Cimarron escapes in OT

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Nov. 13, 2000 | 10:25 a.m.

4A Sunrise Region

Eldorado 35, Desert Pines 6

Las Vegas 46, Valley 13

4A Sunset Region

Cimarron-Memorial 21, Cheyenne 20, OT

Bishop Gorman 27, Palo Verde 20, OT

2A State Tournament

The Meadows 27, Carlin 8

The Sunset Region worked overtime to determine its finalists Friday night, while two Sunrise teams left no doubt they belong in this week's regional championship.

Two-time defending 4A state champion Cimarron-Memorial survived its biggest scare of the season, rallying from eight points down with under two minutes to play to defeat Cheyenne 21-20 in overtime.

The Spartans (11-0) will host Bishop Gorman (8-3), which held on for a 27-20 overtime victory over Palo Verde, this Friday at 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, in the Sunrise tournament, Eldorado and Las Vegas rolled into this week's final game, with the Sundevils (9-2) hammering Desert Pines 35-6 and the Wildcats (7-4) blasting Valley 46-13.

The winners of this week's regional championships will advance to this year's four-team 4A State Tournament, which begins next Saturday and concludes with the title game Saturday, Dec. 2. McQueen (11-0) and Wooster (9-2) have already claimed the Northern Region's two state berths.

As scores began to roll in from the four games in progress last week, all thoughts turned to Cimarron when it was announced that Cheyenne held a 14-6 lead late in the fourth quarter.

Playing in coach George Perry's last game, the Desert Shields played inspired defense for most of the contest, holding the Spartans to a single touchdown until the closing minutes.

"I thought we had it in hand," Perry admitted. "(Cimarron) was struggling a little bit. We shut them down most of the night."

But with time running out on their title hopes, the Spartans mounted a 60-yard drive, the key play a 41-yard pass from Danny Phee to Rayes Gonzales. Andre Rhodes' touchdown run capped it off, and Rhodes ran in the two-point attempt moments later to send the game into overtime.

Cimarron took command of the extra session on Rhodes' second touchdown, and took a 21-14 lead when Rhodes' kicked the extra-point. The Shields then tied it on Terrance Allen's 3-yard touchdown run, setting up the biggest play of the season for both teams.

Cheyenne elected to go for two points, and the win, but the Spartans knocked down Kevin Richardson's pass in the end zone to end the thriller, and Perry's Cheyenne career.

"I asked the kids what they wanted to do, and it was a unanimous decision they wanted to go for the win," Perry said. "We'd also had problems kicking, so that factored in as well."

The 48-year-old Perry, Cheyenne's head coach since its inaugural season in 1991, leaves with a 59-43 record. He said he plans to take a break from coaching, but intends to pursue opportunities at other schools in the future.

"After coaching for 27 straight years, I need a break to get rejuvenated and come back," Perry said. "One of my goals is to win 100 games. I'm at 93 (wins) right now, so I've got to re-surface somewhere to get those seven wins.

"Ten years is a long time, and I'm ready for a new challenge. But I loved my 10 years at Cheyenne. I love the kids, and I'll miss the people I worked with."

The shoe was on the other foot in the Sunset's other semifinal, as Gorman allowed Palo Verde to rally late in regulation but still managed to come out on top. Dyante Perkins' touchdown run in overtime -- his second of the game -- proved to be the difference, as the Gaels stopped the Panthers' final attempt short of the goal line.

In the Sunrise, Eldorado dominated the line of scrimmage, getting 256 yards and four touchdowns from Steven Jackson and holding Desert Pines' Cornell Johnson to just 52 yards, ending the Jaguars' miracle season.

"They came in thinking they'd shut me down once again," said Jackson, who managed just 72 yards in a loss to Desert Pines earlier in the season. "We knew we had to pound it. I lowered my shoulder and took what they gave me."

Likewise, Las Vegas got a huge day from running back Antione White (250 yards, four touchdowns) and limited Valley's James Sims to a season-low 41 yards in the night's most lopsided game.

"Our defense was mad because last time (Sims) had 102 yards, but 70 came on one play," Wildcats coach Kris Cinkovich said. "This time, he didn't get that big play."

In a division matchup earlier this season, the Sundevils posted a 46-29 win over Las Vegas.

"Eldorado is a great team and we're going to need our best game to beat them, but we're certainly looking forward to the challenge," Cinkovich said. "The first time we played them, their line did a good job and when (Jackson) got holes, he made big plays and went to the house."

In small school action, three-time defending 2A state champion Meadows advanced to the title game again with a 27-8 victory over visiting Carlin, the Mustangs' 28th consecutive win.

Pat Curran ran for two touchdowns and threw for another for Meadows (10-0), which hosts Lincoln County in the 2A championship game Saturday at 1 p.m.