The Desert Ridge Jaguars advanced to the second round of the 6A football state playoffs with a 58-41 win over the Cesar Chavez Champions on Friday.

Heading into the playoffs, the Jaguars were seeded eighth and the Champions were seeded ninth.

The Jaguars had a rocky start to their season only notching two wins in heir first six games. Head coach Jeremey Hathcock knew his squad was talented, but it was going to take more to have a successful season. 

“We lost two games by three points and we knew we were going to be good, but the kids had to believe that,” Hathcock said. “We started going full pads and saying, 'what the heck, man', we are old-school tough and that's how we roll.”

Late in the second quarter Friday, on the Jaguars' sixth drive and afterbonly snapping the ball seven times, junior running back Avantae Barrett scored on a 33-yard run to put the Jaguars up 24-0 with 2:26 left.

However, the Champions answered back quickly on their next drive with a 27-yard pass to receiver  Tavian Dennis by senior quarterback Lucas Arnds, cutting the Jaguars' lead to 24-7 with 42 seconds left in the second quarter. 

On the next drive, the Champions defense helped put points on the scoreboard with a pick six on the first play by junior linebacker Linwood Crawford. That cut the lead to just one touchdown going into halftime.

“We kinda gave them those 14 points," Hatchcock said. "We had a third down penalty deal and I think we got third down penalties all night long, so we played a little undisciplined.” 

Besides the one interception, junior quarterback Austin Kolb had an excellent night. He completed 7 of 17 passes for 254 yards and four touchdowns.

Kolb credited his success to the teammates in front of him.

“ I have the best line in the state, no doubt," Kolb said. "They always have my back and keeping me on my front side."

Kolb's go-to receiver all night was Californian Golden Bears commit Aidan Lee who had three touchdowns and 146 receiving yards.

“They were playing a lot of cushion in  the inside, so every time I had a chance to take it  outside I would take it,” Lee said. 

The Jaguars' next game will be Friday at No. 1 seed Red Mountain (9-1, 5-0), who they faced in their first game of the regular season, losing 31-14.