FHS Repeats as City Champs
NAU Walkup Skydome
LEADING IN: Flag High came to the Rivalry Game in good shape. Their overall record was 7-3, 2-1 in the 4A-II
Coconino was not doing quite as well. They were 2-7 (1-2 GCR) and riding a three-game losing streak. They had a solid running game, averaging 189 yards a game and led by senior Sean Marion; he entered the Rivalry Game with 821 yards in nine games, including 152 the previous week against Sinagua. Their passing game was virtually non-existent, gaining a mediocre 47 yards a game, throwing only two touchdowns versus twelve interceptions. Their defense kept them in several games, collecting 18 takeaways and 19 sacks in nine games, led by seniors Levi Daulton and Matt Ortiz.
This game was Flag High head coach Craig Holland’s 100th Dome game. It was also his nineteenth Rivalry Game at the helm, having been on the sidelines as an assistant numerous other times. Against Coconino, he was an even 9-and-9.
THE GAME: Flag High got on the board early and often. Starting with Jordan Brandel’s 26 yard field goal, the Eagles scored again in the first quarter on a
The Panthers got their first score in the third quarter by way of defense. Axtell lined up to punt in his end zone, and as he received the snap, Coconino senior Michael Combrink was all over him and tackled him for a safety.
Flag High tacked on two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. First,
Coconino was whipped on both sides of the ball. To compound their inability to slow down Hawthorne, Corbiere, and the rest of the Eagle offense, they were anemic at best when they themselves had the ball. Their usually-reliable running game yielded only 81 yards, over 100 below their average, and
AT THE END OF THE DAY: The Eagles ended the regular season at 8-3, seeded #11 in the playoff brackets, and traveled to Apache Junction for the first round. For as efficient as
Coconino finished 2-8, 1-3 in regional play, good enough for fourth place. After going to the playoffs in his rookie season, the honeymoon was over for head coach Tadd Ragan as his Panthers were in freefall, ending his second year with four straight losses.
SCORING SUMMARY
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
Coconino |
0 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
10 |
|
10 |
20 |
0 |
14 |
44 |
FHS: Jordan Brandel 21 FG
FHS: James Brooks 17 pass from Luke Hawthorne (Brandel PAT)
FHS: Aaron Corbiere 5 run (Brandel PAT)
FHS: Corbiere 1 run (Brandel PAT)
FHS: Kasper Axtell 30 pass from
CHS: Safety; Michael Combrink tackled Axtell in end zone
FHS: Tim Serrano 42 pass from Hawthorne (Brandel PAT)
FHS: Patrick Bailey 36 run (Brandel PAT)
CHS: Levi Daulton 21 pass from Will Atherton (
TEAM TOTALS
Coconino |
|
|
10 |
Score |
44 |
7 |
First Downs |
10 |
32-81 |
Rushing (Carries-Yards) |
35-187 |
|
Passing (Comp-Att-Int) |
|
77 |
Passing Yards |
128 |
158 |
Total Offense |
315 |
2 |
Fumbles |
2 |
5 |
Turnovers |
2 |
5-45 |
Penalties-Yards |
5-50 |
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING
Corbiere: 22 rushes, 138 yards, 2 TD; Axtell: 6 rushes, 26 yards; Bailey: 3 rushes, 40 yards, 1 TD; Brandel: 1 rush, -5 yards;
RECEIVING
COCONINO
Burris: 3 rec, 50 yards; Daulton: 1 rec, 21 yards, 1 TD; Gallagos: 1 rec, 6 yards
Shirley: 3 rec, 40 yards; Brooks: 2 rec, 23 yards, 1 TD; Serrano: 1 rec, 42 yards, 1 TD: Axtell: 1 rec, 30 yards, 1 TD
PASSING
COCONINO
Atherton: 16 att, 5 comp, 77 yards, 1 TD, 3 int
Original story by Annie Turner of the
Text for Flagcoco written by Russell Woods;
Statistics compiled by Bob Oberhardt, Maxpreps, and the
Last Updated: August 20, 2013