Tempe took it to Red Mountain to win the Arizona Boys HS D1 state championship Saturdaym defeating their longtime rivals 64-12.

The setting couldn’t have been better for another chapter of the intense rivalry game, with beautiful weather, perfect green grass pitch (not normal for AZ), and everything on the line for the state championship. 

Tempe saw early success after gathering the kickoff and putting Red Mountain on the defensive. Tempe ran their normal game pattern of big bruising runs runs from the forwards and quick hands to their elusive backs, and they were able to drive down near the Red Mountain line. Lock Dietrich Abinet then punched the ball over in the 5th minute.

Tempe maintained the pressure but some mistakes, along with some superb kicking to touch, allowed Red Mountain inside the Tempe 22. Tempe's defense battled but Red Mountain was finally able to break through at 14 minutes.

Chastened by the penalties Tempe tightened up on their discipline and put the pressure on Red Mountain’s defense, stretching them wide and banging up the middle to score tries at minutes 20, 23, and 28.

This opened up the game, but they only converted one of those so at 22-5 Red Mountain was still within reach.

In a rivalry game such as this the physicality can get a bit out of control and both sides received yellow cards for dangerous tackle. Unfortunately for Red Mountain their yellow card for a high tackle came as they were defending a two-man overlap with Tempe attacking five meters from the goalline. The result was a penalty try and a 29-5 halftime lead.

Tempe received the kickoff in the second half and quickly countered an aggressive Red Mountain defense and scored on a 70-meter scamper by center Aki Pulu. Red Mountain quickly responded back with a try nine four minutes into the second half to make it 34-12.

Tempe continued to keep the defensive pressure on and eventually broke through again in the 47th minute when flyhalf Alejandro Echeverria touched the ball down for another Tempe try. That was a blow for Red Mountain as it appeared to put the game out of reach.

Tempe put some fresh bodies in which helped the offensive pressure and Pulu punished defenders on his way to crossing for his second. Echeverría then capitalized on overlaps in the 59th and 61th minutes. Wing Reno MaaveSefo danced his way into the try zone in the 68th, and center Roman Kupu powered his way over in the 69 to cap it off 64-12.

For Tempe is was a huge win as they look ahead to HS Nationals. The forwards, especially hooker Brock Christensen, flanker Tanner DeMassa, No. 8 Ata Teutupe, and lock Garrett Ness, did yeoman's work, and backs Blake Liddell (scrumhalf), Pulu (center), and Reno MaaveSefo on the wing took full advantage.