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A host of Panthers’ defenders tackle a Knights’ ball carrier during Saturday’s game. Kelli Luberda | Sun
Superior Sun
A night synonymous with tricks, treats and thrills provided a bit all of them but mostly the latter in last Saturday’s Division IV quarterfinal playoff game between No. 6 Gilbert Christian and No. 3 Superior at Superior Memorial Field.
Fittingly, the team adorning the traditional Halloween colors – black and orange – had the last thrill as Superior junior running back Edgar Galindo scored the game-winning touchdown from five yards out with 22 seconds left to give the still-undefeated Panthers a come-from-behind 60 – 55 victory.
“This is a great team,” Superior head coach Ryan Palmer said, amid a field full of happy Panthers’ players and supporters. “When they’re faced with adversity they come together and that’s what we try to preach to them in practice, that’s what we try to instill in them is that trust in each other and they’re able to propel and overcome those obstacles because of (their) faith in each other and the togetherness they have. That’s what makes this group really special.”
The win advances Superior to this Saturday’s semi-final playoff game versus No. 2 Valley Union at Maricopa High School.
“I was really proud of how (we) took on the pressure,” senior captain Elias Olmos said after the game. “It was a big stage with a lot of young guys – juniors – and I was really proud of how they (dealt) with the pressure.”
Superior junior quarterback and Player of the Year candidate Nicolas Cruz rushed for 384 yards and five touchdowns, including a 75-yard touchdown run in the opening minute of the game. Galindo, who finished with 99 rushing yards and three touchdowns, followed with the two-point PAT to give the Panthers a quick 8 – 0 lead.
Gilbert Christian, which suffered a 62 – 37 loss to Superior on Oct. 9, entered the rematch with a solid game plan, limiting the explosive Panthers’ offense to only a few possessions in the first half with long, time-consuming scoring drives.
The Knights’ successful execution resulted in an 18 – 14 lead at halftime. It was the first time all season that the Panthers trailed in a game.
Superior was set to kickoff to start the second half and used a trick onside kick to steal a possession from the Knights.
“It was kind of a gut feeling,” said Palmer, admitting his team did not discuss the play during halftime. “I took a look at where they were lining up and they were spread out a little bit further than they normally are and I said, ‘You know what, no risk no reward, we’re going after it’ and very fortunately it worked for us and our kids executed it.”
The Panthers took advantage of the extra possession and the lead after Cruz dashed 38-yards for his third rushing touchdown of the game.
Two rushing touchdowns by Galindo and another by Cruz sandwiched a Knights’ touchdown in the third quarter, which saw Superior outscore Gilbert Christian 26 – 8 and gave the Panthers the lead entering the fourth quarter, 40 – 26.
The teams traded touchdowns during the first eight minutes of the final quarter before the last four minutes provided enough thrills to last the next two Halloweens.
Trailing 54 – 39, Gilbert Christian scored 16 unanswered points; the last coming with less than a minute left in the game to pull within 54 – 53. Rather than kick the PAT to tie the game, the Knights went for two and were successful, giving them a 55 – 54 lead with 54 seconds left.
A squib-kick by the Knights allowed the Panthers to start their game-winning drive at Gilbert Christian’s 47-yard line. That’s when Cruz sprinted up the middle 42 yards to the five-yard line with 36 seconds left in the game, setting up Galindo’s heroics on the next play.
“In the huddle it was nothing but happiness and intensity,” Cruz said about his teammates focus during the final drive. “A lot can happen in 36 seconds so we had to keep our cool and then execute on defense and we did. We got it done.”
“I never once lost faith in my kids,” Palmer added. “Our offensive line did an excellent job of getting their blocks. Edgar and (Cruz) were able to hit those seams and their speed took care of the rest.”
The Panthers can reach the state championship with a win against Valley Union in a game that figures to feature the Panthers’ speed versus the Blue Devils’ power.
“Valley Union is a big team,” Palmer said. “They run a lot of power and they’re going to be a tough opponent for us. I think our speed gives us a huge advantage on the offensive side and hopefully we figure out some schemes to use our speed to our advantage on defense as well.”
Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Maricopa High School, located at 45012 W. Honeycutt Rd.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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