"This was a signature win," said Sahuarita head coach David Rodriguez. "Beating a team like Catalina Foothills with coach (Jeff) Scurran is a monster undertaking. It's also a big win for me personally."

Sahuarita built a 31-14 lead on Catalina Foothills Friday night and held on for a 38-28 victory to give the Mustangs a perfect 5-0 record while the Falcons fell to 2-2. In doing so, Rodriguez put his team on a level usually reserved for their opponents - the team to beat.

Even though they were undefeated entering the game, there was a tangible sense of a lack of respect for the program with the Falcons coming in as the sure favorite in some circles. But, in high school football, nothing is sure.

The only thing that was given was the fact that both teams sport incredible athletes in the quarterback position. Sahuarita is led by senior Calvin Jenkins and Catalina Foothills by sophomore Rhett Rodriguez.

Rodriguez finished with 268 yards (27-38) passing and 53 yards rushing while Jenkins ended with 201 yards (10-23) passing and 134 yards rushing. 

Jenkins felt his success was the result of the play of his blockers and all the work that went into it while Rodriguez credited the spirited play of Sahuarita's defense that forced him to find a way to move his team.

Either way, both came out on top of their game.

"Sahuarita had a great game plan and they played hard," explained Rodriguez. "They forced me to move around a bit but we couldn't finish. We need to go back and focus at practice, on each down and on every play."

"We had a great week of practice," Jenkins offered. "Our line played well and so did our defense. I had to do my part and we have to keep moving. Practice is where we win games."

Sahuarita set the tone early after they punted deep into Foothill's territory and then forced a fumble to set up a 3-yard touchdown run from Geovan Neuser. Foothills was forced to punt again and Gabriel Hernandez made a 28-yard field goal to put Sahuarita up 10-0 with 1:15 left in the first quarter.

Rodriguez orchestrated a 73-yard drive, capped by an 8-yard dash from Ian Turner to cut the lead down to 10-7. Sahuarita responded with an 80-yard drive to go back up 17-7 after Jenkins ran one in from 23 yards out. Jenkins also hit Nasir Blake on a 47-yard pass in the drive.

Foothills stormed back and marched down the field with Turner scoring again to make it 17-14 Sahuarita with 3:38 left in the half. Sahuarita went on another drive set up by a 25-yard pass to Blake to set the ball at the 3-yard line.

Dakota Kordsiemon sacked Jenkins but a pass interference call in the end zone gave Sahuarita a new set of downs with 14.5 seconds left and Jenkins hit Gabriel Hernandez on a short pass to go up 24-14 at the half.

Foothills came out and drove deep into Sahuarita territory but they were forced to move back after they were blown for having 12 men on the field and Sahuarita had their drive stalled by a missed field goal.

Another punt gave Sahuarita the ball back and Jenkins wasted no time and hit Dago Segundo on a 55-yard strike to go up 31-14. The Falcons came back and Turner ran another one in to cut the lead back down to 31-21 in the opening moments of the fourth quarter.

Foothills got the ball back on a short field but a first down at the 15 was called back and then a holding call moved the ball to the 30-yard line and a unsportsmanlike call moved the ball back to the 45. It was part of a string of events that turned the tide back to Sahuarita but, still, Foothills got another chance with 3:58 left in the game and they made the best of it.

Also aided by a personal foul, the Falcons went 89 yards in less than two minutes with Turner scoring again to cut Sahuarita's lead down to 31-28 with 1:57 left.

One more stop and the Falcons would be in business but all hopes ended when Segundo took the ball to the right and sprinted 45 yards for the 38-28 clincher.

Scurran gathered his team and reminded them that, "Tough games are for tough people." The sting of the penalties obviously played a huge role in the atmosphere after the game but Catalina Foothills has yet to play a sectional opponent. The Falcons have one more non-sectional game next week against Empire (1-3) before traveling to Canyon del Oro (2-2) the following week to start their sectional play.

Only the section champions will get an automatic bid to the state playoffs and only sectional games count to determine the champion.  The result of that rule gives a lot of teams a "second season" that will be decided in the final five games.

Sahuarita, on the other hand, has already beaten a sectional opponent in Walden Grove so they are ahead of the game and will play their second sectional game next Friday at Safford (3-1, 1-0).  Safford beat Rio Rico to earn their first win in section play.

"They (Catalina Foothills) are a good team," Rodriguez told his team. "Playing teams like that will help make us a better team. I can only guarantee you five more games but it's nice to start a tradition of winning on Hall of Fame night."

Sahuarita honored 11 athletes and coaches at half time including former quarterback and kicker Kyle Day (2006). Day threw for 2.196 yards his senior year and made 15 field goals including a 54-yarder that still stands as the longest kick in 3A history.

Day went on to play for the University of Arizona.

Others inducted included Ashley Aldrich (Softball/2005), Enrique Alvarez (Baseball/Football/1998), Travis Depper (Football/Baseball/Wrestling/2005), Tom Dorgan (Wrestling coach), Al Elias (Coach), Rodrigo Leon (Basketball/Baseball/1991), Bob McQuown (Coach), Amanda Orozco (Softball/2001), Arlee Tamietti (Volleyball/2006) and David Wear (Athletic Director).

Neuser finished with 82 yards rushing and Segundo added 56. Blake had 82 yards receiving and Segundo had 67.  For Catalina Foothills, Turner ended with 88 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Max Michalczik had 67 yards receiving, Turner added 54, Tyler Masunas had 47, Connor Kobylinski had 44 and Patrick Stevens finished with 43.

More photos at AllSportsTucson.com