It’s been nearly two years since Pinnacle quarterback Wyatt Horton left then-Sun Devil Stadium after a heartbreaking loss to Highland in the 6A state championship game. 

“That was really tough,” Horton says of the 37-26 defeat. 

The Pioneers led 26-14 at one point in the second half before Highland mounted a come back. 

Trailing 30-26 in the final minutes, Horton and the Pinnacle offense had a chance to win the game. Near midfield, Horton had current USC star Duce Robinson open down the middle, but the ball sailed a bit high, deflecting off Robinson’s hands and into the arms of Highland safety Cole Crandall, who zigged and zagged his way nearly 75 yards into the endzone.

Ballgame. 

“One of the hardest things in sports is making it that far and falling short,” Horton said. 

Not long after the loss, Horton made a social media post, vowing to return again to the championship game. He re-posted the same message before the playoffs began a week ago. 

It was a reminder that despite somehow coming in as the No. 10 seed, Pinnacle (8-3) is just as dangerous as any team in a loaded 6A playoff bracket. And with his college future secured, the 6-0 Idaho St. commit is focused on the task at hand.

“There’s one goal,” Horton says. “I just want to do everything I can to help Pinnacle win a championship.”

After a dominating 46-7 win over Mountain Pointe on the road last week, there’s no reason to think the Pioneers aren’t capable. 

Tonight Pinnacle will make the lengthy trip down to Queen Creek for a quarterfinal matchup with the second seeded Bulldogs (9-2).  

Playoff Mettle

Horton is starting his eighth playoff game tonight, making him the most experienced QB remaining in the playoffs. He’s endured the highs and lows and operated under the highest of pressure. Horton also knows win-loss records and seedings no longer matter once the playoffs begin. Pinnacle was 6-4 in 2022 before making its run to the 6A title game. Last year the Pioneers went 6-4 again, but entered the postseason as the No  4 seed. A dramatic overtime loss to No. 12 Red Mountain ended their season prematurely.

It also meant Horton would have one more season to keep his promise of returning to the big stage, now known as Mountain America Stadium.

"We're focused on a championship but we have to take one week at a time," Horton explains of the postseason. "We have to take one practice at a time and one team at time. Obviously we have a big challenge with Queen Creek." These same teams also met in the quarterfinals during Pinnacle's title run, as the Pioneers won 25-14. 

"Wyatt is the ultimate competitor and he knows how to win," Queen Creek coach Travis Schureman said of the third-year QB. "I have a ton of respect for him and his team."

Much like Queen Creek quarterback Tait Reynolds, Horton (15) can hurt defenses with his legs. (Photo by Theresa Pinder)

By the Numbers

Pinnacle's placement as a No. 7 seed is somewhat misleading. The Pioneers three losses came against top teams, two of which were three-point defeats.  The first was one of New Mexico's top teams (La Cuerva, which is now 11-0). Pinnacle fell in overtime, 42-39 in week one. The other two losses came to Open teams ALA Queen Creek (34-19) and Liberty (32-29). In what may have been the game of the year thus far, Pinnacle beat rival and Open qualifier Horizon, 54-51. Despite the difficult schedule, Horton has led the offense to a 43 point per game average. Horton is closing in on 3,000 passing yards for the season, along with a touchdown-interception ratio of 32-4.

Horton is also more than capable of making plays with his legs. He is Pinnacle's second leading rusher with nearly 400 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. But Horton  realizes that stats don't win close playoff games in November and December. Queen Creek quarterback Tait Reynolds has rushed for nearly 1,300 yards while throwing for nearly 2,000. "He'll be a challenge for our defense that's for sure," Horton added. "But in these big playoff games, it often comes down to which team executes in the fourth quarter and plays mistake free. Every team you face in the playoffs is a good team capable of getting there. This is my last shot, so I'm giving everything I have."