No. 8 Phoenix Northwest Christian 52, No. 9 Flowing Wells 28
PHOENIX – Flowing Wells’ dream season came to end on Saturday night, with a 52-28 loss at Phoenix Northwest Christian.
The No. 9 seeded Caballeros (9-2) couldn’t handle No. 8 seed Northwest Christian’s second half barrage on the road in the first round of the Division IV playoffs. It was the team's first postseason appearance since 2001.
“It hurts, we put in so much work and to end like this,” said Flowing Wells senior running back Dionte Flores.
The Crusaders jumped out to a 21-7 lead. Flowing Wells cut it to seven, but Northwest Christian outscored 35-14 in the second half and scored twice after Caballeros fumbles.
“I think we came out a little bit flat and we just can’t turn the ball over,” said Flowing Wells coach Mark Brunenkant. “We gave them a short field a couple times.”
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Brunenkant said that while losing is tough, he’s proud of the season the Caballeros had.
“It’s a great success, we went from 1-9 two years ago to 9-1, 9-2 now, and to qualify for the state playoffs, this doesn’t take any damper of the season as a whole,” Brunenkant said.
Flores said Flowing Wells’ success this season “really surprised” him.
“It was a great season honestly, I didn’t really think two years ago I’d end up in this place but I love this community,” said Flowing Wells senior quarterback Julio Sandoval. “This is like my second family and I’m glad we went out how we went out, that’s a great football team we played and I’m glad to see how we handled against them.”
Many were surprised that Flowing Wells got sent on the road in the first round, even Sandoval, but he down played that. Flowing Wells had the No. 8 ranking heading into its regular-season finale but dropped a spot despite a 62-28 victory that night.
“We were all a little confused by that, but you gotta do what you’re given,” Sandoval said. “You gotta battle back against what you’re given, so coming into the game we were a little shaken up but we got here, got ready just like them, we put our pads on just like them we both played our hardest and the outcome showed.”
James Kelley
