YC faces formidable foe
In order to get 1st 3A quarterfinal win, Shamrocks must beat defending state champs
Since moving up to the 3A Conference (then known as Division IV) prior to the 2015 season, the Yuma Catholic football team has seen its season end in the state quarterfinals twice in a row. To avoid a third straight time, they will have to take down the defending state champions Friday night in Queen Creek at 7 p.m.
American Leadership Academy has a 23-2 record since the start of their title-winning 2016 campaign. Seventeen of those 25 games are against teams in this year’s state tournament bracket, and the No. 2 Patriots (10-1 AIA) are 15-2 in those games.
“They’re a really, extremely talented team,” Yuma Catholic coach Aaron Cheatwood said. “They’ve got four or five guys on the offensive side of the ball that can score from 85 yards out.”
And though the first quarterfinal win in 3A would undoubtedly be a big deal for YC, Cheatwood made clear that the bar is still set higher than that.
“Our goal at Yuma Catholic every year is to win a state title,” Cheatwood said. “We’re not just looking to win a quarterfinal game.”
Like seventh-seeded Yuma Catholic (9-2), the Patriots have balance on offense, displaying the ability to pass and run with success.
Both teams’ quarterbacks and feature running
7 p.m. Friday, Queen Creek
backs have had comparable statistical seasons. ALA senior Matthew Nevill is nine yards shy of 2,200 with a 30-to-7 touchdownto-interceptions ratio and 60 percent completions. YC sophomore Gage Reese is a tick better in yards (2,489) and completion percentage (62.8), and has 27 touchdowns with nine interceptions.
Patriots senior running back Tarrik Workman is at 1,081 yards (8.8 per carry) and 15 touchdowns, while YC sophomore Ean Chavez has 1,014 (7.3 per carry) and 17 scores.
As for receivers, the Patriots’ numbers are much more spread out. No one on the Shamrocks outside of junior J.R. Henderson (1,253 yards, 10 touchdowns) and senior Yohan Stokes (619 yards, eight TDs) has more than 154 yards.
The Patriots’ season resume is an impressive one. Their only loss is to the top seed, Pusch Ridge. Six of their first seven games this year were against playoff teams, five of which were in the top eight in 3A. Outside of the loss to the No. 1 Lions, the closest of those