep had outgained Yuma Catholic 140-5. To make matters worse leading scorer and dual running-receiving standout Carter Rodriguez went to the bench with either a knee or ankle injury late in the first period that sidelined him the rest of the contest.

Enter wide out/return specialist Donovan Rooks and Carter Rordiguez's replacement -- sophomoer Jaylen Barnes. Barnes proceeded to score three touchdowns -- two on runs and one via pass from Jagan Cleary. Rooks contributed kickoff returns of 56 and 35 yards and a punt return of 61 that was for a TD, but reduced to 41 by penalty. All three returns set up Yuma Catholic for scoring marches. -- two in the second period and the other to begin the third quarter.

Yuma Catholic scored 28 unanswered from points from the nine-minute mark of the second period to four minutes left in the third for a 28-14 lead.

Barnes finished with 91 yards rushing on 17 carries and caught three passes for 50 yards. Rooks had four receptions for 68 yards and the go-ahead TD with 35 seconds left in the first half. Cleary completed 11 of 24 passes for 134 yards and two TDs. A far cry from his 406-yards, six-TD effort vs. the Knights in August.