The fifth-seeded Brophy Broncos defeated the No. 12 Pinnacle Pioneers 52-42 in Friday night’s first round of the 6A Conference playoffs. 

Brophy running back Noah Pittenger stole the show, rushing for 294 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns after being sick throughout the entire week.

“The offensive line always does their job, and I do what I can to see their holes and hit them,” Pittenger said.

The game didn’t start out as well as Brophy would have wanted.

Pinnacle received the opening kickoff and drove down the field for a touchdown, scored by four-star quarterback Spencer Rattler. Brophy lost its previous three games, including a 56-7 dismantlement by Chandler, but after Pinnacle's opening drive score, the Broncos struck with a 90-yard touchdown kickoff return by Nico Nicholson.

After the second drive, when Pittenger ran six times for 63 yards and a touchdown, Brophy's trainer checked out Pittenger.  

“I came into this game sick," Pittenger said. "I was sick this whole week, and I did what I could do to try and help my team win.”

When sidelined, backup running backs Ross Velez and Erik Dimaria picked up where Pittenger left off, having 12 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown combined in the game.

“It was huge,” said Brophy head coach Scooter Molander about Velez and Dimaria’s presence after Pittenger left. “Both those guys were ready to go.”

Pettinger also was impressed.            

“They (Velez, Dimaria) have been phenomenal this whole year,” Pittenger added. “They have been playing fullback for me and Ross tailback as well. Whenever they get in they do their job and do good things.”

Pittenger eventually returned, leading a 24-7 run by Brophy that put them up 31-14 right before halftime.

But Pinnacle wasn't done. After another Pittenger touchdown that gave the Broncos a 17 point lead with 43.6 seconds left in the first half, Pinnacle looked to score before heading into the locker room.

The Pioneers' drive, at first, stalled before a pass interference was called, moving them past midfield.

On the final play of the half, Rattler launched a 43-yard touchdown pass that was batted down into the hands of wide receiver Noah Witsoe.

“Getting that last touchdown right before half, that was huge,” Pinnacle head coach Dana Zupke said. “We believed that we were going to get back in that game.”

Brophy opened the second half by scoring two touchdowns, one on offense and the other by its defense, before Pinnacle was able to get its first touchdown. With the score 45-21, the Pioneers were looking for a spark.

After getting nowhere after Pinnacle’s first touchdown of the second half, Brophy decided play it safe and punt the on 4^th and 5.

But on the punt linebacker Hogan Hatten snuck past Brophy’s blockers to block the kick and then run it in for the momentum-shifting, 35-yard fumble return.

Brophy again was unable to score on its next drive, giving Pinnacle another chance to climb back into the game. Pinnacle went on a methodical 16-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that brought the game within three points with 5:30 left the fourth quarter.

With the first round playoff game on the line, Brophy went to its workhorse, Pittenger, who responded once again. The senior ran six times for 65 yards and a touchdown to put the game out of reach.

“We needed it, and I’m proud of our offense,” Molander said.

A Pinnacle fumble by Rattler on his team's last drive marked the end of Pinnacle's season, which started and ended with defeats to Brophy.

“My hats off to (Pittenger),” Zupke said. “He’s an absolute beast.”

Going into next week, Brophy will play Red Mountain at home on Thursday, still looking to complete their goal of a championship.