Late Surge Sees Tempe Win Arizona Title
Late Surge Sees Tempe Win Arizona Title
Tempe defeated Red Mountain in the Arizona Boys HS D1 final Friday night, taking the game and the championship 34-21.
It was a windy evening and Red Mountain started with the breeze at their backs. However, they had difficulty making it work for them. An eager Tempe defense put pressure on Red Mountain and that produced turnovers and mistakes.
As a result, it was Tempe that opened the scoring. Asipeli Poulivaati picked up from the base of the ruck to thunder over and make it 5-0.
From the restart Tempe was able to retain possession and work the phases, running their pattern nicely and putting Dominic Colligan over to make it 10-0 at 18 minutes.
Finally Red Mountain was able to get going. Their quicker and more accurate attack led Tempe to commit a series of penalties in the ruck and also on the offside line. Red Mountain made them pay to make it 10-7. Tempe got a yellow card for their repeated infringements, as well.
As halftime approached Tempe got a penalty of their own and ran a planned tap play that put Toa Pauga over. Conversion into the wind missed again and it was 15-7. Red Mountain responded immediately, converting their try and it was 15-14 at halftime and all to play for.
The second half Tempe looked to use the wind more than Red Mountain had. But it was Red Mountain that pinned Tempe in their half, and that pressure led to another conversion try and a 21-15 lead—three tries each but the kicks told the story for Red Mountain. Amazingly, this would be Red Mountain's final points of the game.
The match itself was delayed for lightning midway through the second half. and when lay resumed Tempe was ready. They sped over with Ike Crowell scoring, and with the conversion good took the lead 22-21. Tempe continued to dominate possession and Red Mountain succumbed to another try, this time from Austin Witcher, and Tempe now had a 27-21 lead.
Still it was a one-score game and Red Mountain certainly was in position to come back. They held the ball for a good five minutes, testing the Tempe defense. But the Tempe defense was patient and strong. Eventually a turnover allow Tempe to chip the ball down the field. Witcher chased it down and scored his second try of the day.
That sealed it at 34-21 and Tempe had won their fourth straight Arizona state title. Crowell was named top back of the match and Poulivaati was named top forward, while Tali Maaafu was named the most physical player (the award at Tempe is called the "Iron Devil").