In a game that ended up being a three-score spread it can be easy to disregard a play that might have seem innocuous by the end of the night, but in the moment was huge.

No. 2 ALA-Gilbert North beat No. 7 AZ College Prep 38-20 in the 5A quarterfinals Friday, but it might have been a different outcome if it weren’t for the instincts of senior center Ty Tenney.

After the Eagles took a 14-7 lead, the ALA-GN offense started a possession inside its own 30-yard line. Senior running back Brecken Mitchell broke off tackle and just before he hit the second level, an AZ College Prep defender knocked the ball loose and it fell to the ground.

It was an immediate dog pile and scrum from both sides.

A vital moment late in the first quarter. Either ALA-GN (11-1) retained possession, or the Knights (9-3) had a chance to tie it with a short field ahead.

Dog piles are not for the weak. There are stories of gouging, grabbing body parts and twisting. It is an all-out, free-for-all.

The 5-foot-7, 165-pound Tenney emerged from the chaos with the ball. A handful of plays later, the Patriots scored on the way to 28 straight points.

“They easily could have gotten that turnover and get back in the game,” Tenney said. “It was crucial. It was all instinct. I got my block, saw the ball on the ground and fell on it.”

It was a key reason why the Eagles are in the semifinals again and will face Canyon View (10-2) with a chance to practice during Thanksgiving week.

“It means everything, and we’ve been working a long time for this,” Tenney said. “My season got cut short last year (due to injury) and wasn’t with my boys. I know how important this is for them and me as seniors. This has been the goal since the spring.”

The Eagles had several players contribute on both sides of the ball as Stockton Dye, Copper Hatch and Zyon Leulaui led the defense, while quarterback Ben Livingston and running backs Weston Powell and Mitchell were served well by the physical offensive line.

The player of the game for ALA-GN, however, was junior Isaac Massey.

He had a juggling interception on ACP’s second drive that he brought back 40 yards into the red zone which led to the second score, and with the game still in doubt at 28-14 at the halftime, the Eagles’ opening drive of the second half featured Massey as he had three catches, including a play on third down to extend the drive. 

He made an athletic play – kept his feet in bounds while while leaning to catch it with his finger tips – for a 22-yard score and a 35-14 lead.

Massey's excellent body control gave the Eagles control of the game to push it back to a three-score game.

“Massey has really come on and can be a difference maker,” ALA-GN coach Ty Detmer said. “We looked to him on that drive, and I though he had a second interception after that, but the ref said he was out of bounds. He can take over a game.”

One thing that took over the game for the Knights was emotion.

The team was flagged at least seven times for personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct. It started in the pregame when a flag was thrown even before the National Anthem.

ACP came out of the visitor’s locker room, entering through the gate on the same side as the ALA-GN sideline.

Before taking the field, the Knights hesitated on the sideline and some players looked toward the Eagles' sideline. The ALA-GN players started moving toward the ACP players before a flag was thrown and the Knights, who are now 0-7 all-time versus the Eagles including 35-14 on Oct. 17, ran to the other sideline.

It carried over to the game and it cost the team at times including losing a player to ejection. All after winning the coin toss, choosing offense, and scoring on its opening possession for a 7-0 lead.

“Highly emotional,” ACP coach Derek Zellner said. “We open with a great drive, and then we can’t get out of the end zone without a dumb (personal foul) penalty. We’ve been preaching about keeping our composure because this game was going to come down to the little things.”

The Knights, who were the 4A state runners-up last year, did not feel like they were overmatched. Two turnovers that led directly to 14 points and all of the 15-yard penalties made the difference.

“We can’t implode and have penalty after penalty after penalty," Zellner said. "If you can’t master the little things then you can’t accomplish the big things."

Zellner was sadden by impulsivity but proud of the team overall when few thought ACP would be this competitive after bumping from 4A.

"No one besides us thought we'd be here," he said. "I had the pleasure of coaching these seniors in their final year. They had a lot to do with this program's success."

The Knights offense showed signs – the opening drive, a score just before half and a 97-yard touchdown drive late in the game – but there were just too many big mistakes.

“We killed ourselves,” senior quarterback Evan Heinrich said. “Two turnovers and 28 straight points is hard to come back from in any game. It was disappointing but we always stay together until the final whistle.”

It led to ALA-GN, which won the 4A title in 2022, moving on to the 5A semifinals when its hosts Canyon View on Friday.

It was announced that defending 5A champion and No. 1 seed Desert Edge was upset toward the end of the game, and the players started cheering but Detmer shut that down as soon as it started.

“We have good teams waiting for us,” he said before knowing Canyon View was up next. “None of (Desert Edge’s outcome) matters. We are focused on this week and getting ready to practice this week.”