Mater East defeats Sloan Canyon to reach 4A state title game

Mater East advanced to the Class 4A state championship game after defeating visiting Sloan Canyon 20-14 on Friday night for the Southern Region title. The Knights, who finish the regular season with a 9-3 record, will face Galena in the final game of the season. That contest is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21, at McQueen High in Reno.

Senior running back Marcus Williams carried the offensive load for Mater East, rushing for 287 yards and one touchdown on 39 carries. He scored the only rushing touchdown of the game with a 72-yard run that put the Knights up 6-0 with 36 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Williams described the performance as a necessary step for his team, noting that he had to keep going because his teammates needed him to do so.

The decisive moment of the game came in the fourth quarter with the score tied at 14. Williams helped lead a 13-play, 79-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by junior Rayshawn Brown. Brown crossed the goal line with 6:02 left in the game to give Mater East a 20-14 lead. Williams gained 53 yards on six carries during that drive, including a critical 27-yard run that moved the ball into field goal range.

Coach Tim Hough praised Williams for his consistency and reliability on the field. Hough stated that Williams is an amazing player and person who answers the call every time the coaching staff needs him to. The senior running back acknowledged that he felt tired after the heavy workload but emphasized that he had to step up for the team. He noted that feeling great about finally being a deciding factor on a state championship team was worth the physical effort.

Mater East quarterback James Monaghan completed 17 of 25 passes for 207 yards and one touchdown in the win. Wide receiver Justin McCullah caught six passes for 96 yards, including a 21-yard score that extended the Knights' lead to 14-0 in the first half. The Knights outgained the Pirates 497-173 in total offense, despite being flagged 18 times for a combined 200 yards in penalties. Hough said the team would work to improve its discipline regarding penalties in the coming days.

Sloan Canyon, which finishes with an 8-3 record, mounted a comeback attempt in the second half. Cade Hoshino connected with Brandon Quaglio on a 6-yard touchdown pass to make the score 14-6 with 4:42 left in the third quarter. Hoshino then tied the game with a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 10:27 remaining. The Pirates drove to the Mater East 20-yard line for a potential game winner, but Hoshino fumbled a third-down run that Elijah Newcomb recovered for Mater East.

Williams gained 36 yards on his final three carries in the fourth quarter, including a final rush where he dragged several tacklers for the last 10 yards. The Knights then used three kneel-down plays to run off the clock and secure the regional title. For Sloan Canyon, Kaiden Hunn led the receiving corps with five catches for 98 yards. The victory gives Mater East its second appearance in a state championship game in recent years, ending a streak of previous eliminations.