Josiah Jones had four interceptions and Levi Adcock produced three touchdowns in the first round of the 3A playoffs, leading host No. 5 Pusch Ridge to a 42-14 rout of No. 12 Page on Friday night.
In the first quarter, Jones and Adcock set the tone immediately with Jones getting three of his four interceptions, including a Pick-6, and Adcock scoring two of his touchdowns, one of them a fumble return for a touchdown after wrestling the ball away from a Page ball carrier.
“It’s a second season, playoffs, anything can happen,” Pusch Ridge coach Kent Middleton said. “We got off to a great start with our defense, getting points on defense and put them behind the eight ball pretty quick.”
Pusch Ridge coach Kent Middleton led his program to its fifth straight win in the postseason, following last year’s run to a 3A state championship. Tonight’s 42-14 win over Page advances the Lions to the quarterfinals next week against Florence at home. pic.twitter.com/Yzo7tLkyQs
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 8, 2025
The Lions (9-2) jumped out to a 35-7 lead by halftime against Page (8-3) largely due to Adcock totaling three touchdowns, including two receiving touchdowns from Race Pinneo and the strip-fumble return for a score.
“We were clicking. Our offense did great. Our defense was outstanding. It was a great game,” Adcock said. “My quarterback (Pinneo) was balling out. My O-line was too … Our defense? Josiah had four picks, and our safety was laying the boom.”
Adcock had seven receptions for 139 yards, including his touchdown receptions of 30 and 60 yards.
At one point, Jones had more interceptions (three) than Page had completions to its own receivers.
“We prepared well for it and I got lucky quite a few times,” Jones said on his four-interception night.
Pusch Ridge senior safety Josiah Jones matched his uniform number with four interceptions, including a Pick-6, in the Lions’ 42-14 win over Page in the first round of the 3A state playoffs. pic.twitter.com/itJRh32aVE
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) November 8, 2025
Jones had the first big play of the night for the Lions with his first of four interceptions that set up a 30-yard touchdown pass from Pinneo to Adcock.
A slew of defensive plays kept the ball rolling for the Pusch Ridge, starting with an interception by Jones that he was able to return 15 yards for a touchdown, followed by Adcock ripping the ball from the running back and returning it 15 yards for a score.
“Everyone was in the right spot, bounced him out to me and I just ripped it,” Adcock said.
Pusch Ridge limited Page to 72 yards rushing on 26 carries.
Meanwhile, the Lions’ Dylan Shoaff gained 148 yards on 30 carries with a touchdown.
Josiah Jones comes up big with another Interception this time for 6. Lions leading 14-0 with 5:42 left in the first quarter @AllSportsTucson pic.twitter.com/vbkalKKVE5
— ray (@RCCerv) November 8, 2025
The Lions started the second quarter with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Pinneo to Dominic Painter pushing the lead to 28-0.
Pinneo completed 14 of 24 pass attempts for 174 with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Sand Devils didn’t give in, scoring in the second quarter on a 10-yard dart from Joseph Benally to Lorin John to cut the lead to 21.
Pinneo found Adcock for another touchdown catch-and-run, this time from 60 yards with 5:51 left before the half to take a 35-7 lead.
Benally was able to find John in the back of the end zone on a 5-yard pass with 5:58 left in the third quarter to cut the lead to 35-14.
The final score came from Dylan Shoaff on a 1-yard run with 9:54 left to seal the game.
After an upset of No. 13 Florence over No. 4 Thatcher at Eastern Arizona College on Friday night, the stage is set for a rematch at Pusch Ridge between Florence and the Lions at 7 p.m. on Friday.
The first game that was played Sept. 19, was won by Pusch Ridge 39-27 at home. The Gophers led 27-24 midway through the fourth quarter before a touchdown reception by Adcock and a 90-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Vincent Plimpton allowed the Lions to pull away.
“Florence gave us everything we wanted and more the last time we played them,” Middleton said. “They’re a great football team. They run the ball extremely well, and they’re very well coached.”
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