HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
4A-I football: Star running back carries Chaparral past CDO
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STRUGGLES CONTINUE
Tucson teams have had trouble with Scottsdale Chaparral in the playoffs since 2000, going just 2-7 against the Firebirds:
2008 - Chaparral 13, CDO 7
2008 - Chaparral 35, Cienega 21
2006 - Chaparral 44, Cienega 12
2006 - Sabino 24, Chaparral 14
2005 - Chaparral 55, I. Ridge 14
2005 - Chaparral 52, Cienega 14
2003 - Sunnyside 13, Chaparral 7
2002 - Chaparral 20, Sunnyside 17
2000 - Chaparral 28, Sunnyside 14*
* - State championship game
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Box score / 4A-I Playoff Bracket
PHOENIX - "If you want to be the man, you got to beat the man," Scottsdale Chaparral's head coach repeatedly said Friday night after his team's tight 13-7 state playoffs victory over Canyon del Oro.
Well, Chaparral certainly was "The Man," or more specifically, workhorse tailback Dwayne Garrett was.
He rushed 38 times for 174 yards and had the maddening knack - if you were on the CDO side - of moving forward in the Class 4A Division I state semifinal game at North Canyon High.
"He's a great back," Firebirds coach Charlie Ragle said. "He does this all the time. He has rushed for 2,000 yards this year."
It was oh, so close and painful for the Dorados, who were hoping to go to the state title game for the second straight year.
CDO (11-2) finally showed some offensive life in the fourth quarter, scoring to cut the lead to 13-7 and then driving to the Chaparral 20 late in the game.
But on a trick play - a tackle eligible formation - the Dorados were intercepted in the end zone with 1:24 left. Chaparral then ran out the clock to advance to next Saturday's state title game against Scottsdale Saguaro at Arizona State University.
"We had practiced it; we thought we could do it," said CDO coach Pat Nugent of the play. "But we couldn't execute it. We didn't execute well all night."
Thanks to a crushing defense, led by linebacker Kendall Day and 5-foot-11, 285-pound fireplug tackle Derek Nsubuga, the Firebirds didn't give the Dorados any breathing room for most of the game.
CDO netted 94 yards on the ground, 20 of it in the fourth period on a pitchout by Ka'Deem Carey that led to the only score.
A 21-yard pass and run from Doug Steele to Griffin Ronstadt also helped set the score up, with the touchdown coming on a 4-yard keeper by Steele.
"We didn't realize their linebackers were so good," Nugent said. "They are a tough, fundamental team."
The fundamentals included blocking and opening holes for Garrett.
"I just go where they want me to go," he said. "I knew I could keep going. I didn't feel tired."
Two personal foul penalties to start the game was bad karma for CDO, which was lucky to be behind by just 13-0 at the half.
After the Dorados scored in the fourth, they forced a punt and it looked like a typical CDO rally.
After a timeout with 1:30 to play, Steele lobbed the ball up the middle but nobody was there but the Firebirds' Cord Claffey.
Garrett then reeled off a 57-yard run to CDO's 33. Every winning team's favorite play, taking a "knee" to run out the clock, followed.
"We didn't quit; I'm proud of this team," Nugent said. "I'm honored."
For more on high school sports, check out the Grammer School sports blog.
GO FIREBIRDS AND SAINTS !!!!!!!!!!!!