Canyon View shuts down Chandler Arizona College Prep in playoff win

By Andrew Lwowski
Mail

CHANDLER - An enteraining opening quarter melted into a defensive battle as Canyon View neutralized Arizona College Prep in a 17-10 upset win on the road on Nov. 13.

The Jaguars (10-2) held the Knights (7-3) scoreless for three quarters while forcing two turnovers to advance to the 5A state quarterfinals where they have a date with top-seeded Desert Mountain in a rematch of last season's state title game.

Canyon View Coach JR Alcantar credited his team's bond to their performance on the field.

"If you saw us outside of football, we're always together," he said. "...When you love one another, you play for one another."

ACP was able to strike first with a 47-yard field goal early in the first quarter.  After each team traded punts, it was Canyon View that was able to find the end zone. A 32-yard pass from junior Titan Jacobs to senior receiver/safety Amr Hassan down the seam.

On the ensuing ACP drive, quarterback Gunnar Schmidt orchestraded a response, capped by a 10-yard slant to receiver Dalton Speaks to reclaim a 10-7 lead.

However, it was Jaguars' defensive back Keegan McCarthy who set up the game winning touchdown in the second quarter off an interception.

"It's almost like the scramble drill. You see the receiver try to come back to the ball and I tried to undercut it and the ball was there and then I saw all the space," McCarthy said. 

He returned it nearly 65 yards, which set up a 2-yard rush from junior Brandon Arroyo up the gut a few plays later for the 14-10 lead with just under five minutes before half. 

It was McCarthy's seventh pick of the season.  

ACP missed a field goal attempt with under two minutes until half and Canyon View tacked on an Austin Honsa field goal late in the third to extend its lead to 17-10.

The Knights came away with a fumble recovery early in the fourth quarter, but could not yield any points. Though the home team were able to find favorable field position, it was the teeth of the Jaguars defense that clamped down to hold them scoreless. 

Canyon View senior cornerback Josh Carter snagged the game-sealing interception in the late in the fourth.

McCarthy said the close-knit group on defense is "the best thing I could have."

ACP coach Jacob Rutter said he knew it would come down to capitalizing. 

"We told our kids going into the game it was gonna come down to winning the turnover battle," Rutter said. "We couldn't score points when we had opportunities and it came down to those simple things."

Still, it was a promising turnaround with much to build on under the Knights' first-year coach.

"I just am proud of our kids. They didn't flinch, they weren't scared," Rutter said. "They fought and it's been a testament how they've been all year. They've overcome a lot to be here."

Andrew Lwowski
Reporter | North Valley

alwowski@iniusa.org

Meet Jacob: Jacob Bacome joined Independent Newsmedia Inc., USA, in 2026, serving as the Videographer for the Sun City Independent.

 

Community Involvement: Jacob has been taking photo and video of Ottawa University athletics since 2026.

 

Education: University of Idaho with a bachelor's degree in Broadcast and Digital Media.

 

Random Fact: Jacob was a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity at the University of Idaho.

 

Hobbies: Watching sports and playing video games.