Maggie Nieto is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Agua Fria High School for AZPreps365.com

Agua Fria was handed a 56-6 loss in their season finale to Cactus Shadows on Friday, Nov. 8. 

The Owls ended their season on a 3-7 record, a five-game skid, out of postseason contention, was 0-4 in the 5A conference's Northwest Valley regional play. Cactus Shadows is 7-4, entering the 5A state playoffs' first round as a 10th seed against No. 7 Desert Edge.

Agua Fria's struggles began in their opening drive on a fumble. It was recovered by the Falcons, which went on to score three unanswered touchdowns in the first quarter.

Agua Fria senior running back Xavier Matthews (five catches, 86 yards) scored the Owls' only TD on a pass from quarterback Aldo Ohlmaier in the third quarter.

"I just kept on telling the boys just to play football and do what we all love to do," Matthews said.

Matthew continued to help his teammates, even though there were many setbacks throughout the game. His leadership helped keep his teammates with a glass-half-full mindset.

As the game continued, the Owls fought as hard as they could but it was not enough for the falcons. By the end of the second half the score was 0-35 Falcons. 

During the third, Agua Fria did not quit and made some good defensive plays, that led to Matthews's TD, but missed the extra point. The score ballooned to 6-49 entering the fourth.

Even though the Owls lost, the real victory was the pride shown within each and every one of the boys on the field, especially the seniors.

“This group of seniors that played their last game tonight, it's a sad thing to watch them leave," Agua Fria head coach Ricky Higuera said. "But I am super proud of everything they left behind and I know they left a lot of good habits and behaviors for the kids behind them to see and look up to the foundation is set for these young men, and I cannot wait to see what they put into this world.” 

After speaking with Higuera, the Owls took their final walk up and down their football field which they will no longer be going to every Friday night.

It's not always about the game, sometimes it's about the memories you make and this team showed a lot of perseverance throughout the season. They were not just there for the score, but there to show their pride for their school and community in Agua Fria's last game.