CDO trying to complete season’s checklist of goals with a 4A state championship

As the 2023 high school football season began back in August, Canyon del Oro had a few goals — run the table in the regular season, secure the 4A Kino regional championship and achieve the ultimate goal, capture the state championship.

CDO is one game away from checking off all of those goals as the Dorados (13-0) face Yuma Catholic (13-0) in the 4A state championship game Friday at 4 p.m. at Arizona State’s Mountain America Stadium.

CDO head coach Dustin Peace knows what it takes to win a state championship. The 15-year coach of the Dorados has a career record of 118-50 (winning percentage of .702).

This will be his fourth state championship game as a coach — in 2007 as a defensive coordinator under Pat Nugent (current head coach at Mica Mountain) and as head coach in 2009 when his 14-0 team won the 4A title and in 2010 (13-1 finish).

This year, the Dorados are heading into the state championship game with an unbeaten record, a senior-heavy roster with 29, a defense that opposing teams have struggled to score against and an offense that is known for it’s hard-hitting running game.

Senior running back Kayden Luke is the muscle behind CDO’s running game. Luke has racked up 2,086 yards on 253 carries and 27 touchdowns. Sharing the backfield with Luke, Joe Alba added 350 yards on 52 carries and 8 touchdowns, Adrian Davidson with 238 yards and Vijay King with 217 yards.

While the Dorados lean heavily on their backfield, their pass game behind senior quarterback Tristen McClelland‘s 16 touchdowns keeps defenses guessing. McClelland connected with wide receiver Chance Cassel for 5 touchdowns and tight end Ryan Madsen for 6 touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, Chase Laux leads the state in interception and has six players with 45 tackles or more. LB Kayden Luke with 62, FS Chase Laux with 61, Evan Greer with 57, CB Izaiah Lucero with 55 and LB Grant Young with 45.

Senior center Morgan Narcorati mentioned that playing his last game in high school for a state championship carries extra significance because it will be the last game he’ll play for Peace and the coaching staff.

“He’s a second dad to us,” Narcorati said of Peace. “Just having him by our side and always supporting us is awesome as a coach. Even as a greater man, he’s taught us all individually so many things in life that I’m going to take with me.

“It’s going to be a pleasure and hopefully we do it in the right way.”

The following is a look at CDO’s road to the 2023 4A state championship game.

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–CDO outscored opponents 480 to 161.

–The Dorados came out on the winning end of two significant matchups with their 4A Kino region rival Mica Mountain — a 17-15 victory in the regular season and a 23-7 win in the state semifinals.

Peace, grew up under the tutelage of Nugent.

He played for Nugent at Flowing Wells from 1996 through 2000, joined Nugent’s coaching staff at CDO in 2002 and was hired as the Dorados’ head coach in 2009 when Nugent left to coach Pima Community College.

“It’s tough and I want the best for him (Nugent) but they have a very good team, a very young team and the opportunity will be there for them next year for sure.” Peace said after the semifinal victory last week at CDO.

Nugent shares a close friendship of more than 20 years with Peace. Coaching against each other in the same region does not take away from that.

“Dusty’s got a heck of a football team this year,” Nugent said after last week’s game in his team was limited to a season-low seven points and 27 yards rushing. “They have a workhorse (Luke) that’s going to pound it all day and keep it going. Their defense flies around the field. Their defense was amazing tonight.

“Whatever we did, they adjusted and made us look silly. Dusty’s a great coach; he’s always been a great coach. He’s got another great shot to win a state title.”

–CDO survived an epic four-overtime game against AZ College Prep in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs — the kind of exhilarating victory that can put a charge into a team in the postseason because they remained alive after coming close to elimination.

Heading into Friday’s game for state bragging rights and the 4A state championship trophy, Peace said, “It’s going to be a real clash of two teams that are a little more similar. Probably the first team this season that will really, legitimately try to run the ball against us, so we are excited about that challenge and we’ve been waiting for that opportunity.”

Two undefeated teams striving for the same goal, to bring home the 4A state title, a game the Dorados need to win to check off that final goal set at the beginning of the season.

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CANYON DEL ORO ROSTER