Upstart Canyon del Oro is coming off its first playoff victory since 2014 under 13-year coach Dustin Peace ahead of Friday’s 4A quarterfinal game at No. 4 Glendale.
Peace improved his playoff coaching record to 10-7, including a state-title run in his first season of 2009.
The 35-21 win over No. 5 Lake Havasu last week was the Dorados’ seventh victory in their last eight games, a remarkable achievement inasmuch as Peace’s team has only eight seniors on the roster.
Sophomore running back Kayden Luke, a who has strength of a fullback and running skills of a tailback, rushed for a career-high 193 yards on 26 carries with three touchdowns.
Caden Dawes, a junior quarterback, has flourished in Peace’s offense completing 80 of 155 pass attempts this season for 1,656 yards with 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
Daylon Beck, a junior, leads the Dorados with 20 catches for 493 yards and eight touchdowns. The sophomore quartet of Chance Cassel, Ryan Madsen, Chase Laux and Vijay King have combined for 47 receptions for 937 yards and seven touchdowns.
Glendale features sophomore prospect Zecheriah Owens, who has exceeded 1,000 yards in passing and rushing. He has completed 96 of his 144 pass attempts for 1,665 yards with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has 115 carries for 1,023 yards with eight touchdowns.
Keyon Walker, a senior running back, has gained 1,120 yards on 133 carries with 16 touchdowns.
Owens’ top two targets are seniors Junior Dukulay (24 receptions for 640 yards and nine touchdowns) and Logan Smith (28 catches for 437 yards and three touchdowns).
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District
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