Del Sol, ‘executive decision’ overwhelm Pioneers

But in a movie script, the home team’s star player undoubtedly would have returned to the field to engineer a dramatic comeback victory.

Instead, Devonte Christopher’s pass down the middle of the field was intercepted with just more than two minutes to play, all but sealing the 28-24 road win for fifth-ranked Del Sol (10-1).

It was the first pass attempt for Christopher since early in the third quarter when referee Chris Bibbins forced the area’s leading passer to leave the game.

Christopher was slammed hard to the ground on a sack and appeared wobbly when he got up, but he left the field under his own power. When he came back out for the Pioneers’ next offensive series, Bibbins stopped the game and informed Canyon Springs that Christopher’s day was over.

“There was no process,” Canyon Springs coach Matt Jenkins said. “Chris Bibbins made an executive decision because he thinks he’s in charge of everything. They told us he could not come back in without a doctor’s note.”

At the time, Christopher had thrown for 195 yards and a touchdown as the third-ranked Pioneers (9-2) held a 24-16 lead and were moving the ball at will. Jenkins insists his team’s trainer checked out the quarterback thoroughly.

“We have a former head trainer at UNLV that has dealt with thousands of head injuries, and he said (Christopher) could (play),” the coach said, before turning sarcastic. “Apparently, (the referee) was a doctor somewhere. I don’t know about where he got his M.D. from. It must have been Fantasyland University or somewhere.”

Things got stranger from there.

As frantic pleas for a doctor to come to the sideline barked from the public address system, the Dragons’ Jon Kirschbaum scored on a 10-yard run midway through the third quarter. He added a 55-yard TD reception that included him flattening a would-be tackler around midfield.

The two scores provided more than enough offense for Del Sol to take and keep the lead as Canyon Springs was ineffective without Christopher.

“They only have one guy,” Kirschbaum said. “As soon as he came out, you heard their crowd. You can’t win with one-man football.”

Finally, a doctor emerged from the Del Sol bleachers midway through the fourth and began examining Christopher. He cleared him, but the officials temporarily refused to allow him back into the game amid several discussions between both sidelines. Through everything, Del Sol controlled the second-half action.

Christopher took the field again with 2:31 to play and the Pioneers facing third-and-10 at the Del Sol 45-yard line, but after running for a first down, his interception dashed Canyon Springs’ hopes.

They got the ball again inside their 5 in the final 30 seconds, but it was too late.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@ reviewjournal.com or (702) 224-5509.