Bulldogs to face Scottsdale Arcadia at state

The Douglas Bulldogs learned Saturday they will play East Sky champion the Arcadia Titans Friday at 7 p.m. at Arcadia in the first round of the 4A DII state football playoffs.

Arcadia, ranked 7th in the final power rankings, is 8-2 on the season and 7-0 in league play. The Titans have won seven straight games and have outscored their opponents 428-211 this season putting up some impressive numbers along the way scoring no fewer than 34 points during that streak and twice scoring in the 60’s.

Douglas, 7-3, landed the 10th seed at state and is one of five teams from the Gila Region to make it into the 16 team state playoff.

Palo Verde who beat Santa Rita 24-23 Friday night to win the Gila Region championship landed the No. 3 seed and will host No. 14 Greenway in the first round.

Santa Rita, who won its appeal Friday with the AIA and will not have to forfeit any of its wins, received the No. 5 seed and will host No. 12 Notre Dame.

Amphi got in as the No. 13 seed and will head to Phoenix to play Williams Field.

Catalina snuck in as the No. 16 seed and has the undaunting task of playing No. 1 Cottonwood Mingus who has outscored its opponents 440-93.

The Bulldogs closed out their regular season Friday night with an impressive 34-12 win over the Cholla Chargers.

Oscar Rios and Hector Grijalva each ran for over 100-yards and each scored two touchdowns in the game.

Joel Bello also had a 51-yard interception return for a score.

Douglas led 34-0 in the third quarter when Coach Dick Keith inserted a lot of the younger players into the game hoping to get them some game experience.

Look for more on the game and the upcoming state playoffs in Wednesday’s Dispatch.