Peoria High secured a spot in the 4A high school football quarterfinals by defeating Arcadia High 30-13 on Friday, Nov. 13.
The win improves Peoria’s season record to 8-3, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Arcadia concludes its season with an 8-4 record following the playoff loss, according to The Arizona Republic.
The game featured several momentum shifts, beginning when Arcadia’s Malakai Wilder broke through for a touchdown to secure an early 7-3 lead.
Peoria responded quickly as Jamarion McClurge scored to put his team ahead 9-7.
Ryan Henderson later extended Peoria’s lead to 16-7 with a touchdown run.
Henderson, who contributed significantly to the offense, was sidelined in the third quarter due to an injury and did not return to the contest.
McClurge proved to be a standout performer, finishing the game with two touchdowns for the winning side.
Wilder also delivered a notable effort for Arcadia, recording 47 rushing yards in addition to his touchdown.
Despite the defensive effort, Arcadia head coach B.J. Pasquel noted the difficulty of the matchup, stating “Our defense kept us in the game.”
Peoria head coach Jason Golden emphasized the technical preparation required for the postseason, remarking “This week was all about the details.”
Looking ahead, Peoria is scheduled to face Snowflake in the next round of the 4A playoffs on Nov. 20.
The game was documented through local coverage, including visual reports of Arcadia quarterback Carter Lampe passing to Braden Knaub during the loss, per the outlets.
The victory keeps Peoria in contention for the conference title as they prepare for their upcoming quarterfinal appearance.