No. 16 Marana jumped out to a quick lead over No. 17 Sunnyslope at home Friday night but the Vikings battled back and took advantage of a slow clock to climb back in. Time eventually ran out on the Vikings in a 45-35 victory for the Tigers.

Marana (8-3) built a 26-7 lead on Sunnyslope (7-4), and then a 32-14 lead, but the Tigers continued to pass late in the game, which caused multiple clock stoppages and possession changes. A muffed punt by the Vikings and a touchdown from the Tigers on an attempted onside kick was enough to get the Tigers to the next round where they will face top-seeded Desert Mountain (8-1) nest Friday night.

Trenton Hicks hit Jesse Howell from 24 yards out to put the Tigers up 7-0 with 5:55 in the first and the then the Tiger defense forced a turnover on downs at midfield. Hicks left the game for a play but Isaac Flores stepped in and he threw to Jaxsun Sharp for 50 yards for a 14-0 lead.

Sunnyslope quarterback Royce Vanacore ran the ball in from the five to cut the lead down to 14-7 with 8:56 in the half but Jeffrey Smith III ripped off a 30-yard dash and then a 47-yard run to put the Tigers up 20-7 30 seconds later.

Xzaveus Griffin came up with an interception for Marana and Hicks hit Howell for 76 yards to put Marana up 26-7. The Vikings bounced back and Vanacore threw to Cooper Cook from 34 to cut the lead down to 26-14 Marana with only seconds left in the half.

After a muffed punt from the Vikings, Hicks threw to Howell again on a short TD pass to put Marana up 32-14 with 2:36 left in the third quarter but Vanacore scored from up close to cut the Tiger lead down to 32-20.  The Vikings attempted an onside kick but the ball got through the first line of defense where Walter Evans-Gonzalez picked up the bouncing ball and he ran the kick back for a score to put the Tigers up 38-20 with 9:17 left in the game.

Unfazed, The Vikings got the ball back and Vanacore hit Julian Toby from 60 yards out to cut the Marana lead down to 38-27 with 5:51 left. Smith came right back with 61-yard dash to put the Tigers up 45-27 with 5:03 left.

Sunnyslope held on defense and Kelton Rogers pulled in a TD catch to make it 45-35 with 1:01 left but the Tigers were able to run the clock out for the victory.