CAMP VERDE — Tyson Buckley threw for five touchdowns and ran for another, Jordan Williams caught two scores and No. 4 Camp Verde advanced to the second round of the 2A state playoffs after a 50-22 victory over St. Johns on Friday night.

The Cowboys (9-2, 6-0 2A Agua Fria) scored 20 unanswered points in the third quarter to pull away from a No. 13-seeded St. Johns club smelling upset after tying the score at 22-22 just seconds before halftime.

Buckley said coach Aaron Gronwald, who was upset at a call and was given an unsportsmanlike conduct flag while walking past the referees toward the locker room at halftime, told the team in the locker room that in the second half, they must “control what we can control.”

“And that’s what we did,” said Buckley, who completed 22 of 31 passes for 280 yards.

Perhaps what stood out the most about the 6-foot-3, 240-pound quarterback wasn’t his arm Friday night, but his legs.

Buckley ran nine times for 63 yards, including a 17-yard keeper play that went for a touchdown after St. Johns fumbled the ball on their first possession of the second half.

Much of the yards came in the third quarter as Camp Verde went with the read option and counted on their senior quarterback to get the job done.

“We knew what he could do with his feet, even last year, so. His idea, as well as ours, was let’s get you a little more athletic. Let’s use those legs a little bit more. Clearly, it’s been there all year,” Gronwald said, adding that his senior quarterback made the right reads.

“I’ve told you guys before how much IQ he has as a high school quarterback,” Gronwald said.

The Cowboys used the Redskins’ miscue, and Buckley’s legs, to quickly turn momentum in their favor. And now that a St. Johns defense was focused more on stopping Buckley from running them over, the passing lanes opened up like the end of rush hour traffic.

“They tried to double team No. 1 (Christian Sanabria) and No. 2 (Jordan Williams) all game, then they stopped. It blew the game open, because we opened with the run and they had to stop the run, so that opened up the pass,” Buckley said.

So, with 1:46 to play in the third quarter, Buckley found Williams on a 9-yard strike to push the Cowboys’ lead to 36-22.

But perhaps one of best plays of the night didn’t come from the offense, but the defense.

Noah Collins, who had 20 carries for 160 yards, tipped a Clance Wiltbank pass to himself and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown, capping a 20-0 third quarter and giving the Cowboys a 42-22 lead with 1:32 to play in the period.

And to open the fourth quarter, Buckley found Williams again, this time down the left sideline for a 67-yard bomb to make it 50-22 with 8:39 left to play.

“It felt pretty good,” Williams said about his second touchdown reception. “I was getting double teamed all night, the corner and then the safety over me. Me and the quarterback (Buckley) made eye contact and we knew what was happening. I was looking to score; I was going to put it up no matter what.”

Williams had six catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

ST. JOHNS’ FIRST HALF

The Redskins (7-4, 5-1 2A Black) came into Camp Verde looking for an upset and in the first half, it showed.

Wiltbank found Michael Bushman on a 25-yard touchdown throw to tie the game 7-7 with 11:53 to go in the second quarter, then Bushman’s 28-yard run on a fourth down and 15 play tied it again, 15-15, with 5:31 to play in the period.

Wiltbank worked his magic again with 4 seconds to go before halftime, finding Sam Winters on a 3-yard toss to tie it at 22-22, but it just wasn’t in the cards for St. Johns to advance.

UP NEXT

Camp Verde will host No. 5-seeded San Tan Charter (9-2, 5-1 2A Salt) in the second round of the 2A state playoffs on Thursday, Nov. 9.

With Veterans Day observed Friday, all AIA state playoff games are scheduled for Thursday.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.