Rishi Oza is a student journalist at the Cronkite School/Arizona State University assigned to cover high school sports for AZPreps365.com

The Mogollon Mustangs have dominated their opponents all season long, putting up absurd offensive numbers and shutting opposing offenses down completely. The one team that gave them any sort of trouble was the St. David Tigers, who lost by the relatively narrow margin of 48-26 back in mid-September at Mogollon.

When those two schools met again Saturday night for the 1A 8-man football state championship game, the Mustangs made sure to leave no doubt who the better team was. “They had 26 versus us in week four," said Mogollon coach Rick Samon. "We weren’t going to let that happen again,”

In front of a raucous crowd that traveled nearly two-and-a-half hours from the school's White Mountain base in the town of Heber, Mogollon plastered the Tigers by a score of 58-12, capping off an undefeated season and becoming the first back-to-back champions in Mogollon school history. 

The Mustangs leaned on the backs of twins Cael and Malaki Porter on offense. The Porter brothers have played every game in high school together. As seniors, this was their final game and they went out with a bang.

Cael, the quarterback, accounted for seven total touchdowns while leading Mogollon to a score on every single drive of the game. Malaki, Mogollon's starting running back, had a touchdown in the second quarter, then had an incredible second half as he was breaking tackles left and right to seal the deal. Cael finished the year with over 2,500 total yards of offense with 46 touchdowns, while Malaki capped off a great senior year as he averaged more than 11 yards-per-carry and amassed nearly 1,000 rushing yards. 

Both Porters had similar sentiments when asked about playing in their last game. “Not many people get to win their last football game," said Malaki, "and that’s probably the last one for all of our seniors so it’s awesome to go out with a win."

Samon spoke highly about both Malaki and Cael. He said they both bring out the best in each other and that they’ve set up the team for success in the future. “They have really helped us develop some younger kids that are going to come up and help us,” said Samon.

While the offense was electric, both the defense and special teams for Mogollon made big plays throughout the game that keyed this victory. In the first quarter, after Peyton Reidhead scored a 35-yard touchdown, Samon called for an onside kick. Mogollon recovered and shortly after scored a touchdown to put the Mustangs up 30-0.

That was the nail in the coffin for St. David. The Tigers could not get any rhythm going on offense. Mogollon’s defense was stellar, forcing two turnovers in their own territory, while also getting the Tiger offense to stall all game long. The Mustangs did a fantastic job of snatching back momentum. Whenever the Tigers started to put together a drive, the Mustang defense was right there. 

Both teams shake hands after Mogollon wins. (Rishi Oza/AZPreps365)

At the end of the game, Mogollon (12-0), winners of 21 straight dating back to the start of last season, celebrated by dumping buckets of water on all three coaches and lifting up the trophy at midfield for the second straight season. “It’s really a shock, kinda like a blur,” Samon said. “You coach every day and it’s around the clock. I’ve had the majority of the guys who started tonight for three or four years, and they are a great bunch of kids who play really hard together and play really well together and they complement each other because they are selfless.” 

Mogollon will look to continue its run of dominance next season, as St. David (10-2, its only defeats coming to Mogollon) will seek revenge after a stellar season of its own fell short.