The football lives of Gilbert Christian, Pima, Heber Mogollon and Bagdad have been strangely connected since the fall of 2012. So connected, that the AIA is considering having a special football playoff bracket dedicated just for them.

No, that's not true.

In the fall of 2012, Bagdad defeated Gilbert Christian in the first round then Bagdad took out Mogollon in the next round. Pima eliminated Bagdad in the semifinals before Glendale Joy Christian crashed the party and defeated Pima in the championship game.

Seemingly not wanting anymore party crashers, the four Division VI powers devised a plan the next fall where each would make it to the semifinals, making it in an invitation-only gala that continued through this fall.

In 2013, Mogollon defeated Pima in one semifinal game and Bagdad defeated Gilbert Christian in the other to set up the championship game where Bagdad came out on top, 44-20.

2014? Here we are gain.

No. 1 Bagdad defeated No. 4 Gilbert Christian 60-24 Saturday night at Phoenix North Canyon High School to punch their second straight trip to the final. I guess it goes without saying that No. 2 Mogollon defeated No. 3 Pima 28-12 in the other semifinal game held earlier in the day.

Dalton Mills led Bagdad to their only state championship last fall while Tim Slade took Mogollon to a championship in 1994. Ron Tenney led Mogollon to titles in 2003 and 2008 between coaching stints by Slade.

Note: Pima has won eight championships and Gilbert Christian has yet to make it to the final.

In the first game, both teams had difficulty moving the ball until Brock Slade hit Joe Gaylor on an 8-yard pass to put the Mustangs up 6-0 with 8:06 left in the first half. The conversion failed but Mogollon picked up the 2-points the old fashioned way on a safety a minute later resulting from a bad snap by Pima.

Mogollon (9-0) went on to build a 20-0 until Pima (8-2) was able to respond when Devon Kartchner found Brady Saline for 15 yards with 1 second left before the half. Pima closed the gap to 20-12 after Curtis Hancock broke free on a 67-yard scamper one minute into the second half.

Hunter Cochran ran one in from 2-yards out to give Mogollon a 28-12 lead (Run good: Slade to McKay Turley) with 5:31 left in the third.

Jaden Willis intercepted Pima twice down the stretch to preserve the victory for Mogollon.

Brock Slade is the third brother to come through the program but he is the first quarterback. His passing skills were called upon to help defeat Pima and he finished with 229 yards and 3 TDs through the air.

Gaylor had 105 yards receiving and two touchdowns while Turley pulled down the other TD.

"We needed to move the ball," explained Brock Slade. "I had to go through the air to get it done today."

The Mustangs motto has revolved around the notion of never being satisfied and head coach Tim Slade reminded his team of that in the huddle after the game.

"We answered when we needed to answer," he told them. "We kept it when we needed to keep it. Feel really good but not satisfied."

Mogollon will have to erase their memories of what happened in last year's final when Bagdad overwhelmed them for the championship.

Casey Jeans gained 281 yards and had five touchdowns to lead Bagdad (10-0) over Gilbert Christian (9-2) in the other semifinal. Jeans is averaging over 10-yards a carry. Who needs a punter under those circumstances?

Bagdad also has a very seasoned quarterback in Tony Jauregui and he controlled the Sultan attack to the 60-24 victory. Logan Pinkerton came up big for Gilbert Christian with 93 yards and a touchdown but it wasn't enough.

As stated before, the D-VI championship is a repeat from last year but Mogollon is hoping the outcome is a bit different but that will be a tall order.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

North Canyon (Live on NFHSNetwork)

No. 1 Bagdad vs. No. 2 Mogollon, 6 pm