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Defense key as Marcos defeats Cesar Chavez
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Tempe Marcos de Niza played smash-mouth football in taking a 21-7 win at Laveen Cesar Chavez in 5A nonregion action on Friday night.
SLIDESHOW: Friday night high school football
“Fast and physical defense — that’s our motto,” said junior Ramon Abreu, who also scored two touchdowns.
The fourth-ranked Padres (7-1), scored twice after interceptions. Joe Morell’s pick and 15-yard return with a minute left in the first quarter set up their first score. Edwin Traylor’s grab in the final period started a nine-play drive capped by a 10-yard TD pass from Zach Schira to Justin Rodriguez.
“Defense, defense, defense, that’s all you need to write,” Padres coach Roy Lopez said. “The defense didn’t allow a score, the punt team did and that’s my responsibility. From the defensive coordinator, Sam Jones, down to the sophomore (Jeryan Butler), it was the defense.”
Butler turned in a big play to preserve his team’s 7-0 lead going into the half. Chavez had reached a third-and-goal at the 4 when the cornerback blitzed to sack quarterback Brandon Cluff for an 11-yard loss. The Champions tried a 32-yard field goal but missed with a minute left in the half.
“We were trying to protect our goal,” Butler said. “I just saw the seam and ran through it.”
Chavez (5-3) got its lone score from two blocked punts in the third quarter. The first gave the Champions a field-position advantage, then Adam Dixon blocked another punt at 5:37 and Trey Gossett picked it up and carried it four yards for the score.
Marcos came right back with a nine-play drive to regain the lead. Schira hit Tevin Newell with a 17-yard pass for a key first down, then Abreu broke a 19-yard run before scoring from two yards out. He had had a 20-yard run to set up his first score.
“The offense is starting to come together,” Lopez said. “It’s picking up things we need to get. We have two tough region games coming up so we have to be sound all around.”
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