DEPLETED EAGLES BLANKED IN PLAYOFFS, 28-0

Southwest, an underdog to district 16 champion Southridge even at full strength, struggled mightily on offense in a 28-0 road loss in the first round of the state playoffs. The Eagles, who conclude their season with a 7-3 record, were most handicapped by the loss of senior quarterback JJ Jaramillo, who injured a labrum in the final regular season game against Coral Gables. He was on the sideline for all but one series of the game. Donovan Edouard was not dressed for the game and Cornelius Nunn and Derek Gonzalez were injured against the Spartans. Southwest picked up a first down on the second play from scrimmage on a Te'Corey Tutson 9-yard run and did not pick up another first down until the next-to-last play of the third quarter. Southridge scored on touchdown passes of 18 yards and 55 yards in the first quarter and took a 21-0 lead to the lockerroom with a 4-play, 65-yard drive in the final minute of the half. With Jaramillo out, the Eagles ran a wildcat offense with direct snaps to running backs Tutson and Andre Stringfield. Kicker Antonio Garcia, who played some quarterback in past seasons, also took some snaps in the second half. Southwest completed more passes to Southridge than to its own receivers. The only completion was by Tutson to Marquise McCrea for no gain while the Spartans picked off 3 passes. Despite the offensive struggles, the Eagles could have avoided the shutout late in the game when they drove to the Southridge eight-yard line, but eschewed the easy field goal and lost 6 yards on fourth-and-goal. While the loss was disappointing to the seniors, they leave as the third consecutive senior class to make the state playoffs all four years.