Tempe Marcos de Niza jumped out to a 21-0 first-half lead and handled Mesa Skyline’s second-half counterpunch to win 38-3 and advance to the 5A-II semifinals Friday at Marcos.

SLIDESHOW: Marcos de Niza vs. Skyline

SLIDESHOW: Friday night football action

The Padres (11-1) had a 35-0 halftime lead in their earlier meeting this year only to have the Coyotes (8-4) fight back in the second half. Skyline appeared ready to make a second-half surge when it took over on the Marcos 25 early in the third quarter after forcing punter David Murray to scramble and then kick out of bounds.

The Padres’ defense stuffed the first two Skyline rushes then Ramon Abreu picked off Mike Bailey’s short swing pass and returned it 77 yards for the score and a 28-3 lead at 7:41 in the second half.

“They tried to do that in the first game, too, and it got called back,” Abreu said. “I was watching for it and hoped that we didn’t mess up.

“My goal was to return four this year and that was my fourth.”

“We felt like we could come and get a third-quarter surge,” Skyline coach Peter Jonovich said. “I called the wrong play.

“(Marcos) did it on all ends — a total team performance.

“But we’ve accomplished some uncharted territory this year (getting a first-round win). It’s all part of the learning process.”

Big plays on special teams sparked Marcos’ first two scores. Abreu set up the first with a 45-yard punt return, then Dominic Sotelo blocked a punt on the next Coyote possession for a short-field drive from the Skyline 37.

Matt Ditsworth intercepted Zach Schira to kill the next Padre possession, but Marcos came right back with an 11-play drive capped by a 3-yard touchdown from Donovan Henley for a 21-0 lead.

Abreu had a 65-yard punt return called back on the next possession and Skyline ended the half with a 42-yard field goal from Jared Smith to pull to 21-3.

The Marcos defense dominated the Coyotes throughout the game with its speed, allowing only two first downs.

“We weren’t jiving,” Bailey said. “They’re fast on defense.”

The Padres added two fourth-quarter scores. Eric Rodriguez kicked a 30-yard field goal, then Jeryan Butler blocked a second Smith field-goal attempt and Henley returned it 69 yards for the 38-3 final.

“The boys have stepped and played for each other,” Padres coach Roy Lopez said. “They really love playing for each other.”

In the semifinals in two weeks, Marcos will play Avondale Westview, a team that upset the Padres 35-33 in last year’s semis.

“We have a little unfinished business with them,” Lopez said. “We don’t want to make it more than it is, but it hurt last year and it still hurts this year.”