Originally posted to the web in Sports, on Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:31 PM CST.
Wranglers advance to semifinals with 26-23 victory
Forced to step out of character, Wickenburg High School's 2006 football team tied for the winningest squad in the school's history en route to a 26-23 victory Friday night (Nov. 3) against post-season nemesis Blue Ridge in the quarterfinals of the Arizona 3A playoffs.
Senior fullback Scott McKeever was converted from the team's leading ground-gainer to the team's leading pass receiver Friday night - catching two fourth quarter touchdown passes of 79 and 60 yards to lead the unbeaten Wranglers (12-0) to the state semifinals for the second consecutive year.
But the passes weren't the entire story on those two plays. Both were screen passes just behind the line of scrimmage to McKeever, who weaved and zig-zagged through Blue Ridge defenders and then outsprinted the Yellow Jackets to the end zone.
By the way, McKeever didn't give up his title as leading ground-gainer for the Wranglers Friday night; he also led his squad in that department with 107 yards on 19 carries.
The other "out of character" play was when junior quarterback Drew Vaughan pitched a lateral to senior wingback Ben Root, who then connected with senior wide receiver Tyler Murphy on an 80-yard touchdown pass play in the third quarter. Root was the starting quarterback for the Wranglers two years ago before he was converted to the starting wingback.
Rarely have the Wranglers needed to use trick plays in a season that, so far, has tied them with the 1977 Wranglers who won the Class B state championship with a 12-0 record.
The victory against Blue Ridge in the state quarterfinals snapped the Wranglers' four-game losing streak to the perennial powerhouse Yellow Jackets in post-season play - dating back to 2000. Blue Ridge eliminated the Wranglers in the state semifinals in 2000 and 2001 en route to two of their seven 3A state titles and had knocked the Wickenburg squads out in the first round in 2003 and 2004.
The victory Friday night also advanced the No. 2-ranked Wranglers to the state semifinals against No. 1-ranked Seton Catholic (11-0) in a battle of the only two undefeated teams this year in the state's 3A Conference.
Seton survived a scare from Show Low late Friday night, 20-19, when Show Low failed to score on the final play of the game from the Seton 1 yard line.
The state semifinals will be played Friday (Nov. 17) at Mesa Community College. Wickenburg's battle with Seton will kick off at 5 p.m., followed by a rematch of last year's state championship game between Coolidge and Winslow at 8 p.m.
The winners of the semifinals are scheduled to meet Friday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. at McClintock High School in Tempe.
For more details of Friday night's victory, Coach Norris Vaughan's comments, and a preview of the Wranglers' showdown with Seton, pick up a copy of this week's printed version of The Wickenburg Sun Wednesday (Nov. 15).
Blue Ridge...0...3...0...20 -- 23
Wickenburg...0...7...6...13 -- 26
W - Wells 18 pass from Vaughan (Sievert kick) 9:25
BR - Bonilla 41 FB 0:00
W - T. Murphy 80 pass from Root (Kick wide)
BR - Parkinson 24 pass from Williams (Bonilla kick) 10:04
W - McKeever 79 pass from Vaughan (Sievert kick) 9:40
BR - Wise 35 pass from Williams (Bonilla kick) 2:38
W - McKeever 60 pass from Vaughan (Kick wide) 1:23
BR - Wise 5 pass from Williams (Kick blocked) :23
Wickenburg statistics:
Rushing - McKeever 19-107, Alder 14-55, Root 1-7, Vaughan 1 (-7).
Passing - Vaughan 7-10-203, Root 1-1-80.
Receiving - McKeever 2-139, T. Murphy 3-100, Wells 1-18, Alder 1-15, Root 1-11.
Playoff quarterfinal results
Wickenburg 26, Blue Ridge 23
Seton Catholic 20, Show Low 19
Coolidge 50, Round Valley 21
Winslow 34, Fountain Hills 14
Playoff Semifinals at Mesa Community College
Friday (Nov. 17)
Wickenburg vs. Seton Catholic, 5 p.m.
Coolidge vs. Winslow, 8 p.m.
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