Cole and Edwards Each Score Two Receiving TDs as Football Survives vs. Scottsdale

The Pima Community College football team (2-1, 1-1 in ACCAC) used the long ball to stay in its game on Saturday against Scottsdale Community College (0-3, 0-2) at the Kino North Stadium.

The Aztecs survived a back-and-forth battle and defeated the Artichokes 34-33.

After a Pima turnover with 3:57 left in the game, Scottsdale took over on the Pima 21-yardline. A few plays later running back Amaii Keyes fumbled at the 5-yardline and sophomore Keondre Churchwell came up with the recovery to put Pima in the driver's seat. Sophomore Sirgeo Hoffman ran the ball a few times and got the Aztecs a first-down to seal the win.

Freshman quarterback Justin Martin (Pueblo HS) threw for 309 yards on 11 for 19 passing with three touchdowns with one interception. Freshman Jon Cole had four catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He caught a 75-yard pass from Martin to put the Aztecs up 10-3 in the second quarter. He also had a 54-yard reception from freshman Presley Motes (Thatcher HS) with 3:38 left in the second quarter to put Pima back up 16-13. He was 4 for 8 with 161 yards and two touchdowns with one pick.

Freshman Jalen Edwards also secured a 100+ receiving night as he finished with 2 catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns. The Aztecs forced a three-and-out and took over with one minute remaining deep in their own territory. Motes hit a strike to Edwards for the 92-yard score with 51 seconds left to put Pima up 22-13 at the break. Edwards caught the go-ahead score with 5:52 left in the game on a 65-yard reception from Martin.

Down 30-22 with 10:20 left in the game, Martin threw the long ball once again; this time he connected with Sirgeo Hoffman on a 78-yard touchdown pass to cut it to 30-28 with 10:01 left. The Artichokes kicked a field goal to make it 33-28 with 6:02 left.

The Aztecs struggled with six turnovers for the game. The Artichokes scored 20 points off of four of Pima's turnovers. The Aztecs also forced three second half turnovers on the Artichokes.

The Aztecs are off next week and will be back at the Kino North Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8 against Eastern Arizona College for Aztecs Spirit Night. The game starts at 7:00 p.m.