ALA–Queen Creek’s remarkable midseason turnaround continued Friday night as the No. 3 Patriots defeated No. 6 Perry 21–13 in a defensive battle to advance to the 6A semifinals. After starting the year 0–5, ALA-QC has now won six of its last seven, improving to 6–6 overall and moving one win away from a championship berth.
The Patriots struck early behind their passing attack. Sophomore Cody Lalama found junior Talan Scott for a 25-yard touchdown to put ALA-QC up 7–0, then later connected with Scott again—this time on a 30-yard strike—to build a 14–0 first-quarter lead. Perry answered when junior quarterback Kael Snyder hit sophomore Amos Augustine for a 45-yard touchdown, pulling the Pumas within seven before the quarter ended.
The game paused for an extended delay after a Perry defender suffered a serious injury while attempting a tackle. He was transported by ambulance, and the teams resumed play after the emotional break.
Just before halftime, Perry grabbed momentum when Lamala threw an interception to junior defensive back Myles Polite, but the Pumas were unable to turn the takeaway into points. ALA–Queen Creek carried its 14–7 lead into the locker room.
Perry chipped into the margin early in the second half when kicker Colton Crawford converted a 43-yard field goal, closing the gap to 14–10. Nevertheless, ALA-QC responded in the fourth quarter, leaning on their ground game as junior running back Nash Hall capped a long drive with a two-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 21–10. Senior running back Bobby Nesbit also helped control the clock throughout the night, finishing with 106 rushing yards on 23 carries.
With time slipping away, Perry marched inside the Patriots’ 10-yard line. However, ALA-QC sophomore cornerback Jayden Brewer ripped the ball away from receiver Jerry Singleton in the end zone for his second interception of the game, denying the Pumas a potential tying touchdown. Perry cut the lead to eight on Crawford’s 47-yard field goal with under a minute left, then forced a defensive stand to give themselves one final chance.
After reaching ALA-QC’s 1-yard line with seven seconds remaining, the Pumas had one play left to force a dramatic finish. Their final heave fell incomplete, and ALA–Queen Creek’s defense—despite giving up three turnovers on offense—sealed the 21–13 win with five sacks, two takeaways, and only one touchdown allowed.
“We were able to rely on our defense first and foremost and then our running game in the second half,” Patriots head coach Rich Edwards said.
Brewer, who made both interceptions and several key plays, credited his teammates rather than himself.
“I feel like it was all part of the defensive linemen,” Brewer said. “It was not really me. It was a team effort, and my team helped me a lot accomplish that.”
ALA–Queen Creek now advances to face No. 2 Centennial next Friday in the 6A semifinals.
“I feel like our team goal is just playing Patriot football—what we do best,” Brewer said. “It does not matter who we play. It depends on what we do.”
On Perry’s side, Snyder finished with 216 passing yards while completing 17 of his 28 attempts, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions. Senior Max Wendelschafer led the Pumas with five receptions for 52 yards, and Augustine added the 45-yard score. Although Perry’s defense came up with three interceptions of its own, the offense struggled to sustain drives.
“We just could not get the ball moving,” Perry head coach Joseph Ortiz said. “On offense, we could not get into a rhythm. I thought the defense played really well—we just struggled to run the ball and make plays.”
Despite the loss, Perry reached the quarterfinals for the third straight season—an accomplishment Ortiz said reflects the legacy of his senior class.
“We cannot seem to get over the hump right now, but I am really happy for the seniors,” Ortiz said. “They were my first four-year group here, and they have been able to accomplish a lot.