Salpointe held a 27-game winning streak against Southern Arizona teams dating back to 2017 entering its season opener at Marana Friday night. The perfect run for the Lancers over teams from Tucson and the surrounding area came to an end after the Tigers clawed back from a 15-point second-half deficit to beat the Salpointe 27-24.
Marana capped off the comeback when Colten Meyer connected with Dominic Cillitto for a 5-yard touchdown with 17 seconds remaining to put the Tigers up 25-24 before he ran for the ensuing two-point conversion that followed.
Colten Meyer finds Dominic Cillitto to put Marana up 25-24 with 17 seconds on the clock. A 2 point conversion run by Meyer puts Tigers up 27-24. The Tigers trailed 24-9 earlier in the half. @AllSportsTucson pic.twitter.com/C66GPSKTR3
— Kevin Murphy (@KevinMurfee) August 31, 2024
Meyer threw for 297 yards with two touchdowns in the junior’s sixth start for the Tigers.
“The first game always sets the tone, so we can ride off this going into Tucson High and then the next game and hopefully go win state this year,” he said.
Marana junior QB Colten Meyer led the Tigers back from a 24-9 deficit in the third quarter to beat Salpointe 27-24. @AllSportsTucson @MaranaFB pic.twitter.com/qskyXVuqeG
— Kevin Murphy (@KevinMurfee) August 31, 2024
Salpointe’s Matthew Avelar threw a Hail Mary on the game’s final play that Dezmen Roebuck intercepted to seal the deal for the Tigers.
The late-game turn of events for Marana seemed unlikely when Avelar scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown on a quarterback keeper to extend Salpointe’s lead to 24-9 with just under 6 minutes to go in the third quarter.
“I don’t want the glory. I’m excited for these kids,” Marana head coach Phillip Steward said. “They grew up here in Tucson. They know the history, so this win was big for them, and I’m happy that they didn’t give up. They fought all the way through the game even though it looked bad early, but they kept fighting, and they pushed through.”
Steward was particularly impressed with his defense, which forced multiple sacks during the game and a safety in the second and third quarter. He is also enthusiastic about what the win means to the Marana community.
“Our defense gave us a chance. I keep telling people our defense is going to be really good, and they gave the offense a chance tonight, and we were able to go down and score at the end, and we ended up winning,” he said. “So, I’m happy for my boys. I’m just excited for the community because they grew up here, and they’ve seen the back and forth and the losses and stuff like that, so I’m just happy for them.”
Marana head coach Phillip Steward says he is primarily happy for the kids and the community in Marana after a 27-24 win over Salpointe. @AllSportsTucson @MaranaFB pic.twitter.com/VGilhQfKJj
— Kevin Murphy (@KevinMurfee) August 31, 2024
Roebuck had 14 receptions for 118 yards in addition to his late interception.
In a play that ended up being inconsequential to the outcome, Marana trailed 24-19 with just over four minutes remaining when officials deemed what would have been a 23-yard touchdown pass to Roebuck, who snagged the ball with one hand in the back corner of the end zone, as incomplete.
Marana was down 24-19 but the officials called what would have been a TD pass to Dezmen Roebuck incomplete because it was deemed he was out of bounds. Wow. @AllSportsTucson @MaranaFB pic.twitter.com/aeJPNXRFN7
— Kevin Murphy (@KevinMurfee) August 31, 2024
“I caught it, but they said I was out, but I didn’t see my feet, so we’ll have to watch it back in film tomorrow,” Roebuck said of the call.
Roebuck acknowledged the significance of ending Salpointe’s run of perfection against Southern Arizona teams, but he remains focused on the bigger picture.
“It feels good, but it’s just another game to us,” he said. “On to the next.”
Dezmen Roebuck, who intercepted a late-game Hail Mary for Marana in a 27-24 comeback win over Salpointe, on giving the Lancers their first loss to a Southern Arizona team since 2017: “It feels good, but it’s just another game to us. On to next week.” @AllSportsTucson pic.twitter.com/yGLWT1WbPP
— Kevin Murphy (@KevinMurfee) August 31, 2024
Marana and Salpointe traded touchdowns in the game’s opening possessions with a 1-yard touchdown run from Jeffrey Smith III for the Tigers and a deep touchdown pass from Avelar to Axel Martinez for the Lancers. Avelar later connected with RJ Gory for a 60-yard touchdown pass that put the Lancers up 14-7 late in the first quarter.
Marana closed the gap to 14-9 with a safety early in the second quarter.
Salpointe extended its lead to 17-9 with a 25-yard field goal from Kyah Francone on the first possession of the third quarter. Francone missed a 33-yard field goal attempt with 1:39 remaining in the game.
Marana linebacker Greg Webb led the Tigers in tackles with eight, including a sack and a safety.
Greg Webb with the sack. Salpointe leads 14-9 1:30 2Q. @AllSportsTucson @MaranaFB pic.twitter.com/5hX00mdnuZ
— Kevin Murphy (@KevinMurfee) August 31, 2024
Smith III had 45 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries for the Tigers.
Marana plays at Tucson High (1-0) next Friday at 7 p.m
Salpointe has a bye next week and plays at home against Shadow Ridge on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.
The Lancers were orginally slated to host Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Alemany next Friday but Bishop Alemany pulled out citing financial difficulty making the trip.
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