Down 34-16 to Sabino with 9:35 left in the game, top-ranked Mohave scored 13 straight points to cut the lead down to 34-29 with exactly four minutes left and the Thunderbirds found themselves one yard away from completing what would have been a remarkable victory but the Sabercat defense had other plans and that score held up.

Mohave cut the lead down to 34-22 on a short run from Joe Yoney with 4:51 left and then a successful onsides kick led to another scoring run from Yoney to cut the lead down to 34-29. That drive was fueled by a 45-yard pass from Jonathan Williams to Tanner Maynes to set the Thunderbirds up at the 4-yard line with Yoney having to sit out a play due to a minor injury. Unfortunately, Pedro Marentes was also injured on the play and the game was delayed for over 30 minutes so he could be tended to and transported to a medical facility via ambulance.

The Thunderbirds completed another successful onside kick to put them back in business at the 45 with 3:36 left. Williams broke free two plays later on a 27-yard run to set up a first-and-goal at the 10 with 3:07 left. Three straight runs from Yoney brought the team to the 1-yard line but Zachari Haley stopped Williams on the outside and then Cameron Hackworth came in from his DB position to corral Williams at the 18 for a 17-yard loss and a turnover on downs with 1:11 left.

Sabino (7-3) ran the clock out from there for the victory and the upset should come with huge power-ranking rewards for the Sabercats, who came in ranked No. 7 in the 3A Conference. Mohave moved to 9-1 on the year and the loss should still keep the Thunderbirds near the top of the rankings for a favorable spot when the playoff bracket is released Saturday morning.

No. 4 Thatcher lost to No. 9 Morenci 21-14 and No. 6 Blue Ridge lost to No. 16 Round Valley 24-14 so there will be spaces available for upwards movement for Sabino and Morenci.

Hackworth finished with over 250 yards passing and 120 yards rushing and he put Sabino up 6-0 on a 34-yard pass to Shamar Berryhill with 9:30 left in the first quarter. Mohave took a 7-6 lead after Isac Urias ripped of a 71-yard run with 7:38 left. Zachary Binford-Wiggins put Sabino back up 12-7 on a short run with 3:41 left and Yoney ran for 19 yards to put Mohave up 14-12 with 8:02 left in the half. Sabino came right back and Hackworth hit Berryhill from 13 to put the Sabercats up 20-14 with a 2-point pass to Savaughn Berryhill with 2:41 left.

The Sabino defense stopped Mohave a fourth down at the 5-yard line with 5:32 left in the third quarter but the Thunderbirds came up with a safety on the next play to cut the Sabino lead down to 20-16. Hackworth broke free for 20 yards to put Sabino up 28-16 with 9.5 seconds in the third and then Hackworth ran for 51 yards to give the Sabercats a 34-16 lead.

Binford-Wiggins ran for over 80 yards and Shamar Berryhill had over 105 yards receiving and Williams had over 130 yards rushing for Mohave.

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