AZ Dolphins fall in final seconds to GATA (NV) in championship rematch at Pylon Las Vegas

Just like day one at Pylon Las Vegas, the Arizona Dolphins showed up to play and dominated. 

Due to them going 3-0 during pool play on day one with 84 total points scored, the Dolphins secured the #1 seed heading into Sunday and got to sleep in and begin their championship run at 11am.

For their first game of bracket play, the Dolphins faced off against Las Vegas Most Wanted (NV). 

Just like day one, the Dolphins wasted no time getting points on the board as Queen Creek '28 QB Sawyer Hales connected with McClintock three-star '27 ATH Aidan Whitaker on a 40-yard touchdown on the first play of the game.

The defense was able to get a turnover on downs and give their high-powered offense the ball right back. 

Getting in the end zone again was no problem for the Dolphins as Hales threw another 40-yard touchdown, this time to Perry three-star '27 WR Braylon Kasper.

The Dolphins seemed like an immovable object on offense, as once again they scored in a hurry. 

Picking up where they left off on day one, Hales found Arcadia '27 WR Konner Kammes on a fade route for a 6-yard touchdown. 

Rounding out game one, the Arizona Dolphins scored two more touchdowns to close the game out. 

It was once again Hales connecting with Kasper on a 40-yard touchdown, and then to ice the game, Hales found Sunrise Mountain '27 WR Tanner Austin for a 5-yard touchdown. 

The Arizona Dolphins beat the Las Vegas Most Wanted 35-14. 

In the second game, the Arizona Dolphins faced off against the World Boys (NV). The quarterfinal matchup was more of a slow burn. 

They ended up scoring on the first drive as Hales connected with Kammes for a 5-yard touchdown after marching down the field. 

Only a few plays later, the Dolphins made a huge play on defense as Whitaker had a ridiculous one-handed interception that gave the offense the ball back. 

After getting the turnover, the Dolphins would score the final time in game two as it was once again Hales connecting with his wide receiver Kammes. 

Due to disorderly conduct, the World Boys would end up being disqualified from the game with seven minutes left, making 14-0 the final score to move the Dolphins into the semifinals. 

In the semifinals, the Arizona Dolphins would face the Boise Tropics (ID).

As they did multiple times before in the tournament, the Dolphins would end up scoring on the first play of the game.

Using his rocket of an arm, Hales threw a deep bomb to the middle of the field to Austin for a 40-yard touchdown. 

The Boise Tropics would answer quickly with a touchdown of their own and give themselves a 7-6 lead over the Dolphins. 

The Tropics did not hold onto the lead long, though, as the Dolphins found the endzone right away on their next possession.

After picking up crucial first downs, Hales found Whitaker for a 7-yard touchdown. 

The defense for the Dolphins caused a huge turnover on downs and allowed their offense to ultimately seal the game.

Hales found Austin for the second time of the game, this time for a 2-yard touchdown, and put the game out of reach. 

The Arizona Dolphins got a 20-14 win over the Boise Tropics and advanced to the 2026 Pylon Las Vegas championship game. 

In the championship game, it would be the Arizona Dolphins facing off against GATA (NV) once again after beating them 25-23 in pool play on the final play less than 24 hours earlier. 

It was business as usual for the Dolphins to start the game as Hales threaded the needle and threw one of his best passes of the weekend, as he found Horizon’s 2027 wide receiver James Klopfenstein for a touchdown. 

GATA (NV) responded quickly, though, and scored a touchdown on their first play of the game and tied the game at 6 apiece. 

Coming up with one of the best defensive plays of the day for the Dolphins, a few drives later, was Cactus Shadows '27 DB Aidan Chambers, who snatched the ball out of the GATA (NV) WR's hands for an interception near the end zone. 

The Dolphins couldn’t do much after the turnover, and GATA (NV) was able to once again reclaim the lead on their next possession. 

Needing a touchdown, the Dolphins found their rhythm on offense, and Hales found Klopfenstein for the second time of the game and gave the Dolphins a 15-13 lead over GATA (NV). 

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, though, they couldn’t hold onto the lead for long as GATA (NV) was able to score a touchdown on their final offensive possession and get a game-sealing interception on the last play of the game to become 2026 Pylon Las Vegas champions with a 19-15 win.

The Dolphins had a great tournament and finished 6-1 for the weekend. Like most years, they should be in the mix for multiple championships during the 2026 7v7 season. 

Next up: The Dolphins will stay in AZ next weekend for the Redzone MLK Classic at Arizona Athletic Grounds in Southeast Mesa.