By Mason Byers
Staff Writer
Electric is the perfect word to describe the 2023 flag football 5A state championship rematch between Canyon View and Campo Verde.
Campo Verde beat Canyon View in the state championship game last year, 14-13, to become the inaugural 5A champions. However, Canyon View came into the rematch Thursday night with a chip on its shoulder. The Jaguars ended up securing a 28-17 win over Campo Verde to finish out their regular season.
The Canyon View Jaguars came out swinging early in the game, as senior quarterback Katelyn Jewell has proved to be one of the better quarterbacks in Arizona and started off strong. She found senior wide receiver Makenzie Pope for a 7-yard touchdown and Jewell could not be happier for her teammate's success.
“I’m so proud of Kenzie, and the whole team in general, we’ve had this game marked on our schedule,” Jewell said. “Business isn’t finished, because it’s just the last regular season game.”
The Jaguars got the ball right back and on their next drive, Jewell found Pope again for a big gain to set them up near the goal line. On the very next play, Jewell found junior wide receiver Arri Richardson this time for a 12-yard touchdown to take a 14-0 lead.
However, Campo Verde was going to make it difficult as the momentum completely shifted for it before the end of the first half.
After the Jaguar's second touchdown, Campo Verde wasted no time. During a one-minute drive, junior quarterback Izzy Pap found senior wide receiver Maddie Coger for a 40-yard gain. Two plays later, Pap found freshman wide receiver Ella Mutters for a 9-yard touchdown to put the Coyotes on the scoreboard.
Campo Verde’s defense stood stout and gave the offense the ball back with 40 seconds left in the first half. In just one play Pap found Mutters again for a huge 70-yard run and catch touchdown to tie the game 14-14 at halftime.
The Coyotes kept that momentum coming out of halftime as they marched down the field once again and senior kicker Veronkia Hutchings nailed a 22-yard field goal to give Campo Verde their first lead of the game.
With all their momentum gone, Canyon Views head coach, Michael Beal, knew his team would rally around one another.
“They lift each other up, they never let each other down,” Beal said. “At the end of the day this season has been about sticking together.”
Sticking together is exactly what the Jaguars did to flip the switch in this game.
Late in the third quarter Campo Verde was forced to punt it away, in which Pope was the returner. Pope did what she does best and that is making plays. She returned the punt a whopping 60-yards to the endzone to flip the lead back to Canyon View once again. She knew a big play had to happen for her team and knew it had to be on this punt return.
“We called that out,” Pope said. “I said I got you guys right here.”
Everything was going the Jaguars way as on the very next play junior defensive back Kaylani Tucker came up with an interception.
With a great starting field position, the Jaguar's offense made sure to make the most of it as Jewell found Pope one last time for a 2-yard touchdown to give the Jaguars a double-digit lead late in the game.
Campo Verde tried putting together a comeback late in the fourth quarter. However senior linebacker for Canyon View, Maycie Bassett, got the game-sealing sack on fourth down.
After getting their revenge against Campo Verde, Canyon View ended their season on an eight-game winning streak and finished the regular season 11-1. Although the team wants more than just a great regular season, they want to finish what they started last season.
“Our motto this year is unfinished business,” Jewell said. “Our goal this year is to prove a point, finish with the championship with the ring, that’s our main goal.”
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