Mitch Maas took the opening kickoff back 92 yards. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

4A CONFERENCE

CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, Dec. 2 at Arizona Stadium
No. 4 Salpointe (12-1) vs. No. 2 Saguaro (11-2), Noon

3A CONFERENCE

SEMIFINALS: Saturday, Nov. 18 at Salpointe
No. 1 Pusch Ridge 47, No. 4 Franklin 7

CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, Nov. 25 at Campo Verde
No. 1 Pusch Ridge vs. No. 3 Casteel, 6:30 p.m.

2A CONFERENCE

SEMIFINALS: Saturday, Nov. 18 at Fountain Hills
No. 4 Santa Cruz 24, vs. No. 1 Round Valley 21

CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, Nov. 25 at Campo Verde
No. 4 Santa Cruz (12-0) vs. No. 3 Thatcher (12-1), 1:30 p.m.

The game was almost over before it began. Benjamin Franklin took the field without sophomore running back Zach Jefferies and then Mitch Maas ran the opening kick 92 yards to give Pusch Ridge a 7-0 lead only 13 seconds into the 3A semifinal held at Salpointe Catholic Saturday night.

No. 1 Pusch Ridge would go on the defeat No. 4 Benjamin Franklin 47-7 to improve to 13-0 on the year while the Chargers fell to a respectable 11-2 mark in only the fourth year of the program’s existence.

Jefferies injured his right knee against Sabino in the quarterfinal round which meant the Chargers had to go up against the Lions without their top rusher. Jefferies was pulling 137 yards a game for a total of 1,643 yards before his injury. Even more, he was scoring almost 12 points a game on 22 TDs. His absence, added to a Lions defense that forced six turnovers on downs and three interceptions, made for a lopsided score and a dominating performance from Pusch Ridge….

PUSCH RIDGE GAME STORY AT AZPreps365.com

The Lion defense limited Ben Franklin to 46 yards rushing. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

5A VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS

4A VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS

3A VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS

2A VOLLEYBALL ALL-STARS

1A FOOTBALL ALL-STARS

1A VOLLEYBALL

GIRLS SWIM & DIVE

BOYS SWIM & DIVE

FALL SOCCER ALL-STARS

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY ALL-STARS

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY ALL-STARS

BOYS GOLF ALL-STARS

GIRLS GOLF ALL-STARS

FRESHMAN ALL-STARS

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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