Tucson, AZ — Lancers Lock Down Marana in Dominant 28-7 Season-Opening Victory Salpointe Catholic opened its season with a statement Thursday night, using a dominant defensive performance and several explosive plays to defeat Marana 28-7 at Tiger Field. The matchup featured two of Southern Arizona’s premier football programs and marked the fourth consecutive season the teams have opened against one another. With the victory, Salpointe improved to 3-1 in those meetings and has now won 30 of its last 31 games against Southern Arizona opponents. Marana handed the Lancers their only loss during that stretch two years ago, snapping Salpointe’s 27-game winning streak against teams from the region. At the time, the Tigers were led by former quarterback Colten Meyer and a much more explosive offense. This time, the Lancer defense controlled the game from start to finish. Salpointe held three Marana quarterbacks to just 89 passing yards on 13-of-24 attempts, intercepting two passes and allowing no offensive touchdowns. The Tigers also managed only 60 rushing yards on 19 carries, finishing with just 149 yards of total offense. “We kept our mouths shut, went straight to work, and then we came out here tonight; we came out hard,” junior cornerback Jeremiah Wells said. “It was a fight, but we ended up on top. That’s all that matters.” After a scoreless first quarter filled with punts, Marana created the game’s first major opportunity when junior Grant Folwell intercepted a Salpointe pass. However, the Tigers were unable to turn the takeaway into points. The Lancers broke through with 2:27 remaining in the second quarter when senior Adrian Jett exploded for a 47-yard touchdown run. Jett finished the night with 77 yards on just four carries. Salpointe’s defense struck again almost immediately. On Marana’s first offensive play following Jett’s touchdown, Wells perfectly read the route, intercepted the pass and raced 30 yards for a pick-six. In a span of just 19 seconds, the Lancers turned a scoreless game into a 14-0 advantage. Wells’ touchdown prompted Marana to make a change at quarterback, bringing sophomore Isaac Flores into the game. The Tigers opened the second half with another opportunity after senior Walter Evans-Gonzalez intercepted a pass and returned it 20 yards to the Salpointe 34-yard line. Once again, the Lancer defense refused to break. Facing fourth-and-goal, Marana attempted to cut into the lead, but senior Soren Goodman intercepted the pass in the end zone to end the threat. Marana finally found the end zone late in the third quarter when junior Carter Meyer—the younger brother of former Tigers quarterback Colten Meyer, who now plays at Northern State—returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score cut Salpointe’s lead to 14-7 and appeared to shift the momentum in Marana’s favor. That momentum lasted only seconds. On the ensuing kickoff, senior Jake Bondi raced 85 yards for a touchdown, immediately restoring Salpointe’s two-score lead and sending the Lancers into the fourth quarter ahead 21-7. Salpointe put the game away with 3:41 remaining when senior OJ Flores powered into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Lancers their final 28-7 advantage. “This is what I do,” Flores said after the score. What’s Next? Salpointe Catholic returns home next Friday for a rivalry matchup against Tucson High. “We have a really tough schedule this year, so as long as we keep our heads down and just keep grinding, everything is going to come out for us,” Wells said. Marana will look to bounce back next Friday when the Tigers travel to face 5A state runner-up Waddell Canyon View. Both games are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.