By Raven Boone

Peoria scored an important non-conference win over St. Mary's in 4A football action Friday night, 17-14.

The Peoria Panthers (6-3) and the St. Mary’s Knights (3-6) both needed a win to strengthen chances for a playoff spot.

“This win was huge,” Panthers head coach Will Babb said.  I don’t know if it got us in the playoffs but it definitely helped us out, because they’re a 14 seed. But our goal is to get into the playoffs, and you don’t know if you’re in until you’re in,” he added.

Junior quarterback Nate Dobson finished the game with 281 passing yards for the Panthers, including one touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for the victory.

Both teams struggled early with multiple turnovers and penalties in a scoreless first quarter.

“It was a sloppy game on our part,” Babb said. “But you know what, as well as they played actually made it sloppy for us and that’s the truth. They are very discipline and they do things very well,” he added.

St. Mary’s hit the scoreboard first, with a 15-yard touchdown rush from senior tight end Abel Navarrette.

In the first half Peoria struggled getting past the St. Mary’s defense.

The Panthers had the ball within the 10-yard line twice, but could not score.

Late in the second quarter senior kicker Lino Rico, attempted a 24-yard field goal but couldn’t connect, leaving the Panthers trailing by seven heading into halftime.

During halftime, St. Mary's senior offensive lineman Odua Isibor, for the Knights was elected homecoming king.

To start the second half, the Panthers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard.

One minute into the third quarter, junior running back Sonatane Zabala, scored on a 10-yard touchdown rush, tying the game 7-7.

To finish the third quarter Rico made a 38-yard field goal, giving the Panthers a 10-7 lead over St. Mary’s.

Senior quarterback Paul Dozeman responded by connecting with senior wide receiver Clint Harrington for a 17-yard pass for a St. Mary’s touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Late in the fourth quarter, Dobson threw a deep pass that was tipped right into the hands of senior wide receiver Isaiah Veal.

Veal ended up with a 58- yard touchdown, giving the Panthers a 17-14 lead.

“All game we kept fighting,” Veal said. “We put ourselves in a bad position but we kept fighting through it in all the quarters and I’m just trying to put my team in the best situation so we can get the win,” he added.

With only 45 seconds left in the game, St. Mary’s was on the move.

Then Dozeman's pass was intercepted by Veal with 35 seconds left.

Just 35 seconds left on the clock, St. Mary’s pass is intercepted by Veal.

The Panthers regained possession of the ball and Dobson took a knee to expire the clock, ending the game.

“We came out with the win, and that’s the thing that’s pretty important.” Babb said. “They showed a lot of resilience because they weren’t done and they came back and made it a game at the end. In the last couple of minutes sometimes you have to be good, sometimes you have to be lucky and sometimes you have to be both,” he added.

“We had a lot of turnovers this game, so going into practice next week we are going to work hard and stay focused,” Dobson said. “So we don’t come out and make the same mistakes against Moon Valley next week.”

Raven Boone is a sports journalism student at Arizona State.