Hayden stays perfect, beats Mogollon for 1A state football championship
Saturday night’s 1A football state championship game at Coronado High School in Scottsdale between No. 1 Hayden Lobos (11-0) and No. 6 Mogollon Mustangs (9-2) had the makings of being a historic matchup as one team looked to defend their perfect season, while the other aimed for the improbable milestone of four consecutive state championships.
But when it was all said and done, the Lobos overshadowed the Mustangs' historic title pursuit, securing a convincing 62-30 victory.
Winning the state championship, after the team's last title in 1972, was a victory celebrated by the entire Hayden community, which has a population of 600 people.
Standout performers
One could argue that the quarterback holds the most influential role in team sports, a claim that proved accurate tonight with Lobos' Junior quarterback Paul Gaither taking full control of the game on the ground and in the air, without a single interception tarnishing his performance.
When it mattered most, the Lobos witnessed a stellar performance from both senior running back Deondre Collier and sophomore Kino Lorona, who together notched a total of five touchdowns. Collier secured three in the early stages, while Lorona contributed two in the second half.
In sports, particularly when the stakes are at its highest, there's always a requirement for individuals to handle the less glamorous tasks. Sophomore athlete Tyler Garner went above and beyond to contribute to the team's victory, registering a receiving touchdown, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble
Key plays
Right from the start, the Lobos came out swinging, with senior Keiston Pool intercepting quarterback Tyson Owens on the Mustangs' opening offensive series, paving the way for a 28-yard touchdown by senior running back Deondre Collier, his first of three in the half.
Responding to a Mustangs touchdown, Gaither launched a flawless deep ball to sophomore athlete Tyler Garner, resulting in a smooth 64-yard touchdown connection.
To conclude the first quarter, the Lobos took a risk on 4th and 1, successfully converting and witnessing Collier breaking through the middle for a 32-yard rushing touchdown.
The Lobos were able to find the back of the end zone twice during the second quarter, concluding the half with Garner delivering a huge defensive hit, forcing a fumble in the red zone.
As the second half unfolded, the defense continued to make impactful plays, while the offense showed no signs of easing up.
Just as the Mustangs were gaining a little momentum, senior defensive lineman Mark Acevedo delivered a crucial sack on 3rd down in the red zone. Immediately afterward, Lobos' sophomore running back Kino Lorona broke free for a 75-yard rushing touchdown.
Gaither sealed the deal by tossing two additional touchdowns in the second half, with the coffin being firmly shut when senior defensive end Dominic Acevedo hauled in an interception in the closing moments of the fourth quarter.
Quotes of the game
“Look at it, the whole town is here,” coach John Estrada said. “We are a small community but we have so much support from all the people in Hayden. It makes this moment that much more special.”
Estrada added, “There’s no word to describe this. I don’t know how to feel, but it’s a good feeling I can get use too. These kids worked so hard, they deserve this trophy.”
“It doesn’t even feel real right now,” Gaither said. “I can’t even explain it at this point. It means the world and it proves so much about our team. We put in the work and got the results, this win means everything.”
“Not a lot of people could say they won state, so it feels good,” Collier said. “We worked so hard, all year, to be here, and I’m just grateful.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hayden stays perfect, beats Mogollon for 1A state football championship
