Explosive Offense Leads #11 O'Connor Past #6 Perry in Open Play-In Round

GILBERT, Ariz. – Sandra Day O’Connor defeated Perry 52-35 on Friday night, using a strong second-half performance to advance in the playoffs. 

Both teams came out firing in the first quarter, as each team scored 14 points in the first quarter. 

Perry started with the ball and immediately made their way down the field after 3-star Boise State QB commit Kael Snyder connected with 3-star junior wide receiver Amos Augustine for a large gain. 

To finish the drive with a touchdown, Snyder connected with senior wide receiver Jaylen Singleton for a receiving touchdown. 

The Pumas led 7-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter. 

The Eagles responded with a successful drive after sophomore quarterback Arnel Ahmetovic connected with junior athlete Chopper Penzkover for a long gain. 

The Eagles tied the game after Ahmetovic connected with O’Connor sophomore running back Colton Fahndrich for a hefty touchdown. 

Directly after, Augustine returned the kickoff all the way into the end zone for an immediate touchdown for the Pumas. 

The kickoff return by Augustine gave the Pumas a 14-7 lead. 

The Eagles looked to respond, as Ahmetovic hit O’Connor senior wide receiver Brady Dorsey for a long gain crossing the midway point. 

Shortly after, Ahmetovic threw a deep ball down the sideline that was caught by sophomore wide receiver Rylan Milks for a touchdown. 

As the second quarter began, Perry drove their way down the field looking for more offensive success. 

Senior athlete Talen Frazier took off for a big carry, moving the Pumas inside the 30-yard line. 

The Pumas capitalized on the big carry with a touchdown after junior athlete Caleb Sanders took the handoff for a touchdown. 

Just 29 seconds into the second quarter, the Pumas led 21-14. 

O’Connor’s drives were longer, draining a lot more time off the clock as they moved their way down the field. 

The Eagles kept their offensive success going, as Ahmetovic threw an incredible ball to Dorsey for a big first down. 

After Milks took a pass from Ahmetovic inside the 10-yard line, Fahndrich rushed in for his second touchdown of the game. 

Fahndrich’s touchdown tied the game back at 21 with 6:30 remaining in the half. 

Once Perry took over, this time things went differently. 

For the first time of the game, the Eagles held the Pumas to a punt. 

When the Eagles took over, Ahmetovic connected with Milks once again for an incredible grab down the sideline. 

However, Ahmetovic was interception on 4th down by Perry senior free safety Liam Petrie with just over a minute remaining in the half. 

Perry was unable to take advantage of the turnover and the teams entered halftime tied at 21. 

O’Connor came out of halftime with a strong offensive drive; Ahmetovic scrambled all over the pocket and made an incredible pass to Dorsey down the sideline.The pass moved the Eagles inside the 20-yard line. 

The Eagles took their first lead of the night after Fahndrich trucked his way into the end zone.

The Eagles led 28-21 with still 10:12 remaining in the third quarter. 

The Eagles kept their foot on the gas as Fahndrich rushed his way into the end zone from 1-yard out, his fourth touchdown of the night. 

“We worked so hard all week, offensively and defensively, and in the weight room and everything, and I think today was the day that really translated to the field, and it really showed our good weeks of practice are really paying off,” Fahndrich mentioned following the game. 

The Eagles had now taken a new possession lead, at 35-21 with 6:25 remaining in the third quarter. 

When the Pumas took over, this time their offense seemed to find their groove as Snyder connected on multiple passes, moving the Pumas into the red zone. 

The Pumas finished the drive with a touchdown after Snyder connected on a bullet pass in the back of the end zone to sophomore athlete Zane Snyder. 

At the end of the third quarter, the Eagles continued to lead 35-28 and had the ball inside the red zone after a long carry by Fahndrich.

The Eagles capitalized off of the Fahndrich carry after Ahmetovic found Penzkover in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. 

The Eagles led 42-28 early into the fourth quarter. 

The Pumas looked to cut the deficit, but were immediately shut down by the Eagles defense once again. 

When Sandra Day O’Connor took over, Ahmetovic connected with Simons for a big first down. 

The Eagles scored once again after multiple rushes by Fahndrich set the Eagles up for an easy touchdown pass from Ahmetovic to Simons. 

The Eagles continued to pull away, leading 49-28 with 7:30 remaining in the game. 

Perry continued to fight back, as sophomore quarterback Andre Hood came onto the field and connected with multiple of his receivers to move the Pumas down the field. 

The drive ended with a touchdown, as Hood connected with Augustine for his second touchdown of the night. 

However, Sandra Day O’Connor continued to control the game, and even added a field goal to extend its lead to 52-35. 

Ahmetovic said, “I’m so proud of this team, and I want Hamilton next week. Let's do it!”

The Eagles defense held firm for the remainder of the game, preventing Perry from mounting another comeback and securing the 52-35 upset victory. 

With the win, O’Connor advances in the Open Division quarterfinals as they face Hamilton after their first open playoff win in program history.

The Pumas, on the other hand, will be the top seed in the 6A bracket and host #8 Casteel in the quarterfinals.

“It was a big one; it took all three phases. There were ups, there were downs,” Eagles head coach Ben Kullos said. “I was most proud of our kids' resiliency through it all.