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Superior Panthers
Just about 51 weeks ago, the Superior football team’s dreams of winning a State Championship ended at Maricopa High School following a 36 – 30 loss to Valley Union in the semifinals. On Saturday night, the undefeated and No. 2-ranked Panthers will host No. 7 Joseph City in the quarterfinals of the 1A State Playoffs, not hoping or looking but expecting to win two more games than they did a year ago.
“It is the second round of the playoffs and there are no easy games,” Panthers’ head coach Ryan Palmer wrote in an email to the Superior Sun. “Every team left in the tournament is a solid team that has earned their place in the top eight.”
“It is win or done, and we are nowhere close to being finished.”
Joseph City finished the regular season with a record of 6 – 2 and defeated No. 10 Mogollon in a high-scoring first-round game last week, 63 – 46. The Wildcats enter Saturday’s playoff game averaging more than 350 yards of total offense and nearly 40 points per game.
“They play disciplined and with high effort,” Palmer said about his team’s opponent this week. “They execute well in their power run game and have some good play action passes that provides balance to their offense.”
Palmer acknowledged the Panthers’ defense is in for a challenge and will need to display sound tackling fundamentals.
“We have to play tough and be physical from start to finish,” the reigning Coach of the Year said. “We have to play assignment football on defense, and offensively, we need to get the ball to our playmakers and try to take advantage of some potential mismatches.”
Playmakers – too many for most teams to deal with – are what set the Panthers apart from just about every other 1A team across the state.
It starts with quarterback and Player of the Year candidate Nicolaus Cruz, one of a number of four-year senior starters on the team. Running back Edgar Galindo, receivers Austin Navarrette, Marcos Bueno, and Jalon Murray make the Panthers difficult to defend for opposing teams.
Palmer said he wants to see his team play with maximum effort, adding that focus and discipline will be emphasized during practice this week.
“Games are often won or lost in practice throughout the week,” he said. “If we come out complacent and not ready to play, this very well could be our last game.”
Indeed, it could be.
But, the Panthers “are nowhere close to being finished.”
Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Superior High School.
Reminder: The AIA sets the ticket prices for all playoff games and therefore may be different than other regular-season games.
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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