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1st & 10: AZ Title Game Goes To Triple OT, Mater Dei Wins Battle Of Titans

By
Jake Rill
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Some states have already declared champions, but there’s still plenty of exciting playoff action and state title games to come around the country.

Here’s a look at 10 of the top high school football headlines entering the weekend of Nov. 29-Dec. 1:

1. AZ state title game ends in triple OT

It took three overtime periods, but Northwest Christian won the Arizona 3A Conference state championship last Friday.

Northwest Christian outlasted Yuma Catholic, 40-37. Entering the fourth quarter, Yuma Catholic led by seven, but Northwest Christian rallied back to force overtime.

It is the second Arizona high school state championship game to go to triple overtime. Hamilton beat Mountain View in triple OT in 2003.

Easton Meier threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Dusty Inness for the game-winning score in Northwest Christian’s victory.

2. Mater Dei wins battle of titans

St. John Bosco and Mater Dei were the top two teams in the USA Today Super 25 poll entering last Friday’s CIF-SS Division 1 state championship game.

After losing to St. John Bosco earlier in the year, Mater Dei got revenge with a 17-13 victory to earn the state title.

The game was tied, 7-7, at halftime, but Mater Dei took the lead in the third quarter and held on late for the win.

3. University Lab advances to state final

University Lab will have an opportunity to end its remarkable season undefeated with a state championship.

The Cubs advanced to the Louisiana Division II state championship game by beating De La Salle, 43-14, in last Friday’s semifinal. University Lab will face St. Thomas More in the state final on Dec. 7.

University Lab, the No. 10 team in the USA Today Super 25 poll, is 12-0 this season.

4. Leach’s impressive November comes to end

Ray Leach didn’t lead Batavia (N.Y.) to a state championship, but the running back still had an incredible November.

Leach had 480 total yards and five touchdowns in Batavia’s loss to Glens Falls in the New York Class B state championship game.

Over four games in November, Leach had 1,645 yards and 25 rushing touchdowns.

5. Rankings update

University Lab (La.) and Chandler (Ariz.) remain the only schools from their respective states to currently be ranked in the USA Today Super 25 poll.

University Lab, which is undefeated, sits at No. 10, while Chandler moved up one spot this week to No. 18.

Allen (Texas) took over the No. 1 spot in the poll this week after it improved to 12-0 with a win over Rockwall. On Saturday, Allen plays The Woodlands in a 6A Conference Region 2 playoff matchup.

6. Matchup of the Week: Broken Arrow vs. Jenks

Broken Arrow is 12-0 this season. Jenks is 11-1, and its only loss? Against Broken Arrow on Sept. 20.

The two teams will face off again in the Oklahoma Class 6A-I state championship game on Friday night.

Broken Arrow advanced to the final with a 10-7 win over Owasso. Jenks beat Union, 27-24, in its semifinal matchup.

Broken Arrow beat Jenks, 28-13, when the two teams played earlier this season.

7. Other big-time matchups

Three Arizona state championships will be decided this week:

6A: Perry vs. Chandler (Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium)

5A: Notre Dame Prep vs. Centennial (Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium)

4A: Saguaro vs. Salpointe Catholic (Friday at Arizona Stadium)

8. Incredible Play of the Week

A trick play with a wide receiver pass ended a playoff victory for South View (N.C.) last Friday.

Emery Simmons received a handoff, stayed on his feet despite a defender in the backfield, and threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Josh George in the final minute for a 33-32 victory.

9. Top Performance of the Week

Kickers don’t always get the most recognition. But one New Jersey kicker recently put the cap on a remarkable high-school career, which is worthy of being recognized.

Angelo Guglielmello, who plays for St. Joseph, broke the state record for points by a kicker with 253. He had two field goals and an extra point in St. Joseph’s 13-0 win over Bergen Catholic last Saturday to help his team win the Non-Public Group 4 state championship.

10. Recent commitments

2019 safety Bryce Beekman (Arizona Western College, Yuma, Ariz.), a 3-star recruit per the 247sports composite rankings, committed to Washington State on Nov. 20. Beekman is from Baton Rouge, La.

2020 defensive end Chris Braswell (St. Frances Academy, Baltimore, Md.), a 5-star recruit per the 247sports composite rankings, committed to Alabama on Nov. 25.

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