By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

GILBERT — Canyon View’s football team didn’t need to play a perfect 5A semifinal Nov. 28 at American Leadership Academy. The Jaguars just needed to make a few big plays in the fourth quarter.

They made almost all of them — and got some lucky bounces, too.

The Jaguars (11-2) took the lead and hung on to beat the Eagles, 34-24, to advance to their first championship game in program history. Canyon View, the No. 6 seed in 5A, will face No. 9 Scottsdale Desert Mountain on Friday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe for the championship.

“Championships aren’t a need — they’re a want,” Jags coach J.R. Alcantar said amid the postgame celebration in Gilbert. “These guys want it. Being down at halftime, they just kept playing and did everything they were supposed to do.”

One of the last lucky bounces in the Gilbert North game ended up in the hands of offensive lineman Dillion Jewell.

Senior Derek Vasko, on a run along the sideline, lost the ball as he was tackled at about the 4-yard line. The ball rolled inside the pylon and stayed in bounds, with Jewell pouncing on it with 4:35 left in the game.

The point-after kick by Austen Honsa put Canyon View up 34-24, and though it wasn’t easy, the Jags made that score hold up for the win.

“We hooked the edge, and the ball came out, and our guy (Jewell) was there,” Jags quarterback Brady Scott said.

Scott, unofficially, was 21-of-39 for 262 yards in the contest, overcoming an interception on the game’s first play from scrimmage and several flame-out possessions to help his team win.

With the 10-point lead, the Jags’ defense stopped the Eagles, with Canyon View taking over on downs at about the 3-minute mark. The Jags ran the ball three times, forcing the Eagles to use up their timeouts, though Scott fumbled while trying to pass on fourth down.

“The whole thing was them to burn their timeouts, and if we can get a first down, that’s the game,” Scott said. “So we wanted to stay in bounds and control the ball.”

The defense then held again as Eagle quarterback Ben Livingston led a hurry-up drive Canyon View ended by forcing incompletions and then tackling a scrambling Livingston on fourth down at the 18-yard line in the games final minute.

The Jags have relied all year on Scott’s connection to many talented recievers, including junior Braylon Anderson, who unofficially caught 10 passes for 112 yards at Gilbert North.

Those catches included ones that set up and then scored the Jags’ first-quarter touchdown, along with a majestic, leaping 25-yard scoring grab in the third quarter, between two defenders.

“I have the most talented receivers in 5A, and they all can move — even the tight end,” Scott said. “Braylon works so hard. He’s one of the best. One-on-one, no one can guard him.”

Most of the game, the teams took turns either sparking a scoring drive with a big offensive play or blowing up their opponents’ offense with smart defense. Anderson’s first TD catch, along with 38-yard and 45-yard, half-ending field goals from Austen Honsa, kept the Jags within 17-13 at halftime.

A 31-yard field goal, along with Livingston’s 9-yard scramble TD and a 45-yard scoring pass over the middle, accounted for Gilbert North’s halftime lead. Livingston found top receiver Isaac Massey in the end zone late in the third quarter for a 25-yard touchdown that put the Eagles up 24-20.

Canyon View’s receivers not only caught key passes, but also forced the Eagles to make mistakes. Four 15-yard pass interference penalties were among the 11 flags that cost Gilbert North 120 yards.

That detracted from the 138 rushing yards, Livingston’s 200 passing yards and the fact Gilbert North never turned the ball over in the game.

Alcantar said the team effort will help put Jaguar football up on awards walls into trophy cases, as several Canyon View sports programs have already had huge success.

“We look at what these kids have done in wrestling, girls flag football and other sports, it’s about time that we catch up, so we’re grateful for the opportunity,” Alcantar said. “They set the standard — and we live the standard.”

Friday, Nov. 28
5A Semifinals — at ALA-Gilbert North

CANYON VIEW 34, ALA-GILBERT NORTH 24

C. View 7 6 7 14—34
ALA-GN 3 14 7 0—24
Scoring: ALA, 7:03 1st, Eli Ash 31 FG; CV, 1:52 1st, Brady Scott 13 pass to Braylon Anderson; ALA, 9:17 2nd, Ben Livingston 7 run (Ash kick); CV, 5:57 2nd, Austen Honsa 38 FG; ALA, 1:16 2nd, Livingston 45 pass to Garrett Baker (Ash kick); CV, 0:00 2nd, Honsa 45 FG; CV, 3:38 3rd, Scott 25 pass to Anderson (Honsa kick); ALA, 1:13 3rd, Livingston 25 pass to Isaac Massey (Ash kick); CV, 8:31 4th, Scott 13 pass to Brandon Catalan (Honsa kick); CV, 4:35 4th, Dillion Jewel, off. fumble recovery in end zone (Honsa kick).

Unofficial team statistics

Rushes-Yds: CV 19-28; ALA 37-138. Passing: CV 21-39-1—262; ALA 17-35-0—200. Total off: CV 290; ALA 338. Pen.-Yds.: CV 8-60; ALA 11-120. Punts.-Avg: CV 4-36.5; ALA 6-35.66. Fumbles-Lost: CV 2-0; ALA 2-0. Rec.: CV 11-2; ALA 11-2.

Jason W. Brooks can be reached at jbrooks@iniusa.org. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as those meet our  Civility Guidelines.

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.