(TEMPE, Ariz.) Gilbert Christian completed its regular season with a dominant 49-26 win on the road at Tempe High School, securing a spot in the 2024 AIA 3A Football State Championships. The Knights' effort was propelled by a pair of seniors, Tyler Burr and Sam Webb, who logged super-human numbers to ensure the right to suit up for at least one more Friday night showdown. 

GCHS got 341 passing yards from Burr, who went 17-23 in the air, for a total of six touchdowns. Three of the scores belonged to Webb, who rushed for one, and connected with Burr for two, to bring his season TD total to 15.

Tempe started its senior night strong, running back the opening kickoff 60-yards for the first score of the evening. The Buffaloes tested their luck with a two-point conversion try, but could not convert against the Knights' defense. 

Junior Bennett Juve got the offense going on the next drive, pulling in a 20-yard pass from Burr deep in the endzone to bring the game to even, before senior kicker Brody Moore nailed his extra-point try to give Gilbert Christian the early advantage at 7-6. 

With 2:11 remaining in the first period, Webb took one 48-yards to the house, catching a short ball from Burr and exploding past the Tempe defense extend the margin to 14-6 following another successful Moore EP. 

In the second, junior Caleb Ely got involved in the scoring action, beating the Buffaloes' corner to catch a Burr-tiful 60-yard pass, and racing into the endzone to make it 20-6.

Tempe put together a productive drive of its own a minute later, zipping down the length of the field for a TD, and converting on a two-point attempt to bring the contest to 20-14 with 9:10 remaining in the half. 

The Knights' next possession featured a terrific completion between Burr and Juve, which saw Juve air over a pair of Buffaloes' secondaries to make a tough grab in traffic. The catch put GCHS in scoring range, where Burr found Juve again for the Knights' fourth score of the evening. 

Looking to take a two-possession lead into the locker room, Gilbert Christian's coaching staff drew up a two-point play that dreams are made of, diverting the Tempe defense, which could only watch from afar as junior Hyatt Lang collected a wide-open pass to stretch the advantage to 28-14.

The offense continued to flourish in the third, where Burr hit Ely on the run for a score at 8:12, and Webb picked up his second of the night, barreling into the endzone in the final minute of the period to give the Knights a 42-14 lead. 

Tempe outscored GCHS in the final quarter, two-to-one, though the Knights' defense produced some of its most impressive stops of the affair. The Buffaloes lit up the board with 11:19 to play on a 13-yard pass, but sophomore Malachi Ahlman prevented the ensuing two-point try, batting down the next airborne ball to keep the game at 42-20.

Tempe's offensive momentum continued on its next possession. With the Buffaloes trekking into dangerous territory, the Knights produced a critical defensive stop in the redzone, concluding in a pass rush from sophomore Evan Scott, who wrapped up Tempe's QB Saul Mendez, for a sack alongside teammate Lang. 

The Knights' final touchdown of the competition belonged to Webb, who caught a short ball up the middle from Burr with three minutes on the clock. Ely, however, made the scoring drive possible, making a highlight-reel grab while making sure to stay in bounds, to move the Knights up the field. 

The Buffaloes posted the last TD of the night. Once again, the Knights managed to stop the two-point conversion attempt. 

The No. 14 Knights sit at 6-4 overall following the victory.

Juve and Ely finished the contest with 113 and 112 receiving yards, respectively. Webb led the way with 151 all-purpose yards, including an impressive 88 receiving yards.

Defensively, the Knights were led by senior Colton Rogers, who managed a game-best 10 tackles. Right on his heels was Evan Scott, with nine tackles and a sack. Freshman Pierson Scott was next in line with his six takedowns. 

Gilbert Christian recorded three tackles for loss in the win. Lang was responsible for two of them, with a line that included five tackles and a sack (and a big-time hurdle on offense). Ely tallied the other TFL. 

No. 3 Thatcher is next on the docket for the Knights. The first round of the state tournament will be held at Eastern Arizona College next Friday, beginning at 7:00pm.

-GO KNIGHTS-