Up 20-18 over Marana with a little over three minutes left, Salpointe junior QB Matthew Avelar was forced to scramble out of a pass formation and he broke free for 19 yards to erase a long third down situation. The Marana defense held on the next set of downs but the extra effort left senior QB Colten Meyer with only 90 seconds to go 69 yards, and he almost did it. He worked his team down to the Salpointe 10-yard line with seven seconds left but his dash to the endzone was stopped at the four as time expired and Salpointe held on for the victory. The victory was so physically and emotionally draining that head coach Pat Ryden seemed to gather himself for what looked like a long postgame speech but he turned and yelled, “We won!” and his Lancers exploded in celebration.

Pat Ryden screams, 'We won!' and sets of a wild celebration. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

 

“Thought it was a heck of a game that was a very exciting game,” Salpointe head coach Pat Ryden said. "We got it done defensively. At the end, we had an opportunity to close the game out offensively but I’m real proud of our kids tonight."

The Tigers beat Salpointe 27-24 to open up the season last year and the victory helped push Marana into the Open Division playoffs where the Tigers earned the top-seed in the state. A 31-22 loss to Hamilton in the first round was closer than most experts expected and, perhaps, a spot in the Open prevented a 5A Conference state championship. 5A teams cannot compete in the Open Division this year so the Tigers will be difficult for 5A opponents to deal with down the stretch.

Had Salpointe won that game last year, the Lancers might have made the Open Division or, at the very least, earned a super-seed as a top four program and avoided playing at eventual state runner-up Mesa Mountain View in the second round. The victory over Marana Friday night means the Lancers will also be difficult for opponents to prepare for down the stretch once again. It’s a long season but power-points are already racking up for both programs. Each has to cheer for the other to win out now.

“This game showed us where we are at,” Marana head coach Phillip Steward said. “You know, it was rough. This right here showed us exactly what we need to see. I think we have to get in better shape because I want to go fast. We couldn't really go fast, and I want to go faster. But again, I preach the little things and, tonight, the little things is what got us beat. So I think if we clean that up, we should be fine.”

Marana missed on two 2-point conversion attempts and the team did not attempt a game-winning kick on the last drive due to a reported injury to their long snapper, one of the most important positions on a team. Both teams struggled early on with a scoreless first quarter but the Lancers connected on a 29-yard field goal from junior Troy Kuhlman with 11:08 left in the half to take a 3-0 lead. The Tigers responded by marching 80 yards on the next drive, capped off by a 5-yard dash from Jeffrey Smith III to put Marana up 6-3 with 7:42 left.

Salpointe got the ball back after a couple of punts and Avelar hit Kane Collins for 48 yards to help set up a five yard scoring run from junior Charles Chaney with 2:52 left to put the Lancers up 10-6. Smith came up with an interception with 1:14 left to give Meyer the ball back and he hit Jaxsun Sharp on a 36-yard play to put Marana on top 12-10 with 1:02 left. The Lancers attempted a 45-yard kick as time expired but it was a little wide and that’s how the half ended.

Alon Deon scored on a short run to put Salpointe up 17-12 with 7:41 left in the third and Kuhlman connected on a 39-yard kick with 3:04 left in the quarter to put Salpointe up 20-12 after the Tigers failed on a long fourth down attempt at midfield. Another long fourth down situation came up for Marana with only seconds left and Meyer cashed in this time on a 30-yard strike to Jesse Howell to cut the lead down to 20-18 on another failed 2-point attempt. The Tigers gave the ball back two more times on downs in the fourth quarter, including giving up a sack on a short 4-2 play at the Salpointe 40 with 4:17 left.

“You know, our schedule is brutal,” Ryden added. “I've said it since day one they don't get any easier. Next week, we have a heck of a test with Tucson High, and then Scottsdale Saguaro comes after. So it doesn't get any easier.”

Salpointe (0-1) travels to Tucson High (0-1) next Friday with the Badgers losing to Marana Mountain View 21-20 in overtime and Marana (0-1) hosts Canyon View (1-0) with the Jaguars beating South Mountain on a game forfeit.

 

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