The Shadow Ridge flag football team secured a spot in the Class 5A state championship by defeating Desert Oasis 13-7 in a thrilling semifinal match on Tuesday night. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Mustangs, who are eager to reclaim their title after being ousted by Desert Oasis in last year”s semifinals.
Ranked second in the state, Shadow Ridge (20-2) made a crucial fourth-down stop in the closing moments of the game to seal their win. They will face fifth-seeded Bishop Gorman at 5:15 PM on Thursday at Allegiant Stadium, competing for the championship title.
Last year, Desert Oasis ended Shadow Ridge”s run of three consecutive titles, a fact that weighed heavily on the Mustangs as they entered this year”s playoffs. “We have a little bit of a chip on our shoulder because last year it didn”t end like we wanted it to,” said head coach Matt Nighswonger. He instilled a sense of urgency and high expectations in his players throughout the playoff run.
Key performances came from junior Jaylani Palmer, who caught two touchdown passes and made an interception. Her 4-yard touchdown reception from Chloe Covington early in the fourth quarter gave Shadow Ridge a solid 13-0 lead. The Mustangs” defense was particularly impressive, executing several vital fourth-down stops, including a critical one at the one-yard line late in the third quarter.
Desert Oasis managed to cut the deficit when Akemi Higa threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Aleia Santos with just over six minutes remaining in the game, bringing the score to 13-7. The Bulls attempted a late comeback, but a decisive flag pull by Shadow Ridge”s Kendell Williams on a fourth down play left them short of the end zone, cementing the Mustangs” victory.
Palmer, reflecting on the win, expressed her relief and excitement: “It feels so good to be able to redeem ourselves from last year, knowing (Desert Oasis) knocked us out last year. We did what we needed to do to come back and give us this opportunity at Allegiant.”
In other playoff action, the 4A state semifinals saw Green Valley defeat SLAM! Nevada 6-0 in overtime, thanks to a touchdown pass from Janae Peebles to Lyla Baxter. Green Valley will face Sierra Vista in the title game on Thursday.
Sierra Vista also advanced by defeating Cadence 27-10, with standout performances from Yauie Kahawaii-Pula, who caught three passes for 92 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 74 yards.
