Marcos de Niza linebacker Xavier Bueno enjoys film study. The senior linebacker did some homework this week. As a result he and the Padres were rewarded with another victory.

Bueno pulled off an interception for a touchdown with 50 seconds left to halt a Combs drive and give the Padres a come-from-behind 35-28 win in a 4A Desert Sky Region game 

Marcos de Niza kept its perfect season intact with its seventh win. The Padres are also 2-0 and leading the region with resilience shining through in their tightest game so far. Combs slipped to 4-3, 0-1 and saw its three-game winning streak end.

"These guys are brothers," Marcos de Niza coach Anthony Figueroa, referring to his team, said. "I'm proud of how they hung in tonight."

Combs led 21-7 after three quarters. The Coyotes posted all 21 points in the second and third quarters after spotting Marcos a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Combs quarterback Tanner Hale threw a 59-yard TD pass to Hunter Clare to tie things at 7. Hale capped a 12-play 64-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge. Combs last of the three consecutive score halted a Marcos drive with an interception and the Coyotes took possession at the Marcos 20. Three plays later running back Conner Wiles scored from a yard out for the 21-7 lead.

Marcos de Niza responded to the urgency in the final quarter. The Padres scored a TD on the first play of the quarter (quarterback Braesen Leon, a 1-yard run). They added three more TDs in the quarter in a span of four minutes. Leon rushed for one of the scores and tossed scoring passes of 9 and 6 yards to Clinton Hopkins and Mason Stromstad, respectively, tying the score at 28.

Combs began a promising drive with three minutes left and the game tied at 28, marching to Marcos de Niza's 48 with a minute to play. That's when Bueno stepped up for the game-winning, pick-six.

Marcos de Niza takes a break from region play next week with a visit to Poston Butte. Combs remains on the road for a region game at Seton Catholic.