Photos: Mica Mountain uses a second half surge to advance over Thunderbird 38-14, state 4A playoffs
The Thunderbolts went down 7-0 to Thunderbird, but came back with a dominant third quarter en route to the 38-14 win in the second round of the state 4A football playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Jake Johnson (11), left, gets to Jimmy Leon (1) first to celebrate after Leon hauled in a one-handed catch and out raced the Thunderbird defense to the end zone to tie the game at seven in the first quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024. The Bolts would pull away in the second half for a 38-14 win.
Mica Mountain's Josiah Thornwell (5) batters his way through Thunderbird's Joseph Francis (3), left, and Tucker Fogelson (10) to break the plane and score in the third quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain’s Broden Schmidt, left, and Domonik Leon wrap up Thunderbird’s Elijah Little on his end around in the first quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Nov. 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Riley Carson (13) cradles a catch without a Thunderbird defender in sight in the second quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024. Carson scored untouched.
Mica Mountain's Ben Weinzinger (44), left, and Cameron Groves (27) manage to stuff Thunderbird's Elijah Little (7) at the line in the second quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Najean Anderson (81) drags down Thunderbird's Andrew Cohill (12) dropping the quarterback for no gain in their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Thunderbird's Elijah Little (7) slips out of the grip of Mica Mountain's Shangkat Jwander (70), top, and Ben Weinzinger (44) in the second quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
/Thunderbird's Joseph Francis (3) drags down Mica Mountain's Riley Carson (13) on a horse collar tackle after his catch-and-run in their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Thunderbird's Daryl Little II (5) can’t make the catch on the sideline in front of Mica Mountain's Roy Garcia (8) in their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Jimmy Leon (1) brings down Thunderbird's Andrew Cohill (12) for a sack early in the third quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Josiah Thornwell (5) manages to push his way out of the hands of Thunderbird's Ryan Kavalami (42) to pick up a few more yards during their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Jayden Thoreson (2) fires to Jimmy Leon (1) over the middle in the third quarter against Thunderbird in the state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Jayden Thoreson (2) lunges for first down yardage through a trio of Thunderbird late in their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Ben Weinzinger (44) and Roy Garcia (8) celebrate Garcia’s pick-six in the fourth quarter of their state 4A playoff game against Thunderbird at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Caleb Cherry (18) gets off the throw in the arms of Thunderbird's Ryan Kavalami (42) in the final minutes of the fourth quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's Rogan Piper (25), top and Caleb Cherry (18) force Thunderbird's Elijah Little (7) out at the pylon in the final seconds of the fourth quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024. Little was credited with the score in the Thunderbolts’ 38-14 win.
Mica Mountain's Nathaniel Bryant (3) shoves Thunderbird's Elijah Little (7) out short of the goal line in the first quarter of their state 4A playoff game at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain's JJ Mangrum (6) offers some consolation to Thunderbird's Elijah Hubbard (22) at the end of the game, a 38-14 win for Thunderbolts in the state 4A playoff’s at Mica Mountain High School, Tucson, Ariz., November 22, 2024.
Mica Mountain’s head coach Pat Nugent argues his case with one of the game officials in a series of questions about time keeping in the Thunderbolts’ game against Phoenix Thunderbird in the state 4A playoffs at Mica Mountain High School, Nov. 22, 2024.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
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