GLENDALE, Ariz. — For the first time in nine years, and just the second time in the school's history, the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy Lions are state champions!
The No. 4 seeded Lions completed their run through the 3A playoffs with a dominant 26-7 win over previously undefeated and No. 2 seed ALA-West Foothills Guardians (13-1, 5-0 3A Metro West region).
The Lions (12-1, 4-0 3A South region) had one of best defenses in 3A this year and it showed on Saturday, as they held one of the most explosive offenses in the state to just one touchdown.
This has been a season to remember for the Lions, who only gave up 62 points to their opponents in the regular season, with half of those coming in their lone loss of the season against Benjamin Franklin on Sept. 6.
The Lions also shut out their opponents five times and scored an average of 39.5 points per game, with the most coming in their 68-0 win over Coolidge on Oct. 18.
Defense would be the theme for the Lions in the playoffs as they defeated No. 13 Blue Ridge, 43-0, in the first round, No. 12 Paradise Honors, 38-6, in the quarterfinals, No. 1 Benjamin Franklin, 24-13, in the semifinals and then finally No. 2 ALA-West Foothills, 26-7, in the championship game.
ALA-West Foothills opened the scoring in the title game with a touchdown run by quarterback Hudson Mitton, which made the score 7-0. The Guardians would take that lead into the second quarter.
However, PRCA would tie the game at seven on a touchdown run by QB Jacob Newborn with 10:43 left in the second quarter, then would take a 10-7 lead after an interception by Elliot Lovett would lead to a Lions field goal with 3:31 to go before halftime.
That lead would grow to 16-7 in the final minute before the break after another Lions' touchdown on the ground.
PRCA extended their lead to 19-7 with a field goal late in the third quarter, then closed out the scoring with a touchdown run to make it 26-7. An interception with just more than two minutes left would clinch the state title for PRCA.
This win keeps the 3A state championship in Tucson, as Sabino High School won the title last year.
Prior to this year's championship, PRCA had only won one other state championship in football, the Division II title in 2015. This was the Lions' third appearance in a state title game.
This was ALA-West Foothills' first appearance in a state championship game.
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