Arizona Christian notches first home win over Air Force JV

Former Estrella Foothills quarterback Gerrit Groenewold led Arizona Christian University to its first home win of the season with a 42-38 victory over the Air Force Academy junior varsity squad on Saturday.

Groenewold entered the game with just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter to replace the injured Ryan Esslinger.

The win, ACU's second overall of the season, was a come from behind victory during which the Firestorm did not see a lead until 9:12 was left in the game.

Air Force put the first 10 points on the board in the first quarter with a 25-yard field goal by Ryan Jacobs and a six yard rush by Ben Washington.

Arizona Christian (2-3) had possession of the ball at the end of the first quarter and scored during the third play of the second quarter on a 21-yard Michael Costello field goal.

ACU then tied the score at 10 when Groenewold scored on a 9-yard run that culminated with a stretching leap to get the ball across the goal line.

Arizona Christian quarterback Gerrit Groenewold stretches to break the plane of the goal line on a 9 yard touchdown run during the second quarter of ACU's 42-38 victory over Air Force Junior Varsity.

Two more Air Force touchdowns and another Costello field goal made the score 24-13 at the half.

ACU received the ball to start the second half but could not get a first down, forcing a punt.

Air Force mounted and 11 play, 83 yard drive to increase their margin to 31-13.

With the benefit of a 77 yard drive for a touchdown on a Groenewold to Neiman Sneed pass, a quick turnover and a 24-yard Groenewold to Weston Diehl touchdown pass, the Firestorm found themselves right back in the game by cutting the Air Force lead to four points.

Arizona Christian's Neiman Sneed catches his second of two touchdown passes of the game.

Air Force answered quickly when Washington scored on a 61 yard run, increasing the Falcon lead to 11 points.

From that point on it was all Firestorm as another Groenewold to Sneed touchdown pass, this one for 21 yards, a two point conversion on a pass to Stephen Landeros, and a 3-yard touchdown run by Mike Brown gave ACU its first lead of the game.

Air Force had plenty of time on the clock to mount a drive, but key defensive plays thwarted Air Force drives.

A tipped Falcon pass dropped into the arms of ACU's BJ Pelt for the turnover with just over seven minutes to play.

ACU was able to run the clock during its next possession which resulted in a loss of possession on down, but on the Falcons first play of their drive the ACU defense caused a fumble and the ball flew into the hands of Justin Barnes who ran the ball back to the Air Force 34 yard line.

Arizona Christian's Justin Barnes runs ball down field after recovering a fumble by an Air Force JV ball carrier.

The Air Force defense was able to prevent ACU from getting a first down, giving them one more opportunity to mount a drive, however, the Falcons were unable to make a first down and ACU ran the clock during its last possession for the win.

Groenewold threw for 371 and three touchdowns in his relief effort. Prior to his injury, Esslinger had completed 8 of 10 passes for 54 yards and one interception.

PJ Sparks led the Firestorm in rushing with 8 attempts for 48 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry.
In the air ACU spread the ball around to 12 different receivers for a total of 425 yards. LaRon Barnes led the team in catches and total receiving yards. Sneed had four receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, outside linebacker Justin Ganado led the Firestorm with 10 tackles. Lineman Melvin Rogers tallied seven defensive stops.

Next up the ACU Firestorm face Kentucky Wesleyan College on Sept. 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Shadow Mountain High School. The Panthers come into the game with a 1-2 record. KWC's win was the program's first victory since 2012.

Arizona Christian team captain Brennan Bowen leads Arizona Christian and Air Force JV players in prayer following the Firestorm's 42-38 victory over the Falcons in a game played at Shadow Mountain High School on Saturday.

VIPERS TROUNCE FLAGSTAFF 60-14

Battle of unbeatens—Buckeye at Verrado—this Friday  

  The Verrado Viper varsity football team travelled to Flagstaff last Saturday with the opportunity to do something the team has never done before—start a season with a 3-0 record.

  

  After a thrilling come-from-behind 42-35 double overtime victory over Tolleson during week 1, and a 43-13 dismantling of Dysart in week 2 the Vipers were treading into new territory.

  

  The prospects for Verrado looked good going into the game. The Eagles were 1-1 in their first two games of the season.  They squeaked out a win over a struggling Phoenix Central team and were soundly defeated on the road by Peoria.

  Clearly, Verrado had the momentum going into the game. The Vipers also had depth in terms of the number of players on the team which seemed double the number of Flagstaff players.

  Verrado did not hesitate to open the scoring. Nathan Roehl took the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown in a play that quickly set the tone for the game.

  The Vipers scored in almost every way possible during the game.

  

  Quarterback Lathon Lax scored on a quarterback sneak.

  

  Receiver Xavier James scored on a 48 yard reverse.

  

  Devin Draper recovered a punt, blocked by Dillon Ratliff, in the end zone for a touchdown.

Verrado defensive back Devin Draper celebrates after recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown.

  Andy Gurnsey recovered a Flagstaff missed lateral pass and rumbled down the sideline for the score.

  

  Isaiah Harrison caught a pass down the middle of the field for a touchdown.

  

  Chris Slaughter ran untouched down the middle of the field for a touchdown.

  

  Verrado’s defense and special teams scored three safeties in the game.

  

  And Verrado’s two place-kickers, Paden Goucher and Danny Casillas kicked 42 and 43-yard field goals respectively.

Verrado's Paden Goucher kicks a 42-yard field goal from a Dillon Ratliff hold to give Verrado a 53-6 in the first quarter.

  

  When the final whistle blew the Vipers had racked up 60 points for the 60-14 win.  It is the most points the Vipers have ever scored in a varsity football game.

  

  In the first three games this season the team has scored 145 points.

  

  Verrado has proven this year they can score from anywhere, which makes this week’s upcoming contest against Buckeye even more intriguing.

  

  The Hawks, also 3-0, have put up 138 points in three games and only allowed 26 points, shutting out two of their opponents.

  

  Buckeye took no prisoners in its latest game against South and scored 67 points.

  

  Still lingering in the memories of both teams is last year’s contest at Buckeye which saw the Hawks win a see-saw battle 32-31. 

  

  First-year Hawk coach Kelley Moore has yet to experience his first Hawks vs. Vipers game.

Verrado head coach Derek Wahlstrom has prepared his team well with an off-season training regimen and tournament play that has helped form a cohesive core of players.

  

  This week’s game, played at Verrado, is a game of the week for many high school football watchers around the valley.

  

  Buckeye has dominated the series as Verrado has yet to defeat the Hawks; however, during the past three seasons, Verrado has managed to narrow the margin of victory each year—a sign of coming of age for a relatively new high school football program.