CAMP VERDE — Quarterback Rocco Haggard ran for two touchdowns and passed for one more, Cooper Payne had two scores and No. 9 Tanque Verde advanced to the state quarterfinals with a 39-15 win over Camp Verde on Friday night.

It is the eighth straight victory for the Hawks (10-2, 4-0 2A South), which lost 30-21 to Benson in mid-September and haven’t lost since, outscoring their opponents 404-49.

“Our guys competed, and they were challenged. Camp Verde did a great job of giving us fits up front. Their defensive line was incredible. Our kids battled, and found ways,” Tanque Verde coach Jeff Bollnow said before his team boarded a bus to take the four-hour trip home to Tucson.

Sebastian Blakeman opened the game’s scoring with a 5-yard touchdown run to put the Hawks up 7-0, but Camp Verde answered as quarterback Brayden Walsworth found Wyatt Loveall on a 5-yard touchdown strike to give his team an 8-7 lead at the 10:51 mark in the second quarter.

Camp Verde (7-4, 4-1 2A Metro 3) then earned a stop defensively, taking over inside their own 10 yard line after a punt, but Justin Smith fumbled the ball and Liam Brunell recovered, setting up a 6-yard touchdown run by quarterback Rocco Haggard to give Tanque Verde a 14-8 lead with 6:43 to play in the first half.

The No. 8-seeded Cowboys recovered quickly as Smith made up for his mistake with a 25-yard touchdown run on Camp Verde’s ensuing possession, giving his club a 15-14 lead.

But yet again, Tanque Verde would answer as Cooper Payne began to take over the game, catching the ball in the flat from Haggard and sprinting 86 yards for a score, making it 21-15 with 15 seconds to go in the first half and the Hawks never looked back.

“He’s an absolute stud. He put the team on his back and made a ton of plays tonight that helped put us ahead and keep us ahead,” Bollnow said.

Haggard would get his second rushing touchdown to open the second half and Payne’s 63-yard scamper down the left sideline for a score with 1:31 left in the third quarter sealed the deal.

“I have to give all the praise to God. The [offensive line] worked their butts off all night, and the game is won up front, so, they should get all the praise,” Payne said.

Haggard said they “have a great group of guys” who came with a lot of energy Friday night.

“We love to fight, and you saw it here tonight,” Haggard said. The senior added they’ll need to bring that same energy next week against No. 1 Veritas Prep., which beat Santa Cruz Valley in their game, 35-6.

“We’ll give it our best,” Haggard said.

UP NEXT

Tanque Verde will travel north to Phoenix to play No. 1-seeded Veritas Prep. (11-0, 5-0 2A Metro 4) on Friday, Nov. 14. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Camp Verde’s season is over.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.