The monsoon crested the majestic Pusch Ridge to the east and there was nothing holding back the rain now and Canyon del Oro running back Kayden Luke took full advantage of the opportunity. He burst through the line on an improbable fourth-and-1 situation at his own 18 with 5:18 left in the first quarter, with nothing but a monsoon in his way, and the senior standout put the Dorados up 7-0 some 82 yards later in what would eventually become a 21-14 victory over Eastmark Friday night.

Luke scored again from 22 yards out four minutes later off of a turnover and then Vijay King scored on a strip from four yards out to put the Dorados up 21-0 with 8:38 left in the first half. Eastmark was far from done at that point. The rains started drifting away and the Firebirds started to create opportunities for themselves and a fumble recovery, on a drive that could have ended the game in the first half, turned into a short run from Coleman Samples and the Dorado lead was cut down to 21-7 with 3:36 left in the half.

Canyon del Oro ate up much of the clock in the third and fourth quarters but the team was turned back on multiple fourth down situations and a couple of interceptions, leaving more opportunities for the Firebirds and junior QB Mason Jensen marched Eastmark down the field on three consecutive throws after another stop to cut the lead down to 21-14 on a TD toss to Jaxson Bailey with eight seconds left.

The Firebirds recovered an onsides kick on the next play but there was too much ground to cover with multiple laterals eating up the rest of the time.

Eastmark QB Mason Jensen. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

 

The Dorados entered the game as the consensus favorite to win the 4A state championship this year based on experience and strength but even the most prepared have room to grow and learn.

“There was just a little meat left on that bone,” CDO head coach Dustin Peace said after the game. “We just didn't finish the job when we had the opportunity to do it. We have to find ways to do that as a coach, I have to put ourselves in better situations. But we showed flashes of good things and then we just let everybody hang around and then, you know, they're a good football team, they’re the state champs for a reason and they fought us to the end there’s a lot of learning available in that game, the end of the game with onside kick and the whole thing. We've learned so much from this game without doubt, and we're eager to do so.”

Eastmark went 13-1 last year en route to a 3A state championship but that squad was led by Mack Molander and he ended his senior season with 3,066 yards passing with 37 TDs and running back Diego Rodriguez and his 1,093 yards rushing and 14 TDs. Head coach Scooter Molander moved over to Desert Vista, which opened the door for former Hamilton QB Travis Dixon to take over.

One has to wonder if not for the rains and the turnovers how this game might have come out but that’s for Combs (0-1) to find out because there are no do overs and the Coyotes will visit Eastmark next week after losing to Catalina Foothills 20-16 at home Friday night.

The Dorados will travel to Bradshaw Mountain (1-0) next week with the Bears beating Snowflake 24-14 Friday. The Bears had the game with CDO circled on their calendars over the summer and it should be a good one.