Canyon View flag football wins state for redemption

CHANDLER - Canyon View didn't wait more than a year assuming it would waltz into another chance at a 5A state flag football championship.

The Jaguars worked for it and earned it.

"This really started in the summer and we asked these girls to commit," Canyon View coach Cory Beal said.  "We knew what it requires to get back here and I'm so proud of this group.."

Behind the precision of quarterback Katelyn Jewell and playmaker Makenzie Pope, the Jaguars captured the state title Nov. 23 with a convincing 34-14 victory over Mountain Pointe at Chandler High.

Jewell tossed three touchdown passes - two to Pope and one to junior Jaila Flowers.

Pope also returned an interception for a touchdown, as Canyon View built a 24-0 lead into the second half.

"This was the goal all year," said Jewell, who finished the season with 65 touchdown passes.  "Since pre-season that's been the goal. All of us, all of our captains, all of our coaches have really rallied for that. We all played for eachother this year and we learned our lesson from last year."

In last season's championship game, the Jaguars dropped a 14-13 heartbreaker to Campo Verde when an extra point was blocked. The Jaguars had beaten Campo Verde earlier that season, 35-0.

Canyon View pulled out an overtime win over Campo Verdo at home in the semifinals last Wednesday night to advance to the championship.

Mountain Pointe (17-2) entered the 5A playoffs as the top seed, with its only loss a 7-0 setback to 6A runner-up Red Mountain. 

Canyon View's defense frustrated Mountain Pointe for most of the game, while the Jaguars took an early lead as Jewell methodically drove the Jaguars down the field before finding Flowers for a 7-0 lead.

"Katelynn is a surgeon," coach Beal said of his quarterback. "She's patient, she doesn't force anything and she takes what the defense gives her."

On Mountain Pointe's next series, Pope picked off a Moreno pass attempt near midfield and took it to the end zone. Before the first quarter was over, the Jaguars had a 14-0 lead, which they took into halftime.

Canyon View got another interception from Kaylani Tucker, which led to Jewell's first touchdown pass to Pope and a 21-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

A 30-yard field goal From Nazzy Baker gave the Jaguars a 24-0 cushion heading into the fourth quarter.  

Moreno want about to give up. A pair of touchdown passes to Vanity Robles in the fourth quarter cut Canyon View's lead to 24-14.

But the Jaguars never panicked. Jewell led another drive which ended with another scoring pass pass to Pope, giving Canyon View a 31-14 lead late in the fourth. 

Ben Stapley is a staff writer for AZPreps365 and primarily covers the East Valley schools. Read more of his work here.