Slide show from Scottsdale at Pima football game at Tucson Electric Park.

The Scottsdale Artichokes kicked a 37-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to win the game 35-32. The Aztecs came up empty on three extra point attempts- it proved to be the difference.

Philip Aholt (Cactus Shadows) threw for an incredible 493 yards on 40-59 attempts for Scottsdale. Despite his “video-game” numbers the Aztecs took the lead (26-24) with 13:44 left in the game when Griffin Ronstadt (CDO) jumped on a blocked punt in the end zone.

Scottsdale took the lead again (32-26) but Dan Nicholas (CDO) threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Scott Campbell (I Ridge) to tie the game (32-32 – extra point blocked). Nicholas bobbled the ball over his head on the play which probably allowed Campbell to shake his defender.

 
It looked like the game was going to overtime but the Artichokes had 1:22 left on the clock.
A short kick put Scottsdale in excellent position at the 39 yard line. They eventually had a first and ten at the 50 but two consecutive plays with no gain made it 3-10 with 22 seconds left.

For some reason, the linesman had his stick at the 47 yard line after an incomplete pass that sailed over a wide-open receiver that would have gone for a touchdown. What should have been a 3-10 at the 50 became a 3-7 at the 47. I was unable to get the team’s attention to this because I was down the field.

The Umpire got in the path on the next play – knocking down the Artichoke runner making it 4-3 with 10 seconds left. Had he not been in the way the run could have gone for 15 yards as the middle was wide open but there was only 10 seconds left at that point and the clock may have run down too much to try anything but a long field goal.

A 23 yard pass on fourth down to the 20-yard line told the whole story of the game. Pima showed very little pass defense.

The field goal with 5 seconds left sealed the game.

Tony Simms (Hamilton) ran for 102 yards on 11 carries including two touchdowns from 54 and 16 yards for Pima.

Nicholas threw for 111 yards and Tight End Doug Steele (CDO) threw a 57 yard touchdown pass to Campbell (86 yards – 2 TDs) in the third quarter off of a pitch back from Nicholas. The trick play brought Pima to within 17-14.

Pima coach Pat Nugent congratulated his offense at midfield after the game and offered a simple explanation after the game, “We just find ways to lose.”

I think there was excitement at the stadium. The tailgating, the atmosphere, the close game and the hometown feel made it more of a high school game than college – and that’s a good thing.

EXTRA NOTES:

Scottsdale has two Tucson-area players on its team: DB Derek Matlock played for Nugent at CDO last year. He told me the victory was bitter-sweet, “It was hard as hell….but this is competition. I check the scores every Saturday night and root for them when we aren’t play against them.” He also commented on CDO beating Saguaro 44-0 the night before, “I was so happy that CDO beat Saguaro. Josh (Robbins) texted me after the game. My father was there and kept me up on the score.”

DL Barry Snider of Sahuarita also played for the Artichokes and had a few big tackles in the middle.

I saw Nugent carrying boxes of t-shirts to sell at the gate. He is a total coach. He brought many of his sideline staff to help out with stats and even asked long-time ball carrier Edward “Eddie” Kittell to join the team in the same capacity he had at CDO.

I enjoyed the back and forth conversations between the side official and Eddie during the game.

Plenty of food was to be had in the parking lot during the tailgate but, since this was only the second game, things will start to get into full swing for next week’s game at Tucson High against Snow College.

The Snow Badgers are 5-1 including a 44-0 thrashing of Mesa last night.

Head Coach: Patrick Nugent

Assistant Coaches:
Jeff Green (Offensive Line)
Glenn Howell (Strength & Conditioning)
James MacPherson (Quarterbacks)
Jim Paul (Receivers)
Pat Ryden (Defensive Coordinator)
Brandon Sanders (Safeties)
Mark Teixeira (Cornerbacks)
Shawn Wasson (Defensive Line/Special Teams)
Jeff Watson (Equipment Manager)
Matt Willard (Offensive Line)

LOCAL PLAYERS:

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