No. 24 Sahuarita won the 4A Gila title with a 48-28 victory Friday night over No. 23 Pueblo at home.
Rio Rico also helped Sahuarita (7-2 overall, 4-0 4A Gila) clinch the region with a 55-26 win over visiting Cholla.
Pueblo (6-3, 3-1) and Sahuarita currently hold the last two spots in the 4A state playoffs.
Pueblo is trying to make its first appearance since 2019, while Sahuarita hopes to return for the first time since 2014.
“We’ve been talking about playoffs since March,” senior Sergio Burgos Jr. said about winning the region and possibly locking up a playoff spot.
Sahuarita ran the ball with ease on its first drive, only attempting one pass. Junior Axel Burgos ended the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, putting the Mustangs on the board first. The extra point attempt was blocked.
Pueblo responded immediately with a 60-yard touchdown pass from senior Roman Otero to junior Jesus Enriquez to put the Warriors up 7-6.
The Mustangs answered back with a 3-yard touchdown run by Sergio Burgos to retake the lead.
Early in the second quarter, Axel Burgos ran in for another touchdown from a yard out, giving the Mustangs an early 20-7 lead. The younger Burgos soon exited for the rest of the game with an ankle injury.
Pueblo immediately fumbled after getting the ball back following Axel Burgos’ second touchdown. Senior Cayden Washington recovered.
Junior Dane Hartnett connected with junior Gabriel Wilson on a 15-yard pass, extending Sahuarita’s lead.
On their next possession, they found each other again for a 68-yard touchdown, giving the Mustangs a 34-7 lead halfway through the second.
Pueblo looked like it scored on a long touchdown pass, only for it to get called back on a questionable offensive pass interference call.
To start the second half, the Warriors marched down the field, capping it off with a 1-yard touchdown by senior Saint Lopez to bring the Warriors within 20.
After forcing the Mustangs to punt, Pueblo drove again for score on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Otero to Enriquez. The two-point attempt was successful and the Warriors trailed 34-22 with 3:31 left in the third quarter.
The Mustangs’ run game started to wear the Warrior defense down, adding to their lead with another touchdown by Sergio Burgos from a yard out.
Pueblo looked to answer back, but on the first play, Sergio Burgos tipped the ball, and Hartnett intercepted it.
The Mustangs took advantage with Sergio Burgos’ third touchdown run of the game from 1-yard out, giving Sahuarita a 48-22 advantage late in the fourth.
“I couldn’t thank my coaches enough. They all called an amazing game plan today, and this week’s game preparation it was amazing,” Sergio Burgos said about his performance.
Enriquez made his presence known on defense as well with a late interception in Mustang territory.
Pueblo quickly put points on the board with a lateral from Otero to senior Elias Lomas, who threw it to Enriquez for a 21-yard touchdown. The catch was Enriquez’s third touchdown of the night.
What’s Next?
Sahuarita will travel to Cholla in hopes of securing a playoff spot.
Pueblo will fight for its spot on the road against Empire.
Both kick off Friday at 7 p.m.
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