The No. 7 Arcadia Titans upset the No. 2 Liberty Lions in a 35-34 win. The first half was dominated by Liberty as their defense pinned the Titans back on their own 9-yard line and were able to punish them on an 11-yard touchdown run by Matt Emineth to go ahead 7-0. Arcadia began to put together a consistent offensive push, but Ryan Fochtman fumbled on the 21-yard line and Liberty's Paul Panaccione recovered the ball. Panaccione put together another impressive play as he caught a reception from quarterback Tyler Rogers, but Arcadia's Dylan Salam did a great job of containing the receiver and held the Lions to a 30-yard field goal by Willie Schwab to increase their lead 10-0.

Arcadia was forced to punt on their next possession and Liberty took over. On 3rd and 4 from their own 12-yard line, Kyle Harms ran for an 88-yard touchdown to increase their lead 17-0.The Titans were able to get on the board with 6:25 left in the second quarter, after Sosaia Maafu single-handedly drove Arcadia down the field, which set up quarterback Cole Richardson for the touchdown and they trailed 17-7.

Liberty  was unable to find their way into the endzone with the ball on the 20-yard line and settled for a 37-yard field goal by Schwab and the 20-7 lead with 4:11 left in the first half. On 3rd and 19 from their own 43-yard line, Maafu delivered a half-back pass to Richardson to earn the first down. Four plays later Maafu was in the endzone and narrowed the Lions lead 20-14 at the half.

Liberty went three and out to start the third quarter and Arcadia stepped onto the field with all the momentum. Maafu beat three Liberty players to run 22 yards into the endzone and earn the Titans their first lead of the game 21-20. Neither team's offense was able to produce for the remainder of the third quarter, but Maafu scored on the fifth play of the 4th quarter and increased the Titans lead 28-21.

Emineth, Caleb Robinson and Chad Bennett all gained positive yardage for the Lions and set up Ryan Benedict for a 16-yard touchdown run. They trailed 28-26 and elected to go for two, which they were unable to convert and they were behind 28-26 with 7:43 left in the 4th quarter. Maafu ran into the endzone once again for the Titans from the 1-yard line and lead 35-26 with 4:30 left in the game.

Liberty refused to give up and Harms ran in an 80-yard touchdown and Panaccione executed the two-point conversion trailing by one point 35-34. The Lions went for the onsides kick and at the end of the play what looked to be in their favor, came up in the hands of the the Titans. But Liberty's defense played a solid series and forced Arcadia back on a big hit from Himes Steven, leaving the Titans on 4th and 14 from the 47-yard line - forcing them to punt.

Liberty had the ball with 3:04 left in the game and they were gaining momentum heading towards the Titans endzone. Rogers connected with Panaccione who made the run up the visitor's sideline. Harms added six more yards, as did Rogers. With 2:37 remaining Rogers threw a pass over the middle and it was intercepted by Mitch Manor of Arcadia.

Arcadia took over and the Lions had one last opportunity to showcase their defense. The Lions had the Titans on 3rd and 1 on the 45-yard line, but Maafu continue to make plays and earned the first down to seal the win for Arcadia 35-34.

The Titans advance to the semi-finals to take on the No. 3 Cactus Cobras on November 19 at Paradise Valley High School.

-Jennifer Jimenez