San Tan Foothills didn't use a complex offense Saturday.

Just Carlos Melendez left. Carlos Melendez right. Carlos Melendez up the middle.

Melendez carried 49 times for 396 yards and four touchdowns powering STFH to a 43-13 victory over Morenci in a Division V quarterfinal game at Higley High School.

The victory advances STFH (8-4), in its first year competing for a state title, to the semifinals against Yuma Catholic, a 40-14 winner over Round Valley in the other quarterfinal game at  Higley. Morenci finished the season 8-4.

Wth a couple of offensive injuries sustained while the game progressed, Melendez, a senior, was forced into more offenisive action than usual. Normally a 25-30 carry-per game back, Melendez had to shoulder a heavier load and was more than willing to take it on.  He didn't appear worse for the wear after the game.
 

"We like running the ball," Melendez said. "... I wish we could play another quarter."

Morenci raillied from a 7-0 deficit led by quarterback Frank Ogas, who ran for one score and set up the other with a 57-yard run. The Wildcats led 13-7 with 2:41 left in the half and had momentum going to halftime.

But the first of two huge catches by STFH wide out Julian Navarrette, a 24-yarder to the Morenci 6, set up Melendez's second TD run with nine seconds left before intermission.

STFH marched 61 yards in nine plays on its opening drive of the second half to bump the lead to 21-13 on Melendez's 1-yard plunge. STFH put the game away on another nifty grab by Navarrette after quarterback Mychael Bruce eluded tacklers twice and changed direction before heaving a 27-yard TD toss to Navarrete to open the final period. Navarrette timed his jump on the reception better than the defender.

Both teams suffered injuries to key players in the game, but one was more serious than the others. With 2:35 left in the third period, Morenci's David Posey took a helmet-to-face mask block that resulted in some tingling in his back. He had feeling in his extremeties as he was taken from the field by ambulance after a 30-minute delay.

"Pretty much, running the ball is what we do," San Tan Foothills coach Rodger Schenks said. "We can't hide that. When (receiver-Hback) Zach (Denault) got hurt early we lost four or five formations we were going to us. Then (running back  Tim) Neal hurt his shoulder. That kind of put the load on Carlos. I have to do a better job of coaching up kids this next week to replace them."

Morenci coach Frank Ogas said his team struggled with a couple injuries during the game, Robles being one.

"They're an outstanding ball club," Ogas said. "Senior-dominated and it showed. They beat us down as the game went on."

 

Melendez added a 6-yard TD run and Navarrette returned an interception 15 yards for the game's final tally with 18 seconds left.

 

 

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