Sabino	0	14	21	28	63
Cactus Shadows	7	7	7	21	42
November 20, 2009 - 07:00PM Full box score| More Football

The magic act came to a close Friday night in Cave Creek.

The Cactus Shadows football team survived a difficult regular-season schedule unscathed, thanks in large part to its ability to conjure up a big play when the game was on the line.

But in its 4A-I quarterfinal matchup with Tucson Sabino, Cactus Shadows didn’t have enough big plays to overcome two costly interceptions and a lack of defense, as the visiting Sabercats scored 49 second-half points to win 63-42.

“We had mental mistakes tonight that we haven’t made all year, and the interceptions,” Falcons coach Chad DeGrenier said. “They are a good football team, and you can’t turn the ball over three times and expect to win.”

The loss was the first of the season for the Falcons, who finish the year 11-1.

Sabino (10-2) advances to the 4A-I semifinals next Friday against Scottsdale Saguaro, the three-time defending state champion.

“It feels very good — it’s been since 2006 that we’ve been this far,” Sabino coach Jay Campos said. “And we actually played Saguaro in the state championship game, so there’s a lot of motivation for us to get ready for them.”

Cactus Shadows did have a little magic working on Friday. The Falcons fell behind 35-21 after Sabino scored two touchdowns in a 1:32 span late in the third quarter. The first was a 33-yard run from Keanu Nelson and the second, also a Nelson run, was set up by an interception by Sabercats defensive end Collin McBrayer at the Cactus Shadows 12-yard line.

Cactus Shadows then drove 74 yards in 13 plays, scoring on a 1-yard run by quarterback Dillon Classen to pull within a touchdown at 35-28. The Falcons then executed a perfect onside kick, which was recovered by Brady Dombrowski.

The drive nearly was derailed when Sabino’s Rhett Taylor intercepted a Classen pass at the 5-yard line. However, Taylor fumbled the ball back during the return and Classen scored on a 6-yard run two plays later to pull Cactus Shadows even at 35-35.

Tommy Murphy’s 11th interception of the season then gave the Falcons the ball back with a chance to go ahead. However, Classen and the offense went cold and were forced to punt back to Sabino, which reeled off the next 21 points.

“Despite all the stupid things we did, we still had it at 35-35 with seven minutes to go and get an interception,” DeGrenier said. “But I don’t know what happened after that.”

The go-ahead touchdown was a 3-yard run by Tyler Cocchi and the next was a 24-yarder from Stanford-bound Nelson, who finished the night with 136 yards and five touchdowns. The final score came on a 50-yard interception return by Taylor, who made up for his earlier fumble.

“I didn’t feel comfortable until we were up three scores,” Campos said. “I know how potent their offense is.”

Classen finished his prep career with a career-high 472 yards and four passing touchdowns, as well as his two touchdown runs. Classen attempted 61 passes and helped three fellow Falcons seniors finish with over 100 yards receiving (Murphy had 127 while Dombrowski and Joree Schneider had 119 each).

“It was a very good season. I’m very proud of these kids,” DeGrenier said. “Obviously everybody in the state thought we wouldn’t be here, but we are. I’m just bummed for them, bummed for the seniors.”

LIVE IN-GAME UPDATES

Cactus Shadows comes out firing. Dillon Classen pump-fakes, Joree Schneider does a double-move and Classen lofts a perfect strike that Schneider corrals at the 4-yard line before stumbling into the end zone. It's a 39-yard touchdown pass and it's 7-0 Falcons with 7:13 left in the opening quarter.

Sabino's Keanu Nelson gets around the right end and goes 32 yards for the game-tying touchdown. It's now 7-7 with 8:45 left in the first half.

Classen caps off a Cactus Shadows drive by finding Dombrowski, who fights through a defender into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. It's now 14-7 Cactus Shadows with 2:37 left in the half.

After two long completions to Stephen Fraser, Nelson scores on a 4-yard run to pull Sabino even at 14-14 with 1:10 left in the first half.

It's 14-14 at the half. Classen is 14-of-17 passing for 220 yards and a pair of TDs. Joree Schneider has five catches for 95 yards.

A slip screen from Classen to Tommy Murphy goes the distance, as Murphy outruns the defensive backs and dives into the end zone for a 54-yard touchdown that gives Cactus Shadows a 21-14 lead with 8:15 left in the third quarter.

An 11-yard reverse to Tyler Cocchi knots things up again, as Sabino pulls even at 21-21 with 4:56 left in the third.

Sabino takes its first lead of the game, as Nelson starts left, is hit, spins, cuts back right against the flow and goes 33 yards for the touchdown. Sabino now leads 28-21 with 1:46 left in the third quarter.

Sabino's Collin McBrayer reads a slip screen and picks off Classen's pass at the Cactus Shadows 12. Three plays later, Nelson scores from 3 yards out to put Sabino ahead by two scores, 35-21, with 14 seconds left in the third quarter.

Cactus Shadows' 76-yard drive is capped off by 1-yard sneak by Classen to pull within a touchdown, 35-28, with 9:18 left to play.

Sabino's Rhett Taylor intercepts a tipped pass but then fumbles on the return, giving it back to Cactus Shadows for a first-and-goal from the 6-yard line. On second down, Classen rolls right and keeps it , going into the end zone for a 6-yard run that ties the score at 35-35 with 7:39 remaining.

After a big pass play to Tyler Cocchi gives Sabino first-and-goal, Cocchi runs a counter 3 yards for the touchdown. Sabino is now back on top 42-35 with 4:09 left to play.

Cactus Shadows turns it over on downs at its own 24 and on the very next play, Nelson goes right up the middle for a 24-yard touchdown. Sabino now leads 49-35 with 3:35 left in the game. 

Sabino's Rhett Taylor picks off a Classen pass at midfield and takes it back all the way for a touchdown. It's now Sabino 56, Cactus Shadows 35 with time running out. It appears that the Falcons' season will come to an end.

Cactus Shadows gets a late touchdown on a 44-yard pass from Classen to Brady Dombrowski, cutting Sabino's lead to 56-42.

Sabino tacks on a late touchdown and will win this one 63-42 to knock off the second-seeded Falcons and advance to play Saguaro in the 4A-I semifinals.

PREVIEW

No. 7 Sabino at No. 2 Cactus Shadows

Time: 7 p.m.

Address: 5802 E Dove Valley Rd., Cave Creek

Key matchup: Somehow, someway, Cactus Shadows’ defense has done the job this season. Tyler Souva and Zach Sexton lead the Falcons with 121 and 106 tackles, respectively, and will have their hands full with Sabino’s offense led by Stephen Fraser and Keanu Nelson.

Stat leaders: Cactus Shadows – Rushing: Zach Sexton, 164 rushes, 805 yards, 12 TDs; Dillon Classen 97-428, 6 TDs. Passing: Classen 160 of 263, 2,077 yds., 33 TDs, 7 INT. Receiving: Tommy Murphy 48 rec., 847 yds, 10 TDs; Joree Schneider 48-595, 6 TDs; Brady Dombrowski 39-402, 8 TDs; John Leonard 30-306, 5 TDs. Sabino – Rushing: Stephen Fraser 136-1,134, 18 TDs; Keanu Nelson 86-937, 16 TDs; Tyler Cocchi 55-556, 9 TDs. Passing: Nathan Brooks 28 of 54, 562 yds., 5 TDs, 3 INT. Nelson 20 of 26, 394, 2 INT. Receiving: David Duron 14-427, 3 TDs; Nelson 23-337, 2 TDs.

Key stat: Falcons quarterback Dillon Classen has thrown just one interception in his last 145 attempts.

Outlook: Each time Cactus Shadows faces a tough test, the Falcons respond. Their game plans have been very effective all season and coach Chad DeGrenier is not afraid to go against his teams tendencies to win. Sabino will be a challenge for the Falcons’ defense, but Cactus Shadows has too much offense to falter at this point in the playoffs.