Citizen Staff Report
PHX. PARADISE VALLEY 21 CATALINA FOOTHILLS 7
Catalina Foothills fell short in its bid for the first playoff win in school history, losing 21-7 at Paradise Valley on Friday in the opening round of the Class 4A Division I state tourney.
The Falcons lost in the first round at state in 2001, 2002 and 2005.
No. 14-seeded Foothills got its only score on Ronnie Russo’s 13-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to cut the lead to 14-7.
Paradise Valley’s Jake Brown scored from 5 yards out later in the quarter to push the deficit back to 14.
Tyree Parker had an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter to open the scoring.
David Godley caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin Spain in the second quarter to give Paradise Valley a 14-0 halftime lead.
The Falcons rushed for 118 yards and passed for 168.
Foothills finished 6-5 in coach Matt Johnson’s first year. The Falcons finished in second place in the Class 4A Sonoran with a 3-1 region record.
No. 3 Paradise Valley (9-2) hosts Canyon del Oro, which won the region, at 7 p.m. Friday in a quarterfinal game.
Citizen Staff Report