Friday Night Lights Week 9: A record-breaking night, overtime thriller in Imperial
Yuma Catholic steals the night with a shootout win, Stallworth breaks state touchdown record
YUMA, Ariz., (KYMA, KECY) - This Friday featured some big-time matchups both in Yuma and across state lines in the Imperial Valley - but all eyes centered towards the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks.
Not only were the Rocks looking to overcome last week's loss, but quarterback Richard Stallworth entered the night only needing two passing touchdowns to stand alone atop one Arizona passing record.
He accomplished that, and then some, en route to another victory.
Over in the Imperial Valley, an overtime thriller led the Brawley Wildcats to a 2-0 start in the Imperial Valley League, handing a hot Imperial Tigers team a crushing loss at home.
Meanwhile, Calexico got back to their winning ways and the Palo Verde Yellow Jackets kept rolling for their 8th straight win.
FINAL SCORES
BUCKEYE - 45 YUMA CATHOLIC - 48
Records are meant to be broken - and broken they were on Friday night at Ricky Gwynn Stadium.
There was one record that stood for six years, held by Chase Cord of Sunrise Mountain for the most career passing touchdowns in the state of Arizona.
At the end of Friday night, that record belonged to Richard Stallworth.
The Shamrocks cashed in for touchdowns on each of their first two drives on passes from Stallworth - one to Austin Johnson and the second to Jarred Marquez.
The second proving to be the record-breaking score to put Stallworth at the top of the mountain with 138 career passing scores.
But Stallworth wasn't done.
He would add four more to his total, shattering the record along the way in a shootout with Buckeye.
Each teams traded touchdown for touchdown throughout the entire first half, ending 35-35 at the halftime break as Homecoming festivities took place.
In the second half, the Shamrocks would use a scoop and score from Rocky Stallworth and a late defensive stand to hang onto a 48-45 thrilling win to improve to 5-1 on the year.
Stallworth finished 22-38, 385 yards and 6 touchdowns, spreading the rock around to nine different receivers.
Leading the way was Darryl Coleman who reeled in 8 catches for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jaxson Jones added 4 catches for 47 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jarred Marquez had 2 catches for 92 yards and being on the receiving end of the record breaking touchdown.
Also important to note, the other record Stallworth is chasing after came up just yards shy Friday night. He now only needs eight passing yards to break the Yuma Catholic school record for total passing yards which would break Gage Reese's record of 10,621 yards.
The senior also needs just 470 yards to break the state record for passing yards with four games left.
BRAWLEY - 20 IMPERIAL - 17
It would take overtime to settle this Imperial Valley League battle.
Both teams entered with winning streaks and an unbeaten record in the league.
Brawley would hit the cross bar attempting to win on a field goal in regulation, but would come out on top with a touchdown in overtime to take down the mighty Tigers on the road.
PALO VERDE - 35 HOLTVILLE - 0
The Yellow Jackets come out of Week 9 buzzing again, with a shutout win on the road in Holtville.
The run game proved to be too much to handle for the Vikings, who have now dropped five straight games after a 3-0 start.
Meanwhile for Palo Verde, they notched their 8th straight win after being stuffed on the goal line in a heartbreaking loss in Week 1 to Calexico - and they hold all control to bring home another Desert League title.
SOUTHWEST - 7 CALEXICO - 44
The Bulldogs came back to the surface and back to winning ways again after dropping their last two games.
They now give themselves at least a fighting chance for the Imperial Valley League and set themselves up for a nice playoff spot by improving to 6-2.
The Eagles though drop a second straight after their first win of the year against Kofa two weeks ago.
VINCENT MEMORIAL - 32 CALIPATRIA - 9
Benny Carter-Martin's Hornets come up short at home to remain winless on the season, as the Scots get back in the win column after a loss to Palo Verde two weeks ago.
The Scots offense remains to be a tough unit to stop and could be a tough out in the postseason as they prepare for Holtville next week, and another edition of the "Battle of the Border" game with Calexico to finish the regular season.
CHANDLER PREP - 54 ANTELOPE - 28
The Titans of Chandler Prep were too much to handle for the Rams Friday night - who take the tough loss at home to fall to 2-6 on the year after a blowout win at San Pasqual last week.
OUT OF TOWN SCOREBOARD:
GILA RIDGE - 0 LAKE HAVASU - 49
KOFA - 0 CARL HAYDEN COMMUNITY - 57
YUMA - 24 PARKER - 13
*Jesus Villapudua led the way on the ground with 112 yards and 2 touchdowns; Giovanni Robinson reeled in 139 receiving yards and a score; Reggie Antone threw for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns*
