High school football: One more for all for senior-heavy Canyon del Oro in 4A championship

Officially, Canyon del Oro football’s senior night was on Nov. 3 when the Dorados beat Walden Grove 21-9.

Maybe they’ll refer to this Friday’s tilt as “senior afternoon?”

No. 2 CDO (13-0) faces No. 1 Yuma Catholic (13-0) in the 4A state championship game Friday at 4 p.m. at Mountain America Stadium on the ASU campus in Tempe.

Out of the 42 players on CDO’s roster, the Dorados have 29 seniors who will suit up for the final time in their school’s forest green and gold kits.

“It’s awesome. It’s kinda like finishing off our era here, together playing as brothers,” said CDO senior free safety/wide receiver Chase Laux. “It’s really a cool moment that not a lot of people have because they don’t have a close knit bond like we do.”

Last Friday, Canyon del Oro topped new rival Mica Mountain, the 4A tournament’s third seed, 23-7 to finish the season 8-0 at home and move within one more win of a perfect 14-0 season.

“What was special about tonight was that it was the last game that they’re ever going to play here,” CDO head coach Dustin Peace said of those seniors taking the field on the school’s Oro Valley campus. “There’s no maybes — maybe we get a game, maybe we don’t. This is your last game you ever get to play here.”

The Dorados’ seniors finished their home slate with 15 victories in a row at home. Now they go for their 14th consecutive win.

“Now is the last game you ever get to play in high school,” Peace said. “Not many (players) have that opportunity to say that and really embrace that, so that moment’s really special.”

Peace has seen it before. This will be the fourth time in his coaching career he’s reached the state championship round with CDO — three as head coach after once as an assistant.

In 2007, when Peace was a CDO assistant coach under current Mica Mountain head coach Pat Nugent, the Dorados finished second in Arizona’s 4A Division II, 23-21 to Scottsdale Saguaro.

In 2009, with Peace as head coach, CDO won the 4A Division I championship, 40-0, over Sabino.

Then, in 2010, also in 4A Division I, Canyon del Oro lost to Scottsdale Saguaro, 41-34.

Against Mica Mountain, senior Kayden Luke ran the ball 32 times for 169 yards and 3 touchdowns to earn that trip to ASU.

“We’ve been playing since I think we were 8 years old — our core group, our core senior group,” Luke said. “You don’t really see that that often and I think this is one hell of a way to go out for us.”

He said reaching the state championship game is a childhood dream come true.

Luke has accumulated 2,086 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns this season. In the quarterfinals, No. 30 ran it 45 times for 235 yards.

“We did what we do — play defense and we run the ball,” Peace said. “They knew we’re giving it to 30.

“And even there on the goal line on that last touchdown, they knew 30 was getting it and he just ran through a few guys and I look like a good coach (laughs) — like I called a good play.”

In the semifinals, Laux was one of two Dorados, along with senior defensive lineman Aaron Ramirez to return interceptions at least 58 yards.

“We trust in our defense and we run the ball,” Laux said. “Defense has always been our strong suit and it’s something we always take pride in and always just being the best defensive team.”

Laux was Region Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year, and Luke was Region Player of the Year.

The senior Dorados dominated the 4A Kino Region all-star lineup with eight first-teamers.

Cornerback Izaiah Lucero, linebacker Vijay King, long snapper Grant Young, tackle Aaron Jacobsen, tackle Sa’Kylee Woodard and receiver Ryan Madsen joined Laux and Luke on the first team.

They also had six seniors on the second team and six that were honorable mention.

This would be Luke’s second undefeated state championship; last year, he went 52-0 in wrestling, winning the 215-pound state championship.

“I think wrestling is probably the greatest sport on this planet,” Luke said. “It teaches you more about yourself than I think anything on this planet will — it’s you versus you at that point Everything in wrestling is what you put in is exactly what you get out so I think that’s kinda carried over for me to every other sport that I play and I think wrestling has a huge impact on the way I play football.”

In 2021, CDO finished 7-5 while reaching the state quarterfinals. In 2022, the Dorados went 10-3 and reached the state semifinals, falling 16-13 in overtime.

“We’ve been building. We’ve been growing. We’re getting closer every year,” Laux said. “So a chance now to go and get the opportunity to do that, win a state championship, feels awesome.”