If you blinked in the first few minutes you may have missed Queen Creek’s senior running back Jace Koester score. That’s how fast it was and how fast Ironwood Ridge got into a 14-0 hole (see box score below).
The No. 6 Bulldogs were able to hold on to win 42-26 and advance to play Gilbert Williams Field in the semifinals of the Class 5A playoffs next Friday night. For the second consecutive year, No. 3 Ironwood Ridge finishes the season in the quarterfinals of the playoffs and at 9-3.
Queen Creek’s first score came on a 20-yard run by Koester, who came into the game with 208 carries for 1,388 yards and 15 touchdowns. He would finish with three rushing touchdowns of 20, 2, and 5 yards.
The last time these two teams met on Sept. 23, Koester ran for four touchdowns.
“They are a tremendous team,” said Koester, who had 12 carries for 113 yards and two scores at the half. “We knew they would have a different game plan tonight. I was able to slow the game down in my head and not get ahead of myself.
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“We wanted to come out and play hard,” he continued. “We knew coming in we were a better team than our ranking.”
The Nighthawks adjusted to this offensive surge at the beginning of the game and closed the gap to one point by halftime. At the half, the Bulldogs led 21-20, as close as it would get all night.
“Our kids did an excellent job,” said Ironwood Ridge coach Matt Johnson. “Our ability to adjust was key. We were correcting little mistakes as we went. “
Ironwood Ridge was able to limit Queen Creek to only seven more points before halftime and put their own points on the board.
Their first score came on an 11-play, 79-yard drive that finished with a 6-yard touchdown run by Nick Brahler. At the half, Brahler had 11 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Cole Gerken connected with Garrett Billings on a 51-yard strike in the second quarter for the Nighthawks other score in the first half.
In the second half, the Bulldogs defense went to work and limited the Nighthawks to six points.
The two defining moments in the second half were a Bulldogs score with 4:47 left in the game. On a third-and-goal from the 31-yard line, somehow Bulldogs quarterback Devin Larsen scrambled and connected with Ian Woods to score, giving them a 34-26 lead.
“We were in the huddle and we told Devin, who is a sophomore, to keep calm and keep playing,” said Koester. “He found Ian, who broke all those tackles and scored.”
On Ironwood Ridge’s very next drive, Cole Gerken fumbled on his own 9-yard line.
“We went toe-to-toe with them,” Johnson said. “This is a special experience for our team. You can see there is a lot of love on this team by the tears and the hugs right now.”
PJ Brown / Special for the Arizona Daily Star
