PRESCOTT — Delainey Courtney had three interceptions, but none bigger than her last one, an 80-yard Pic-6 with 9 ticks left on the clock to give No. 2-seeded Prescott an 28-21 win over Coconino in the 4A state semifinals Wednesday night.

It is the 15th straight victory for the Badgers (15-0, 5-0 4A Mountain Sky), which advance to the 4A state championship against St. Mary’s this weekend during their inaugural campaign.

Not bad for a club that entered the flag football ranks just three months ago.

 “It was special. It was more than special. This was a high-intensity game the whole way through. Hats off to Coconino,” Prescott coach Ryan Hart said about the win, adding that they were focused on putting enough plays together in the end, but watching his senior linebacker run down the field to score the go-ahead touchdown was unforgettable.

“I think Delainey made an incredible play to close it out for us,” Hart said.

The do-it-all senior couldn’t contain her excitement after the game, and said she was a bit “surprised” when Coconino quarterback Blanca Ventura Gomez threw the ball her way late.

“Oh my god … She threw it and I got a hand on it, and I grabbed it and was like, ‘oh my gosh, don’t drop the ball,’” Courtney said.

Prescott was reeling defensively at the time, having led 21-7 with 2:33 to go in the game before surrendering two straight scores.

In fact, Coconino scored twice in a 33-second span, leaving fans at the edge of their seats on both sides of the stadium.

Gomez found Lucy Stiegler on a 2-yard touchdown pass to bring Coconino within a score, 21-14, then the Panthers recovered the onside kick, which in flag football is a fourth-and-15 play.

Prescott was flagged for a pass interference on the try, and on the ensuing play, Gomez found an open Wylan Smith, who made a herculean effort by bowling past three or four defenders and sprinted 60 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 21-21 with 2 minutes left.

On the Badgers’ next possession, quarterback Rianna Aguilar threw an interception to Gomez with 1:46 remaining, giving Coconino the ball back on Prescott’s own 20-yard line before the Courtney interception to win it.

“When they got the onside kick and I think we were all like, ‘oh shoot, this is a real game. We have to lock in, stop them here,’” Courtney said, adding she’s excited for the state championship this weekend.

“I’m so excited. I’m a senior so it’s going to be so hyped with all my girls and win state with them,” Courtney said.

Maggie Maneely (9) sprints past a Coconino defender in the semifinals of the 4A Flag Football State Championships on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, in Prescott. The Badgers won 28-21 and advance to the title game against St. Mary’s. (AJ Bergner/AzPreps365)UP NEXT

Prescott will travel south to Chandler High School to play No. 1-ranked St. Mary’s in the inaugural 4A state championship game Saturday, Nov. 23.

Across the state, 6A and 5A schools formed the first flag football league in AIA history a season ago, and 38 schools joined the 4A conference this fall to compete.

Kickoff this weekend is set for noon.

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.