Salpointe moved to 2-0 on the year after the Lancers defeated Buena 36-7 at home Friday night. For the Colts, seven turnovers, four quarterback changes and multiple missed opportunities proved too much to overcome and the team fell to 2-1 in what still is a promising season.

The name of the game at this point for both squads is to get five games in to qualify for postseason play but, even then, the 5A Conference will only accept the top eight teams and Salpointe is in position for one of those spots especially with the schedule ahead.

The Lancers will travel to Gilbert Campo Verde (3-1) next Friday, will host Glendale Mountain Ridge (2-2) the following week, travel to Marana Mountain View (0-0) after that and then end up at Scottsdale Desert Mountain (3-0). It’s a schedule that can solidify a team as a genuine contender, break a team or prepare a team for the following year when things might look more normal.

Buena had more interceptions (5) than completions (2) and the first big turnover came in the opening drive when Parker Pelletier tipped a third-and-long offering to Jaxson Green at midfield. But the Colts defense also came to play and the line turned the Lancers back on a first-and-goal situation after the interception and the Lancers came up empty after a missed field goal.

The Colts gave up another interception a few minutes later and Julian Robles returned that turnover 57 yards to put Salpointe up 7-0. Robles appeared to be pulled out of bounds just short on the goal line by Austin Grimm but the score stood.

The Lancers went up 14-0 with 11:03 left in the half after Treyson Bourguet hit Antonio Martinez from 26 yards out but the Colts were unable to cash in on an interception of their own with five minutes left due to a fumble on what looked like a scoring run at the 1-yard line.

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The Lancers got the ball to start the second half and Bourguet took a hit in that opening drive and he was removed from the game as a precaution. Dylan Dreis replaced him and the Jr. QB found David Cordero from 27 yards out to put Salpointe up 21-0. With the game still in reach for the Colts, Martinez came up with an interception to give the Lancers the ball once again.

Anthony Wilhite put Salpointe up 28-0 on a 6-yard run and Owen Lynch hit on a 34-yard field goal to give the Lancers a 31-0 lead with 10:17 left in the game. Martinez blocked a field goal and then Jason Newton took an interception back 61 yards to make it 37-0.

William Stemler entered the huddle as the fourth QB of the night for the Colts and he completed two passes for 50 yards including 7-yard strike to Rashaud Armstrong to end the game 37-6.

Stemler finished with those 50 yards, Tory Walters finished with 113 yards rushing and Isaac Benoit added 53. In all, the Colts gained 227 yards of offense to the 285 by the Lancers but too much was given up via turnovers.

Dreis finished 9-16 for 129 yards, Bourguet left the game with 98 yards passing on 10 completions and Cordero rushed for 43 yards.

Buena visits Casa Grande (2-1) next week and it will be the second time this year when the Colts will enter a week knowing which team they will be playing. Victories over Combs and Paradise Valley came with only a few days of preparation due to game cancelations and replacemnts. In fact, there were 14 cancelations Friday night throughout the state.

In other results from Southern Arizona, Pusch Ridge moved to 3-1 after beating Safford 31-19, Benson beat Bisbee 42-0 to move to 3-4, San Manuel is now 3-0 and St. David is 4-0 in 1A action.

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