The Wildcats of Joseph City advanced to the semifinal round of the Division VI State Football Championships with a 58-30 win over Mogollon last Friday night.
The fourth seeded Wildcats traded scores with the fifth seeded Mustangs through the first period, but with three unanswered touchdowns in the second and another score in the third period, the Wildcats opened up a 30-point cushion. Mogollon held the scoring edge in the final quarter, but the damage had been done. Joseph City moved on to the semifinal game, which will be played at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5, at Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott.
Jacob Fields opened the scoring on a two-yard run. Remington Baldwin made the two-conversion, giving Joseph City the early 8-0 lead. Mogollon came right back and scored on a Dallyn Despain 18-yard run, but the point attempt after failed. Dallas Elmer returned the ensuing kickoff 65 yards for the Cat’s second score and Baldwin again tacked on the two-point conversion. Mogollon’s Tyler Willis then scored on a 22-yard run and the extra points pulled the Mustangs within two. Baldwin scored the first of his four touchdowns on a 35-yard run followed by Elmer’s two-point run, which gave the Cats a 24-14 as the first quarter wound down.
The second period belonged entirely to Joseph City. Elmer scored on a three-yard run. Baldwin added scoring runs of five and six yards, and the Wildcats converted two of the three conversion runs to lead 44-14 at the half.
The Wildcats posted the only third period points, which came on a 49-yard run by Elmer, who found the end zone three times in the game.
In the final quarter Willis hooked up with McKay Slade for a short touchdown pass for the Mustangs. Boone Baker scored on the conversion run to make the score 50-22. Baldwin scored Joseph City’s final touchdown, breaking free from 50 yards out. Fields scored the Wildcats’ final points of the night on the two-point conversion. Mogollon tacked on one final score on a Willis to Slade nine-yard pass play. Willis converted the Mustangs’ final points of the night, leaving Joseph City with the 58-30 win.
“I thought we played a well rounded game. Our line with Robert Larsen, Brandon Massey, Austin Gardner, Jacob DeJesus and Daniel Bushman blocked extremely well. Dallas Elmer had a break out game at running back with some long touchdown runs. Jacob Fields played well, and of course, Remington Baldwin played great. Our defense tightened up in the second and third quarters to allow us to pull ahead,” said a pleased Coach John Bryant.
“I think we are well on our way to another opportunity at a state championship.”
The Wildcats now face top seeded Pima, which advanced to the semis with an easy 60-15 home field win over eighth seeded Valley Lutheran. Like Joseph City, Pima is also unbeaten with a 9-0 mark. In comparing common opponents on the season, the Wildcats have a decided advantage in this match-up and if they play up to their potential, they could be headed toward a third straight championship. If they reach the final game they will match up with either second ranked Joy Christian or third ranked St. David who play in the other semifinal game earlier on Saturday at Bradshaw Mountain High School.
