Pinnacle back to winning

Pinnacle 17, Skyline 7

by Jason Stone

NORTH VALLEY – If only Pinnacle’s football team could get a breather. Through the first seven weeks of the season, the Pioneers have faced the state’s toughest schedule and come out with only one loss.

But that tough schedule has resulted in a ton of bonus power points and allowed Pinnacle to regain the No. 1 spot in 5A‑Division II last week. Pinnacle’s 17‑7 win over then‑No. 5 Skyline and previous No. 1 Marcos de Niza’s loss to Horizon made that possible.

Pinnacle (6‑1 overall, 1‑1 Pima Region) jumped out to a 14‑0 first‑half lead then hung on in the second half to keep their region title hopes alive. The Pioneers entered the game off a loss for the first time this season, but played like it never happened.

Quarterback Evan Johnson threw for nearly 200 yards and a key first‑half touchdown to lead PHS to the win. Pinnacle was leading 7‑0 late in the first half when it turned a turnover into a Johnson‑to‑Max Zemezonak touchdown pass with 30 seconds left.

In the second half, Skyline hurt itself by having a touchdown called back by penalty as well as a 72‑yard run that was disallowed. Pinnacle also blocked a field‑goal attempt for Skyline.

The Pioneers made their field goal attempt, however, as Cole Atwell connected on a 30‑yard attempt to finish the scoring.

Pinnacle will attempt to stay in the region race with a win against Desert Ridge this week in the Pioneers’ final home game of the regular season.