Yuma Catholic prepares to host its first 5A playoff game

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Yuma Catholic football is preparing for another postseason run as the Shamrocks get set to host their first-ever 5A playoff game Friday night.

Yuma Catholic will welcome the Buena Colts out of Sierra Vista to Ricky Gwynn Stadium for a first-round matchup in the 5A playoff bracket.

The Shamrocks finished the regular season with a 7-3 record, earning the No. 15 seed. It marks the 25th consecutive season Yuma Catholic has qualified for postseason play and its second year competing in the 5A classification.

Last season, the No. 20-seeded Shamrocks rode their momentum into the playoffs, earning a first-round road victory over Millennium. This time around, Yuma Catholic enters as the higher seed but faces a physical Buena squad.

Shamrocks head coach Marty Schaetzle described the Colts as a formidable opponent, pointing to their size and physical style of play.

"They're bigger than most teams that we play against," Schaetzle said. "They're physical. They do, you know, an old-style kind of football, so it's going to really be an interesting game between two teams that are evenly matched and yet, at the same time, very different.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Ricky Gwynn Stadium. The winner of the matchup will advance to face the No. 2-seeded Horizon Huskies.