Gallery - Blue Ridge beats Round Valley in 3A Football Quarterfinals, but lose star linebacker, 2009 Football Playoffs E-mail
The Blue Ridge Yellow Jackets advanced to the 2009 3A State Semifinals after last Friday's 34-0 victory over the Round Valley Elks.  The game was played on November 14th at Williams Field High School in Gilbert, Arizona. 

Blue Ridge got another stellar performance from senior quarterback Jake Meixler, who threw for 205 yards on 10 of 12 passing.  He also connected for three touchdowns to three different receivers: Ty Webster, Keevan Schimmel and Daniel Carlson.  Schimmel also scored a rushing TD and led the Yellow Jacket ground game with 68 yards on 13 carries.  Blue Ridge struggled to run the ball, especially in the second half, against the Elk defense.

Round Valley could not convert on the scoring opportunities they had, and that was in part due to the loss of quarterback Chantz Davis.  He went out in the second quarter with a leg injury and ended up on crutches after halftime.  Rance Allen played well filling in for Davis.  Without their starter, however, the Elks offense could not find a good rhythm. 

Despite the win, the Jackets also lost big - they lost starting inside linebacker Alex Stebbins.  He went down early in the game with what might be a broken collar bone.  He is not expected to return this season.  Stebbins will be missed greatly, especially if the team's next opponent, Florence, presents an effective power running game.  Stebbins led the Jackets in tackles, sacks and forced fumbles.  He had come on especially strong in the last month and was their biggest play-maker on defense.  The responsibility for picking up the slack will belong to his replacement, senior Tyrell Coplan, who has plenty of experience at the position and Colton Fletcher, who has been a starter all season along with Stebbins.  Photos by Denise London

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