Nicholas Pietrzycki is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arcadia High School for AZPreps365.com.

The Arcadia Titans wrapped up their season after a 35-20 loss against the Poston Butte Broncos on Friday night. The Titans finish their season with a 5-5 record, a four-win improvement from last year. 

Parents, siblings and other family members waited patiently on the field for their respective players to come out of the locker room after the final whistle blew at Arcadia High School on Friday night. 

The loss was especially hard for the 16 seniors that played the final game of their high school football career, and for most players, their last ever competitive football game. Players stayed on the field with their families long after the game, taking in their final moments as players in their home stadium.

“I’m proud of my entire team,” Arcadia head coach Ray Brown said. “How these guys responded, how they competed all year.” 

Many players did not take their pads off, only their helmets. Some coaches even avoided going into the locker after the game, knowing what would come next. 

“A lot of young men grew up during this football season,” Brown said. “They became better players, better men, better sons.” 

Brown added, saying it is about the little things that have all occurred throughout the year. The little things might not show on a scoreboard but will exhibit throughout the rest of the players’ lives.  

“I think we got a bright future, and I think we also know that we are a very capable football team,” Brown said. 

The Titans were ranked twenty-third in the 4A conference before the game. A win would have secured the Titans a spot in the 4A playoffs. Unfortunately, the Titans could not produce a win on senior night, and with the loss on Friday night, the Titans were eliminated from playoff contention. 

“We proved that we can do it, we need to consistently do it. Be able to do it at the right moments,” Brown said. 

Multiple of those “moments” came at the beginning of the game for the Titans. Forcing an early three and out and responding with an 11 play drive, culminating with a four-yard touchdown run by junior running back Quintyn Isabell.

An Arcadia 37-yard field goal by junior kicker Issac De La Cruz made it a 10-0 game. It took the Broncos only two plays of offense to take the lead back from the Titans. A 63-yard touchdown run and a 33-yard touchdown run gave the Broncos a four-point lead heading into halftime. 

“They [Arcadia] played hard from the start,” Poston Butte head coach Dain Thompson said. 

The Titans once again forced a three and out to begin the half and capitalized once again with another field goal by De La Cruz making it a one-point game, 14-13. 

However, the Broncos’ defense began to play better and communicate more effectively, according to senior middle linebacker Riley Nolan. 

“We started to communicate better and it just worked,” Nolan said.

The Broncos only allowed one more touchdown the rest of the game, a 52-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Rocco Mortensen to sophomore wide receiver Chris Hoos. The Broncos’ defense forced multiple three and outs and stifled the Titans’ offense. 

After the game, the Broncos were officially crowned the champions of the 4A Black Canyon region. The Broncos won back-to-back region titles for the first time in the program’s history. 

“It’s awesome for these kids and everyone else in the student body,” Thompson said.

Poston Butte will take part in the 4A playoffs, beginning next Friday. And Arcadia will be looking ahead to the 2022 football season.