South Central (Greenfield/Roosevelt SD)

The Cougars offensive line of Omar Razak (Madison 1), Derek Montgomery (Gilbert Highlands), Daniel Sainz (Greenfield), Matthew Caldwell (Desert Valley)  and Anthony Mendoza (Greenfield) opened up big holes for Destination Salazar (Greenfield), William Muldrow (Griffith) and Micheal Ramirez (Mark Atkinson) as South Central rolled well over 200 yards on the ground as the Cougar finish the PSL unbeaten.

The line was equally effective on the defensive side as they all but shut down the Murphy running game.  Also contribitingon both sides of the ball were slotback/corner Michael Vela, Riccardo Luna and Kevin Lake.

This Cougar team capped off a season that actually began with most of the team training since the summer.

COUGARS WIN 3RD CITY CHAMPIONSHIP

 

SOUTH CENTRAL 15, MURPHY 8

 

Behind a dominant line that includes All-PSL candidates Daniel Saiz, Matthew Caldwell and Anthony Mendoza, Quarterback Destination Salazar, William Muldrow and Micheal Ramirez rolled up yardage on the ground as the Cougar finish the PSL unbeaten.

In true Cougar form, the game was close and the running game was as usual key.

South, made up mostly of players from the Roosevelt district and other westside schools, struck first as Salazar went yard on 75 yard run in the opening drive.  After the Salazar run, it was pretty much a stalemate as both teams boxed it out.  Murphy went ahead on a TD run after an 80 yard drive and held on until the Cougars took possesion with 6 munutes left.

 

Then Muldrow, Salazar and Ramirez went to work, systematically picking up key first downs and capping off with a Ramirez touchdown.

Murphy advanced by beating the Phoenix Elementary district based Grizzlies in a close one.

South Central and Murphy win the the junior high jambouree to advance to the Public School championships next week. South Central is made up mostly schools from the Roosevelt district and surrounding schools, Murphy is made up of Murphy schools and the Phoenix Grizzlies, students from the Phoenix elementary district. Greenfield's Destination Salazar did made big plays for south, Arthur Hamiltons Alajandro Navarro caught a 60 TD pass for Murphy. Tyler Brown of Whittier made big plays for the Grizzlies who came up short in overtime vs Murphy.

ELEMENTARY

Soldiers shut down the unbeaten Grizzlies 30-0 to finish season on positive note Click here for details

Casa Grande wins another Turkey Bowl as Scorpions hold off Soldiers, Click here for details...

GRIZZLIES REMAIN UNBEATED, CASA GRANDE OUTLASTS MURPHY

 CASA GRANDE 12, MURPHY 6

This one was a close one.  Came down to execution.  Murphy has played opponents close most of the season, but after a tie vs South last week, they come up short vs the Scorpions.  With the win, Casa Grande gets an invite to the Turkey Shoot next week vs the City West Soldiers.

 PHOENIX GRIZZLIES 20, SOUTH CENTRAL 0

As usual, the Grizzzlies wear down their opponent then strike with big plays.  South Central committed too many turnovers to expect victory but they kept it close until things unraveled in the second half.  Ironically the game ended with a turnover, a Grizzly fumble return for a touchdown as time ran out.

South rolls up big yards on the ground, mostly behind the running of former offensive lineman-turned fullback Angelo Gastelo.  Garstello had multiple long runs to include a game breaking 35 yard run for a touchdown.  He also shined on defense as a rush tackle.

Nic Shore scored late in the second half to put South Central up but a gritty Murphy team took advantage of Cougar miscues to make a game of it. 

Scoring late on a long run, the Phoenix made sure the road to the playoff will run though Murphy.  These teams will meet again for a PSL championship berth.  With wins over both teams, the Phoenix Grizzlies have clichched the PSL regular season championship.