Salpointe LB Christian Vasquez (38) spies in on the Falcon offense. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

FREE SALPOINTE/CATALINA FOOTHILLS PHOTOS

It was a high-stakes game coming in. No. 7 Catalina Foothills needed to beat No. 3 Salpointe to claim the 4A Kino Region title and the Lancers needed a win and a loss by No. 21 Canyon del Oro to make the same claim. In the end, Salpointe went home champions.

Salpointe standout Bijan Robinson gained 151 yards on the ground with three touchdowns. His 63-yard dash with 6:58 left in the first quarter opened up the scoring and the Lancers slowly pulled away for the 36-7 victory.

Robinson’s partner on the gridiron, Mario Padilla, added 116 yards rushing and two more scores, including a 47-yard rip early on. Senior quarterback Rodrigo Nieto ran for another 64 yards and threw for 29, with Padilla collecting 19 of those reception yards…..

Isaiah Bae (23) finished with 77 yards to lead Catalina Foothills. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

GAME STORY & RECAP AT AZPreps365.com

Mario Padilla scored from 2-yards out to finish with 116 for Salpointe. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

TUCSON TOP TWENTY

1: Cienega (9-0)
2: Salpointe (8-1)
3: Marana (7-2)
4: Mountain View (7-2)
5: Ironwood Ridge (6-3)
6: Pusch Ridge (9-0)
7: Catalina Foothills (6-3)
8: Sabino (7-2)
9: Pueblo (7-2)
10: Empire (6-3)
11: Canyon del Oro (4-5)
12: Walden Grove (5-4)
13: Tucson (4-5)
14: Sahuaro (4-5)
15: Buena (5-4)
16: Santa Cruz (8-0)
17: Cholla (4-5)
18: Catalina (5-4)
19: Cholla (4-5)
20: Catalina (5-4)

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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com