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Panthers’ WR Elias Olmos (25) picks up yards after the catch. Kelli Luberda | Sun
Superior Sun
The deeper a team gets in the playoffs, the more costly the mistakes.
That was the case for the Superior football team during last Saturday’s 36 – 30 loss at Maricopa High School in the semi-finals of the Division VI State Championship playoffs.
During its undefeated season entering Saturday’s game, the Panthers scored at least 53 points per game and won its games by an average margin of 39 points. Those types of numbers will hide a lot of mistakes and the Panthers certainly made their share during the regular season.
But in the playoffs it’s a whole different matter.
“If you make mistakes, you’re going to lose and it happened (Saturday),” junior signal-caller Nicolas Cruz said after the game.
Despite the numerous errors, the Panthers had their chances after overcoming an early 14 – 0 deficit to take the lead two different times; once in the second quarter and another in the third.
The Panthers even had a final chance – similar to last week’s game-winning drive in the closing seconds – after Valley Union took a 36 – 30 lead with 42 seconds left, but this time they couldn’t complete the comeback.
“We can’t give a team a 14-point (lead) in a game like this,” Superior head coach Ryan Palmer said. “Unfortunately, that’s what we did and that’s my fault for not getting the kids ready.”
Superior started slow – looking like it arrived at 2:30 for the 2:00 kickoff – and that allowed Valley Union to score 14 first-quarter points.
“We didn’t come ready to play right away,” Palmer said. “It took us a half-hour to get established and, ‘Hey, we’re in a football game.’ I think our kids responded well, though.”
Things changed in the second quarter after the Panthers’ defense forced the Blue Devils to turn the ball over on downs on consecutive possessions and scoring touchdowns after both.
Nicolas Cruz hit senior Elias Olmos on a 30-yard touchdown pass and catch for the Panthers’ first score. The duo also connect on the two-point PAT to make it 14 – 8.
Cruz found Jalon Murray for a 51-yard touchdown pass and catch after Valley Union’s second turnover on downs and junior running back Edgar Galindo ran in the two-point PAT afterwards to give the Panthers a 16 – 14 lead.
The teams exchanged touchdowns in final 1:55 of the first half, with the Panthers needing only three plays in the last 25 seconds of the half to tie the game, 22 – 22.
Galindo threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Austin Navarrette on the last play of the first half and the score remained tied after the Panthers’ missed the PAT.
The second half featured few points and a lot of penalties and miscues, especially by the Panthers.
Still, Superior was able to reclaim the lead in the third quarter, when Galindo scored a rushing touchdown from two yards out. After the two-point PAT, the Panthers held a 30 – 22 lead.
Valley Union answered, tying the game again with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter.
Superior threw an interception on its next possession, giving Valley Union a chance to take the lead, but again, the Panthers’ defense forced a turnover on downs.
The Panthers appeared poised to take the lead when Cruz hit Olmos for a 58-yard pass completion, giving them a first down at the Blue Devils’ 30-yard line. But penalties backed Superior up and even after a roughing-the-passer penalty by Valley Union; the Panthers were forced into a fourth-and-13 before the Blue Devils came up with a sack, ending the threat.
Valley Union used a time-consuming drive on its way to the game-winning touchdown, burning all but 42 seconds of the last 5:05 in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers did have one final possession but they simply ran out of time.
And that was it.
The Panthers’ season ended; no doubt without their best, and perhaps their worst, effort of the season.
Still, there was much to be proud of, despite the disappointment, especially for a number of juniors who will return next season.
“Hopefully, (this loss) gets us ready and makes us go into the weight room next year,” Galindo said. “(Valley Union) is a pretty big team. It’s just an advantage of size. Hopefully, next year we can (be) bigger, faster, stronger.”
Added Palmer: “We were just a great team. Our seniors, I can’t thank them enough for everything they put into this program, they’re the main reason we got to this spot and we’re going to miss them a lot next year. We have a lot of kids coming back too, and I’m hoping this (loss) is not a good feeling.”
“We have another step to take,” he continued. “We were close this year, but close isn’t good enough.”
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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