Cibola beats Tucson, clinches 6A playoff berth
RB Escott, WR Ramirez each score twice to seal Southern Championship for Raiders
The Cibola football team is headed to the 6A state playoffs.
Cibola pulled out a 28-15 victory at Tucson High on Friday in the 6A Southern region championship game to earn an automatic state berth.
The Raiders relied on a balanced offensive attack and a stout defensive effort to pull off what according to the rankings was an upset — Cibola (5-5 overall, 2-0 region) entered the game ranked No. 25 in 6A, 10 spots below No. 15 Tucson (4-6, 2-0).
Cibola trailed only once in the contest, after giving up an early Tucson touchdown, and led from the 6-minute mark of the first quarter on.
Junior quarter Ethan Arvizo completed 12 of 20 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns, both to junior receiver Gabriel Ramirez (6 rec., 138 yards). Senior running back Jesse Escott had 24 carries for 112 yards and two scores.
Both of Ramirez’s touchdowns came in the third quarter, which began with Cibola clinging to a 7-6 lead. The first one was a 39-yarder to make it 14-6, followed by a 45-yarder to make it 21-6.
But Tucson responded with a long touchdown run late in the third, and then added a field goal to pull within 21-15 with 8:21 remaining in the game.
The game’s defining moment, Cibola coach Lucky Arvizo said, came on the ensuing drive, with Cibola