In a thrilling display of high-powered offenses, the Mexico Tigers emerged victorious over the Phoenix Firebirds with a decisive 49-20 win, marking their first victory against Phoenix in two years. The game, held in Phoenix, was a classic tale of two halves, with both teams showcasing their offensive prowess.

The Tigers struck first with senior quarterback Brayden Mack finding the end zone on a rushing play. Mack, who had 14 carries for 143 yards in their previous win, continued his impressive performance. Phoenix responded with quarterback Scott Hunneyman recovering a wild snap and connecting with Quentin Thomas for a touchdown.

Mexico quickly answered back as Caleb Robert powered through defenders for a score. With less than a minute remaining in the first half, Hunneyman found Daniel Swank, who not only caught the touchdown pass but also secured the two-point conversion, giving the Firebirds a 14-13 lead at halftime.

The second half saw a rejuvenated Mexico team, sparked by a 67-yard punt return that set up another touchdown and two-point conversion. Carter Robert added to the Tigers’ lead with a punt return touchdown, much to the delight of the coaching staff.

Phoenix attempted to rally with a score from Logan Stonecipher, but Mexico’s explosive offense, highlighted by a touchdown carry from Jack Bingham, proved insurmountable.

Carter Robert and Brayden Mack of Mexico Football expressed their excitement, saying, “Phoenix is definitely our school rival every sport. It’s always a battle. It feels great to come here and beat them by this much.”

John Gagnon, head coach of Mexico Football, attributed the success to meticulous preparation, particularly on special teams. “One of the advantages of, you know, now being a head coach was I’ve spent 13 years being the special teams coordinator. So that’s something that I take a lot of pride in, and it’s what we practice a lot in practice,” he said. “But we’ve got weapons back there. So if you’re going to punt it deep to number one, you better cover. Because if you don’t, he’s going to take it to the house.”

While the Tigers plan to savor this victory, Coach Gagnon emphasized the importance of taking it one game at a time.