Potent offense has Pioneers advancing
When Devonte Christopher left the Canyon Springs field Friday night, his head was down and he looked almost dejected as he walked alone toward the locker room.
The senior quarterback looked nothing like a player who had just thrown for 383 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for a another to lead the host Pioneers to a 56-39 victory over Green Valley in a Sunrise Region first-round playoff game.
With the win, the No. 3-ranked Pioneers (9-1) advance to the Sunrise semifinals next Friday, when they will host Del Sol.
But Christopher was in no mood for celebrating that fact after Canyon Spring’s uneven performance against Green Valley.
"I’m frustrated," Christopher said. "I think there were some focus problems at practice this week. I think we got exposed a little bit tonight."
Coming off an emotional last-second victory over Las Vegas last week, Christopher said Pioneers (9-1) were not at the top of their game.
"We didn’t play our best and still won," Christopher said. "But at some point we have to have some pride and step up and put teams away."
Defensively, Canyon Springs had few answers for Gators running back Frank Satterfield, who had 46 carries for 313 yards and two touchdowns to keep Green Valley (4-7) within reach of the Pioneers.
But Christopher and the offense struck quickly and often, rolling up 505 yards to hold the Gators at bay.
Christopher threw an 80-yard scoring pass to Deshawn Stewart on the Pioneers’ first play of the game. Canyon Springs’ second drive lasted three plays before Juron Criner made a one-handed catch of a Christopher pass from 37 yards. After a Green Valley fumble, Christopher needed one play to toss a 47-yard touchdown pass to Criner that made it 22-15.
Christopher also had a 64-yard TD pass to Criner, a 19-yarder to Decasio Collins, and ran one in from 13 yards.
"Every time our offense steps on the field, we have the mind set that we have to score," said Christopher. "The more points we put on the board the more pressure we put on their offense."
Canyon Springs coach Matt Jenkins said that approach bailed his defense out against the Gators, who gained 451 yards of offense.
"The offense saved our ass tonight," Jenkins said.