Jr. Panthers reach playoffs with win

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Superior Sun

Last week’s game between San Manuel and Superior was equivalent to a pre-playoff game. The Jr. Panthers’ football team entered the game needing a win and a Ray loss to Hayden to reach the CJHL Football Playoffs. The Jr. Lobos helped the Jr. Panthers with half the equation, defeating Ray, 18 – 0. The Jr. Panthers took care of the rest, defeating the Jr. Miners, 44 – 30.

Jr. Panthers QB Steven Ybarra scored five touchdowns, two rushing and three passing, in the victory. A 49-yard interception return for a touchdown by Daniel McConnell in the fourth quarter accounted for the Jr. Panthers other score.

After a scoreless first quarter, Benji Hernandez started the second quarter by recovering a San Manuel fumble to set up Ybarra’s first touchdown on an 80-yard run. Another Jr. Miners fumble, recovered by Bruno Godinez, set up the second score. Ybarra connected with Hernandez on a TD pass to give the Jr. Panthers a 14 – 0 lead.

A 10-yard touchdown run by Ybarra and then a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ybarra to Sammy Lopez gave the Jr. Panthers a commanding 30 – 14 lead at halftime.

The Jr. Miners bounced back in the third quarter, scoring on back-to-back possessions to tie the game, 30 – 30.

Ybarra threw his third TD pass of the game to start the fourth quarter, hitting Jesus Castellanos on a 20-yard pass. McConnell’s interception return put the Jr. Panthers up two scores before Castellanos sealed the victory with his team’s second interception of the quarter.

As a result of the Jr. Lobos win and Superior defeating San Manuel, the Panthers are the fourth and final team to make the playoff tournament.

First round games for the playoffs are: Superior (4) at Globe (1) and Eloy (3) at Mt. Vista (2). The winners of those games will meet next Tuesday for the CJHL Championship.

Andy Luberda (1149 Posts)

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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