Aztec football season ends with loss vs. Mesa CC

The Pima Community College football team closed out the 2016 season on Saturday against No. 9 ranked Mesa Community College (8-2, 6-1) at Kino North Stadium.

The Aztecs fell short on their final drive and lost 37-32 to the Thunderbirds.

The Aztecs' defense forced a three-and-out as the offense took over on their own 35-yardline with 1:49 left in the game. Freshman quarterback Justin Martin (Pueblo HS) converted on a fourth down by gaining 15 yards on a keeper play. Later in the drive, Martin complete a 14-yard pass to sophomore Caymen Metcalf to put Pima on the Mesa 34-yardline but an end-zone pass to sophomore Jeff Cotton (Mountain View HS) on fourth down was incomplete and the Aztecs turned it over on downs with three seconds left.

Down 20-14 in the third quarter, the Aztecs forced the Thunderbirds to punt but sophomore Brandon Yamamoto (Basha HS) blocked it and freshman Logan Stewart (Mountain View HS) returned it for the touchdown to tie the game at 20-20. The Thunderbirds regained control after scoring touchdowns on their next two drives to make it 34-20.

Martin accounted for four touchdowns in the game; two passing scores and two rushing. He put the Aztecs on the board with a 57-yard touchdown pass to freshman Jalen Edwards to tie the game at 7-7. In the second quarter, he scored on a 6-yard run. The Aztecs trailed 20-14 at the break.

Martin connected with Cotton on a 69-yard touchdown reception with 14:50 left in the game to cut Mesa's lead to 34-26. He scored a final time on a great run for 37-yards.

The Aztecs closed out the season 3-6 overall and 2-5 in WSFL/ACCAC conference play.

MCC     13     7     14     3     37
PCC       7      7      6     12    32

Beau Griego (#39) and Charles Henry (#26)/Photo by Ben Carbajal