Joe McHugh is a student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism assigned to reporting Perry High School for AZPreps365.com

On Friday, September 20, the 2-2 Caesar Chavez Campions topped the 3-1 Perry Pumas by a score of 35-27. The pumas were without starting quarterback Chubba Purdy and receiver Jorden Young, so Ethan James was the starter tonight.

 

On the first drive the Champions came out firing with a nine play, 60-yard drive capped off with a touchdown by number 23 Linwood Crawford, who would have a large part in the outcome of this game. This drive was a statement drive to show that the Champions were here to win and nothing else.

 

The Pumas would respond quickly as they started off with a strong 15-yard run from number 23 Nathaniel Miles to jumpstart the Puma’s offense. The drive got a little sloppy, as there were two defensive penalties and one offensive penalty. The later that drive, on third down, the Pumas pulled off a jet sweep pass, where the receiver comes in motion and acts as if it is a run, then turns around and throws it to the quarterback who is streaking up the left side of the field. This ended up putting the Pumas in scoring position where Miles would cap it off with a six-yard touchdown tying the game at 7.

 

The Champions would go on to score another touchdown on a 39-yard touchdown by the other half of the Crawford duo, Deavon Crawford, who would also have a big part in the Champions win.

 

In the start of the second quarter, the Pumas would get a 28-yard pass to number 48, tight end Lance Barrett, which was then finished off by Joshua Delemos, who caught a two-yard touchdown. The point after attempt missed which put the Pumas down and caused a huge point of struggle for the rest of the game.

 

The Champions would then come back with a 65-yard rushing touchdown from the quarterback Lucas Arnds. This would put them up 21-13.

 

The Pumas would keep it competitive with another strong 11 play drive that would entail some penalties, including a holding and a false start. But quarter back Ethan James would two for four for 62 yards coupled with a big 20-yard rush and a touchdown to Delemos. The Pumas would try to tie the game up with the same trick play that worked out earlier, but the Champions snuffed it out, deflecting the pass to the ground, leaving the score 21-19.

 

Before going into the half, the Pumas halted a 15-play drive, that included a touchdown that got called back due to a holding call, with the score holding at 21-19 Champions.

 

After half and stopping the Pumas, the Champions would lead another long drive where Arnds would get another passing touchdown. He had a fantastic day ending up with roughly 200 all-purpose yards and a pair of touchdowns.

 

The second half would prove troublesome for the Pumas where most of their drives would end in punts and their defense couldn’t keep up with the Champions offense, as on the next Champions drive they would be score again with another big drive from Linwood Crawford, where he would rack up 40 yards and a touchdown, which was nothing short of a rumble of a touchdown, breaking tackles left and right fighting to the endzone. The new score, 35-19.

 

The game would stall with punts from both teams, until the Pumas would come through with a huge punt return that would set up a 24 yard passing touchdown from James to number 24 Grant Speaker, where the pairing would land the 2 point conversion, bringing the score to 35-27.

 

With momentum, the Pumas came on defense and got an immediate stop, but on the next play the Champions would pick up the first down. Following that, Linwood Crawford would rumble for another 33 yards, essentially icing the game, but unfortunately, defensive back Aaron Henry IV was down on the field with a serious injury. The Phoenix Fire Department was brought to the scene and they brought Henry off of the field on a stretcher. A sign of good hope came through though, as Henry raised his arm letting the crowd know he would be okay.

 

Coach Preston Jones was essentially happy with his offense and how Ethan James filled in. “I can’t say enough about him… He ran the offense as good as we could’ve asked him to.”

 

When asked about the defense, Jones said, “When the other team scores 35 points on your defense, there is an obvious problem that needs to be addressed.”

 

Linebacker Jackson Ford, who was nothing short of phenomenal on defense said this about defensive improvement, “We just need to focus on individual assignments and work on getting better as a unit.”

 

The Pumas are now preparing for Boulder Creek High School next Friday.