McElhenny seizes football moment at Ironwood High
James McElhenny never experience a playoff game during his first three years at Tolleson High School.
But, despite the Tolleson Union High School District ultimately closing the book on a football season due to the rising COVID-19 metrics, the senior seized his playoff moment last week.
In his first game playing this season, McElhenny started at safety and caught a 24-yard touchdown pass during Ironwood’s frantic 35-30 comefrom-behind victory over Scottsdale Desert Mountain that put the Eagles in Friday’s 5A state semifinals. Ironwood trailed 27-7 in the third quarter, before quarterback Will Haskell went on a run with his four TDs.
McElhenny was the quarterback at Tolleson.
He knew Haskell was the man at Ironwood when he came over three weeks ago. So he let Coach Chris Rizzo know he will play anywhere, do whatever he needed.
“It’s truly a blessing,” McElhenny said. “I went from not having a season to being in the state semifinals. It’s something I never thought I’d be a part of.”
Because Tolleson eliminated football this fall, McElhenny could transfer to a school closest to his home that was playing football and not have to sit out several games, according to an Arizona Interscholastic Association bylaw.
He only had to sit out the Week 7 Glendale Apollo game to give himself time to acclimate with practices. The next week, the final regular-season game against Goodyear Millennium was canceled due to COVID-19.
Then, he was ready last week, as the playoffs opened.
“He’s just grateful to be able to play some games his senior year and winning a championship would be icing on the cake,” said Jim McElhenny, James’ dad.
McElhenny was the only Tolleson player to transfer to Ironwood in an effort to save his senior season.
“His exact words to me were, ‘Coach, I’ll play anything, just want to play,’ “Rizzo said. “That’s truly the sign of a player who just loves the game.”