Patrick Snyder is an ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Marcos de Niza High School for AZPreps365.com

TEMPE – Backed up deep in their own territory, the Marcos de Niza Padres put together a 94-yard drive to secure a 27-14 win over the Paradise Honors Panthers, in the second round of the 4A playoffs on Friday night. 

In a ‘win or go home’ game, Marcos dominated the first half on their home field, but Paradise Honors was not going down without a fight.

Finding themselves down 20-0 late in the third quarter, the Panthers rallied back with one rushing touchdown by Madden Obregon and one passing touchdown to Preston Brown to make the score 20-14, with less than eight minutes left in the game. 

Momentum on their side, Paradise Honors kicked off to Marcos, with the ball seeming to be headed toward the endzone for a touchback. That was not the case, as Padres kick returner JD DuBose picked the ball up at the two-yard line, only to get tackled at the six. 

“It was rolling back onto the two-yard line, and I saw it wasn’t going to go back (into the endzone).” stated DuBose, “I know I had to pick it up and try to make the best out of what I could get with it.” 

The game seemed to be going in the Panthers direction, but the Padres offense had other plans.

Marcos put together a five-minute drive that highlighted their two running backs, Christian Garcia and Demetrius Davis. Capped off by a 37-yard receiving touchdown by Davis, putting Marcos ahead 27-14. 

“You guys fought through adversity,” Marcos head coach Anthony Figueroa told his team. “Offense you did a heck of a job responding and that’s what it takes to win a playoff game, and we are not done.” 

During the first half Marcos had a 15-yard receiving touchdown by wide receiver Alejandro Gomez and a two-yard rushing touchdown by Christian Garcia, putting them up 14-0 at halftime. 

Under two minutes remaining in the game, Paradise Honors had one last chance. Quarterback Robert Casas, who stepped in during the third quarter for an injured Parker Schmitz, threw an interception to DuBose, sealing the win for Marcos. 

“I was dropping into my zone,” DuBose said, “when I dropped back, I saw the receiver wasn’t looking and I saw the throw and I went and got the pick.”

That was DuBose’s second interception of the game, with his first coming in the third quarter. DuBose also had a 60-yard receiving touchdown early in the third quarter. 

With pajama-clad students, cheerleaders, and band members filling the Marcos de Niza side of the field, the Padres put the Panthers playoff run to bed. 

After the game Marcos offensive coordinator Keesean Cox told his team “That was just the beginning. We are just getting started.”

This was the Padres first playoff game, since they were ranked number eight and had a first round bye in the 4A playoffs. This was the Panthers second playoff game, they upset Peoria 31-21 in the first round and were ranked number 24. 

Marcos will face number one ranked Arcadia in the next round of the 4A Playoffs.