Turnovers help Shadow Ridge upset Arbor View in playoffs — PHOTOS
Shadow Ridge’s offense struggled to find its rhythm Thursday night at Arbor View in a Class 5A Division I state quarterfinal.
The Mustangs’ defense gave them just the boost they needed.
Senior linebacker Keau Hadley Jr. had an interception and recovered a fumble off a punt that Shadow Ridge’s offense turned into touchdowns as the No. 6-seeded Mustangs upset No. 3 Arbor View 17-14.
Shadow Ridge (6-4) will play at No. 2 Liberty — a 47-6 winner Thursday over No. 7 Silverado — in a state semifinal Nov. 3. The Patriots held on for a 35-32 regular-season win over the Mustangs on Oct. 19.
“The defense picked us up,” Shadow Ridge coach Travis Foster said. “The pick at the beginning of the first series was huge. The muffed punt was big. All around, just a big team win. Hadley was huge, our player of the game.”
Senior quarterback Coen Coloma had two rushing touchdowns and came up with the game-sealing interception on defense with over a minute left in the fourth quarter for the Mustangs.
“We’re a team. If (the defense) does good, the offense is going to do good,” Hadley said. “We just have to back them up. If our offense is having a bad game, we know we have to step up and help them out.”
Arbor View (4-6) defeated Shadow Ridge 45-28 in a regular-season meeting on Sept. 8.
“When we’ve played (Arbor View) in the past, it’s been us that has made the big mistake,” Foster said. “For them to turn one over on the opening drive and kind of flip the script was huge for momentum. It was a big deal.”
Hadley recovered an Arbor View muffed punt early in the third quarter at midfield with Shadow Ridge leading by three.
The Mustangs methodically moved the ball down the field, and Coloma scored on a 15-yard run to take a 17-7 lead.
Arbor View took advantage of a Shadow Ridge turnover when Coloma fumbled on a handoff and the Aggies recovered in Shadow Ridge territory midway through the fourth quarter.
Aggies quarterback Sean Griese scored on a 14-yard run to cut the deficit to 17-14.
The Aggies’ defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession to get the ball back, but Griese was intercepted by Coloma to seal the win for the Mustangs.
“Coen’s a playmaker. Coen can do anything, play any position on the field,” Hadley said. “That’s what’s special about our offense. We have the best athlete in Vegas.”
Hadley intercepted Alonzo Balderrama on third down and returned it over 70 yards to Arbor View’s 5-yard line on the Aggies’ first offensive possession. Coloma scored from 2 yards out on a quarterback sneak to give the Mustangs the early 7-0 lead.
The Mustangs forced a turnover on downs when they stuffed Arbor View’s Dominic Griese on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line in the second quarter.
“We had to stay on their throats,” Hadley said. We couldn’t let up at all. If we let up, that’s when they were going to answer.”
Balderrama gave Arbor View its first points on a 4-yard touchdown pass to Teddy Johnson to draw even 7-7 with less than five minutes before halftime.
Shadow Ridge regained the lead after Joseph Darr came up with a 16-yard diving catch on third down and Hadley broke off a 42-yard run to set up a 23-yard field goal from Ryan Murphy to give the Mustangs a 10-7 lead at the break.
The Mustangs, who appeared in the 4A state title games the last two seasons, made the jump to the top division, 5A Division I, with the state’s best teams. Foster said it was “tough” making the jump with no “easy games” on the schedule.
“I’m just happy for our kids, happy for our coaches,” Foster said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
