Casa Grande's football season couldn''t have finished any better Friday night at Sun Devil Stadium.

The Cougars first title game in school history (90-plus years in the making) was a hard-fought 33-28 victory over Poston Butte in the 4A championship game. The win capped an unbeaten season (13-0) and gave fans on both sides a thrilling contest. Casa Grande scored twice in a 2 1/2 minute span of the final quarter that brought it from a 28-21 deficit to the final score. The Cougars defense did its part turning back a Poston Butte scoring threat as time ran out. Poston Butte, appearing in its first championship game in just more than a decade as a varsity program, finished 11-3.

"What a game," Casa Grande coach Jake Barro said. "(Quarterback) Angel Flores came up with big plays on our last two drives. Our defense made a stop at the end. I didn't see (unbeaten) season coming, but what we accomplished was a possiblity. These kids have been very goal-oriented."

Flores, indeed delivered big plays - showing up and thensome. He accounted for 2,523 yards in 12 games leading up to the title game. Flores bettered his average of 212 yards per game with a 418-yard showing (299 yards passing and one TD and 119 yards rushing and three TDs) in the championship game.

The teams see-sawed scores in the first half, playing to a 14-all tie. Casa Grande took its first lead (21-14) on its opening drive of the third quarter with Flores scoring his second TD to that point on a 23-yard run. Poston Butte scored the next 14 points to regain the lead, 28--21 with 11:29 left in the game. 

Flores engineered the next two scoring drives. An 11-play, 78-yard drive was finished by a Flores 1-yard run. Flores accounted for 73 of the 78 yards rushing or passing. A missed extra point meant Casa Grande was still behind, 28-27, with 6:09 left. Casa Grande forced a three-and-out and got the ball back at its 38 with four minutes left. 

Flores threw three consecutive incompletions, leaving Casa Grande with a fourth-and-10. Flores managed the play of the game teaming up on a 59-yard completion to Demetrius Garrett to the Poston Butte 5. The next play RJ Keeton skirted the right side for a TD and the game's decisive score with 2:33 to play.

Poston Butte drove from its 17 to the Casa Grande 23 with one second left. A Hail-Mary in the end zone was blanketed by three Casa Grande defenders covering the Broncos Connor Lopez and Nijay Wilson and fell incomplete.

Casa Grande (white jerseys) defend a Poston Butte pass attempt on its final drive in its 33-28 victory on Friday night. (Azpreps365 photo)