Jake Mahl is an NAU School of Communication student assigned to cover Flagstaff High School for AZPreps365.com

The Flagstaff Eagles were defeated 47-21 by the Coconino Panthers on Thursday in the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. The Eagles were coming off a win over the Mingus Marauders last week, ending a five-game losing drought. 

Flagstaff ended its season with a 2-8 record. The Panthers needed to win to earn a 4A playoff spot and finished the regular season with a 6-4 record, including a 5-1 mark in the Grand Canyon Region.

The Skydome was rocking, with fans from both sides, providing an exciting environment on every play and showing passion for their school. 

Last week, the Bradshaw Mountain Bears put an end to the Panthers' three-game win streak.

 

 

The Panthers were hungry right out of the tunnel, powering their way for a quick touchdown to John Jamison from quarterback Jake Hanley to make it a 7-0 early in the first quarter. 

“It's the story every season, lots of good things happen followed by mistakes,” said Eagles head coach Mickey Clements. “ I am really proud of the way this group of guys finished together.”

The Eagles answered when wide receiver Will Carpenter made an unbelievable catch over two defenders, but was down at the 1-yard line. Later, Adan Garcia rushed in a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. 

Flagstaff quarterback AJ Valdez looked sharp on his first drive, but after a Coconino score on their second possession, Valdez threw a pick-six to give the Panthers a 20-7 lead early in the second quarter. 

The Eagles have gone 1-5 since starting quarterback Chase Brown went down with an ACL injury. 

Austin Raths has been the most reliable receiver on this Panthers offense, burning the Eagles' defensive backs time after time and eventually getting into the end zone for a touchdown to extend the early lead to 27-7 with moments left in the second quarter. 

Coming out of halftime, the Eagles came out firing as Aeneyas Clerry caught a 57-yard touchdown pass from Valdez to make it a 27-14, giving Flagstaff some life. 

The momentum did not end there as the Panthers' next drive ended on a turnover at the goal line. Eagles were down by two scores with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter, with possession on their own 20-yard line. 

 

 

Unfortunately for Flagstaff, a quick turnover set up the Panthers in the redzone, and running back Dylan Callado, after breaking multiple tackles, leaped into the endz one to make it a 33-14 lead. 

As a comeback was in play for the Eagles, turnovers proved costly, leaving them down by three scores in nine of their last 10 games. 

The Eagles' first possession after the Callado touchdown was spoiled when Bruce Larsen of the Panthers picked off Valdez and ran it back 30 yards, setting up the Panthers in the red zone, already up 19 points. 

Coconino did not stop adding onto the scoring parade, making the game 40-14 with seconds remaining in the third quarter. 

One player who kept the spark going for the Eagles was Will Carpenter, who had 114 receiving yards on seven catches Thursday night. The senior broke the Flagstaff single-season reception record, finishing with 51 catches in nine games.  

“It's good to see him get the ball,” Clements said. “ Since Chase got hurt, I think he might have broken the receiving record, too.”

With the conclusion of the Eagles' season, questions now start to roll in for the coaching staff about what to expect next season.

Clements has been resilient about his team over the past couple of weeks, noting that they only play this game for a short period of time in their lives, so going out on the field and having fun means a lot to him.