Sabino QB Alex Bell threw for over 400 yards with 8 TDs. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

With over 1,000 yards of combined offense, No. 6 Sabino and No. 13 Empire came through with plenty of fireworks Friday night but the Sabercats scored early and often to take the win and the automatic playoff berth that came with it.

By the time the smoke cleared, Alex Bell threw for 406 yards and eight touchdowns to lead the Sabercats past Empire 69-27 but, as expected, it was a night where almost everyone filled the stat sheet.

Bennet Nottingham collected 106 yards receiving and four TDs; Luke Moran pulled in 169 yards with two TDs and Larry Gerald added 106 yards with two more TDs. Not to be outdone, Isaiah Smotherman rushed for 99 yards. Backup QB Diego Armijo came in late and he threw for another 65 yards, including a 50-yard TD pass.

The Ravens were almost unstoppable on the ground with Jalen Smith rushing for 151 yards with Wyatt Jeffries rushing for 132 more. Q Washington put together 94 yards rushing including two TDs. Isaiah Tavakolian had a rushing TD and Alex Verdugo threw a 26-yard TD pass to Brandon Walker.  That’s over 400 yards rushing but, amazingly, it wasn’t enough.

No. 1 Pusch Ridge claimed the 3A South title last week which meant one more berth from the region was still available under the rules of the 3A Conference. Ranked sixth coming in, the Sabercats were almost surely safe for one of the four at-large bids available but Empire came in on the bubble.

Three of the automatic qualifiers from the various regions came into the final week ranked outside of the top 16 which means three teams might theoretically get bumped out of the playoff picture. As mentioned before, the 3A Conference only allows for four at-large berths. The Ravens will be watching the AIA Football Bracket show very closely Saturday morning.

AZPreps365.com will stream the bracket show live Saturday morning starting at 9 a.m. The playoff brackets from 2A to 6A will be released.

Going through the other conference races from Southern Arizona, No. 15 Tucson lost the 6A Southern Region title to No. 25 Cibola 28-15. This is a case where a team will bump another team out of the top 16.

No. 3 Cienega beat No. 10 Marana Mountain View 41-14 to claim the 5A Southern Region. Even better, No. 1 Centennial and No. 2 Queen Creek lost on the final night of the regular season.  Where will the Bobcats finish?

No. 7 Ironwood Ridge beat No. 16 Sahuaro 42-18. One would have to think the Nighthawks have secured a home game in the playoffs while the Cougars dropped out of contention for an at-large berth. Incidentally, Sahuaro will compete in the 4A Conference next year.

No. 9 Marana beat 6A opponent Rincon/UHS 59-3. It is unclear if that will be enough to push the Tigers into the top eight and a home playoff game. It just might.

No. 18 Buena beat 4A opponent Nogales 43-21. Again, nail biting time for the Colts.

No. 3 Salpointe solidified a top position in the 4A playoffs with a 49-21 win over No. 23 Canyon del Oro but No. 7 Catalina Foothills lost a close one to No. 14 Walden Grove 14-13. This means the Falcons might have to travel in the playoffs and the Red Wolves are in the playoffs. At any rate, 7-3 is the best regular season record in the short history of Walden Grove.

No. 12 Pueblo beat No. 39 Amphitheater 56-8 to take the 4A Gila Region championship. 8-2 is the best record from the program since 1988 when the Warriors went 9-0-1 to end the regular season. It’s the fourth best record in school history dating back to 1955.

No. 4 Santa Cruz finished the year 9-0 in the 2A Conference thanks to a 49-6 win over No. 19 San Manuel but No. 14 Willcox lost what might have been a must-win game against No. 24 Benson 43-22.  No. 17 Bisbee beat No. 38 Tombstone 56-6. Will that be enough to get in?