No. 2 St. David overcame a two-touchdown deficit for the second consecutive week, beating No. 3 Williams 50-38 on Saturday night at Scottsdale Coronado, to reach the 1A state title game against No. 1 Mogollon next weekend.
The Tigers (10-1) will play the Mustangs (11-0) at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Scottsdale Coronado for their first state title since 2001.
St. David lost at Mogollon 48-26 on Sept. 17. The 22-point victory is the smallest margin for Mogollon, whose average margin of victory this season is 52.4 points. Mogollon defeated Mohave Accelerated 77-6 in the other 1A semifinal game Friday night.
The Tigers have won seven consecutive games since the loss to Mogollon.
In Saturday’s victory over Williams, St. David trailed 22-8 after the first quarter but its defense held the Vikings to only two touchdowns the rest of the way. In last week’s quarterfinal win over Bagdad at home, St. David trailed 16-0 but went on to win 69-46.
St. David standouts against Williams:
—Ryan Gooding, a junior quarterback who earned AllSportsTucson.com APS Digital Print/Frog & Firkin Player of the Week honors last week, completed 21 of 34 passes for 360 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
—Talon Haynie, a senior running back/linebacker, gained 190 yards on 27 carries, and he had 15 tackles, two for loss.
—Jake Goodman, a senior receiver, had nine catches for 205 yards.
—Conner Curtis, a junior linebacker, tallied 23 tackles with eight for loss.
—Bobcat Pacheco, a senior defensive tackle, had 13 tackles, six for loss including two sacks.
—Koy Richardson, a junior safety, had his sixth interception of the season.
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