Rio Rico's Alberto Dauz (74), Cooper Dewitt (foreground) and the rest of their team celebrate after defeating Cholla 41-24.
It’s been a while since the Rio Rico High football team felt like partying after a game.
The Hawks’ 52-game losing streak, which dated back to September 2000, came to a halt Friday as Rio Rico rallied past host Cholla 41-24.
Down 24-14 at the half, the Hawks put up a 27-0 blitzing of the Chargers in the final two quarters.
The players were looking to celebrate after the win.
“There’s going to be a big party tonight,” Keith Jacobs said.
Seldom has a 1-8 team had so many reasons to feel good.
“This is the best feeling ever,” quarterback Lucas Meza said. “I don’t know (what kind of celebration is planned), but I’m about to find out.”
Rio Rico trimmed the lead to 24-20 when Meza ran the ball in from 1 yard out in the third quarter.
On the next drive, Rio Rico forced a fumble and then took the lead when Meza found Robert McCarty for a 40-yard touchdown pass.
Rio Rico added to its lead with 2:15 left in the third when Meza connected with Chris Bojorquez from 44 yards out to make it 34-24.
The first play of the fourth quarter helped set up Rio Rico for the game-clinching drive, as the Hawks recovered a fumble.
Rio Rico then went on a five-minute drive to salt away the victory. The Hawks used 15 plays to go 76 yards.
“I’m going to go home and have a couple beers,” said Rio Rico coach Doug Brewington. “I’m going to try to sleep in, but I doubt it.”
Rio Rico defeats Cholla 41-24
Rio Rico defeats Cholla 41-24
The Cholla Chargers hosted Rio Rico. The Hawks were down 24-14 at halftime but score 27 unanswered points in the second half to win 41-24. The win ended a 52-game losing streak that spanned more than six years. The Hawks last win was on September 22, 2000.
Producer: Val Canez
Slide 1 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Rio Rico's Alberto Dauz (74), Cooper Dewitt (foreground) and the rest of their team celebrate after defeating Cholla 41-24. The win ended a 52-game losing streak that spanned more than six years. The Hawks last win was on September 22, 2000.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 2 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Rio Rico's Alberto Dauz (center), Cooper Dewitt (right) and the rest of their team celebrate after defeating Cholla 41-24.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 3 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Rio Rico's Alberto Dauz (74), Cooper Dewitt (44), quarterback Lucas Meza (1) and the rest of their team celebrate after defeating Cholla.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 4 of 17 [Next | Previous].
The Rio Rico football team celebrates after defeating Cholla.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 5 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla's Gabe Loya (left) gets pressure from Rio Rico's Cooper Dewitt in the second quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 6 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla quarterback Frank Gonzalez (center) gets pressure from Rio Rico's Cooper Dewitt (44) and F. Mendoza (right) in the first quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 7 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Rio Rico's Keith Jacobs (right) gets hit by Cholla's Aubrey Taylor for a loss in a failed fourth down conversion in the second quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 8 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla's Thomas Johnson gets tackled by Rio Rico's Keith Jacobs in the first quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 9 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla's Thomas Johnson gets tackled by Rio Rico's Keith Jacobs in the first quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 10 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla quarterback Frank Gonzalez (center) runs the ball as he tries to get past Rio Rico's Chris Bojorquez (left) and Travis Rodrick (2) in the first quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 11 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla quarterback Frank Gonzalez (right) runs the ball as he tries to get past Rio Rico's Travis Rodrick (2) in the first quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 12 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla's Aubrey Taylor (left) gets chased by Rio Rico's Travis Rodrick in the first quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 13 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla quarterback Frank Gonzalez looks for an open receiver in the second quarter against Rio Rico.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 14 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Cholla's Thomas Johnson runs the ball against Rio Rico in the second quarter.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 15 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Rio Rico's Larry Myers hive-fives some cheerleaders after defeating Cholla 41-24.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 16 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Rio Rico cheerleader Dania Miranda and player Fernando Raygoza celebrate after defeating Cholla.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson CitizenSlide 17 of 17 [Next | Previous].
Rio Rico's Eduardo Dauz (left) and Cooper Dewitt celebrate after defeating Cholla.
Source: VAL CANEZ/Tucson Citizen
