Pumas scratching at another championship appearance

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If there was a team I’d like to play for this season, it’s Chaparral. The Pumas have found themselves in one catfight after another during the second half of the season, and they usually land on their feet.

Plus, they have a dynamite quarterback in Tyler Hansen, who has committed to Colorado but really should sign somewhere else, unless he wants to hold a clipboard behind the coaches’ son the next three years.

Their latest triumph came Friday night against fourth-seeded Miller. Trailing by three points in the final minute of the Inland Division quarterfinal, Hansen faked a spike to stop the clock and then lobbed an eight-yard touchdown pass to David Crall with 15 seconds left, lifting the host Pumas to a 34-30 victory. Here’s to you, Dan Marino.

The victory was Chaparral’s sixth in its last seven games, including four by five points or less.

Chaparral earned a trip Saturday night to top-seeded Corona Centennial for a semifinal. On first glance, you might think the Pumas have no chance, but many people said that last year, and Chaparral upset the previously undefeated Huskies, 42-28.

-- Dan Arritt

-- Image from www.dkimages.com