Carson Riney is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Greenway High School for AZPreps365.com
 

GLENDALE — Independence defeated Greenway 51-44 on Friday night, sending its seniors out with a win in the season finale after a 90-minute lightning delay.

After taking a 51-38 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Patriots’ defense stopped Greenway on fourth down twice later in the quarter. Independence then picked up a first down on a run with less than two minutes remaining and ran out the clock to secure the win at home on senior night.

Independence (2-8) finished the season with two consecutive wins after an 0-8 start. Greenway finished its season at 1-9.

The game was scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff  at Independence High School but was delayed by lightning until about 8:30 p.m. The teams ran six plays before a second lightning delay halted the game again.

“We persevered through the hour-and-a-half lightning delay,” Independence coach  Shane Hagen said.

Independence senior wide receiver Noah Heredia scored on a reverse in the first quarter. Senior defensive back Malik Johnson returned a kickoff for a touchdown at the end of the second quarter, putting Independence ahead 34-30 at halftime.

Senior quarterback Aaron Navarro accounted for four touchdowns, throwing two and rushing for two. Both rushing touchdowns came on goal-to-go plays. He completed 13 of 21 passes for more than 215 yards and kicked a field goal in the fourth quarter to give Independence a 51-38 lead with less than six minutes remaining.

“We had a rough schedule,” Navarro said. “We had a rough year, for sure, not winning our first eight games, but being able to at least win our senior night, it means more than any other game that we could ask for.” 

Navarro said the team kept working through the losing.

 “They still came to practice, they never gave up on their seniors. It means a lot to us,” he said.

Senior wide receiver and defensive back Ivan Cruz finished with seven receptions for more than 110 yards. He caught both of Navarro’s touchdown passes, a 61-yard score in the second quarter and a 47-yard touchdown early in the fourth. Cruz also had an interception in the fourth quarter.

“It means everything to go out with two touchdowns, the interception,” Cruz said. “You know, him calling me when he needed me, it means everything. To come out with the win, to leave the sophomores off on a good note, to win the last two, I mean, that’s how you want to end it.”

Greenway scored on its opening drive and regained the lead late in the second quarter before the kickoff return put Independence back in front. The Patriots led by double digits for much of the second half before the Demons cut the deficit to seven on a 47-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter

Greenway scored five passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Under first-year coach John Morgando, the Demons also used double passes, threw to offensive linemen and recovered two onside kicks, including a surprise one with 3:47 remaining in the second quarter.

“I’m just first and foremost, just so happy for these seniors that they’re able to go out like this,” Hagen said. “You know, for so many of these guys, they put in four years of blood, sweat and tears. There were some challenges this year, I wish that we could press the reset button and go back to camp because this is such an incredible group of kids.” 

Hagen said the seniors set an example for the younger players.

 “That’s the foundation that they’ve laid upon,” he said. “Now it’s on the sophomores and juniors to build on it.”