Division V semifinals
Who: No. 14 San Tan Foothills vs. No. 2 Yuma Catholic
When: 3 p.m. Saturday
Where: Arcadia High School (4703 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix)
Last meeting: Yuma Catholic 77, San Tan Foothills 50 (Oct. 28)
Key players: Yuma Catholic: QB Tommy Pistone (3,045 yards, 38 TD, 10 INT); RB Kody Hazlett (974 yards, 17 TD); WR Everett McKinney (1,027 yards, 13 TD, 20 tackles, 6 INT); WR Ricky Hampton (541 yards, 7 TD); DL Peter Hurtado (66 tackles, 13 sacks); LB Ryan Gill (148 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT)
San Tan Foothills: QB/DB Mychael Bruce (1,520 yards, 17 TD, 3 INT, 31 tackles, 5 INT); RB Carlos Melendez (2,548 yards, 33 TD); RB Tim Neal (620 yards, 4 TD); WR/DB Julian Navarrette (812 yards, 11 TD, 68 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 INT); LB Jake Lee (56 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles).
Outlook: Will San Tan Foothills' wonderful playoff run end here? The matchup between these schools to end the regular season was lopsided from the start in favor of Yuma Catholic (which lost to Phoenix Northwest Christian in last year's Class 2A championship). The Shamrocks led 34-20 by halftime and a 28-7 third-quarter advantage iced the game. Yuma Catholic's Tommy Pistone threw for 385 yards and seven touchdowns in that game (195 of those yards and four scores were thrown to Everett McKenny), and the Shamrocks ran for another 213 yards. STF was led by Carlos Melendez with 94 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, but forced to pass in the earlygoing because of the deficit, Rodger Schenks' team struggled until the outcome was in-hand. YC's balance is difficult to handle, and STF is banged up after a couple sustained injuries in last week's win against Morenci. The Sabercats best bet to keep this dream season alive is to pound the ball on the ground with Melendez, who might be needed again to repeat his 45-carry, 384-yard performance from last week. If STF can eat up the clock and force a couple turnovers on defense, they can hang around. Regardless, STF is in a no-lose position given how quickly Schenks and co. have built up this Queen Creek program in two years.
