Football's Epic Comeback Advances Brophy to State Semifinals

11/19/2023

The Brophy football team advanced to the AIA 6A Conference semifinals with a 31-17 comeback victory against No. 8 seed Casteel. The Broncos trailed 17-0 in the third quarter and 17-2 entering the fourth but scored four times in the final quarter to advance to the semifinals and win 10 games for the first time since 2014. It is the sixth consecutive win for the program.

“It is another milestone for our program,” said Head Coach Jason Jewell, the Central Region Coach of the Year. “We are in the semifinals. I am proud of our kids and their fight.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Casteel scored for a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. They added the first 10 points in the third quarter with a field goal and pick-six for a 17-0 lead.

With 1:07 left in the third, Brophy (10-2) got a momentum-changing mistake by the Colts when a bad snap on a punt resulted in a safety for their first points of the night.

“Momentum switched on the bad snap and it was the biggest spark of the game,” said Jewell. “Our kids were believing and finally something good happened.”

Following the free kick, McGinnis then led the offense for a scoring drive capped by his 8-yard run to cut the lead to 17-9. The defense then got a stop and the Broncos marched down the field, scoring on a two-yard runny McGinnis. Chambers converted the 2-point play to tie the game.

Brophy recovered the kick after the Colts failed to secure the kick, setting up the go-ahead score. McGinnis found Daylen Sharper with 3:13 left to take the lead.

Sharper finished with a game-high eight catches for 81 yards.

“He had so many crucial catches when we needed to move the chains,” said Jewell. “When we needed a catch he made it>”

The rushing attack amassed 210 yards as Chambers (76 yards), McGinnis (68) and Estrada (62) led the attack. Three players had eight tackles on the night including Alex Salome, Dominic Mitchell, and Bastian Vanden Bosch.

Brophy added a late touchdown after stopping Casteel on downs.

Brophy faces Red Mountain on Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at Central HS. It will be the third consecutive meeting between the schools in the postseason. Red Mountain won both 14-13 in 2021 and 45-38 in 2022.

Second Quarter

Casteel (8:50)--M. Lewis 3-Yd TD RUN (C. Aguinaga P.A.T.)

Third Quarter

Casteel (7:59)--C. Aguinaga 41-Yd FIELD GOAL
Casteel (7:12)--G. Grimes 31-Yd INTERCEPTION RETURN (C. Aguinaga P.A.T.)
Brophy (1:07)--SAFETY

Fourth Quarter

Brophy (10:49)--C. McGinnis 8-Yd TD RUN (C. Furey P.A.T.)
Brophy (6:16)--C. McGinnis 2-Yd TD RUN (H. Chambers 2-PT CONV)
Brophy (3:31)--D. Sharper 7-Yd TD PASS from C. McGinnis (C. Furey P.A.T.)
Brophy (1:43)--C. Estrada 4-Yd TD RUN (C. Furey P.A.T.)

LOCAL COVERAGE OF THE GAME:

Arizona Republic

AZPreps365

WATCH THE REPLAY:

NFHS Network

Red Mountain vs Brophy Prep - Football - Nov 24, 2023 (gofan.co)

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