Sedona Red Rock High School, despite traveling just 10 players, finished third out of 12 teams in its first seven-on-seven tournament playoff appearance Saturday, May 30, at Monument Valley High School.

“I’m proud of them,” said Scorpions head coach John Bradshaw. “By the time we did get into the playoffs, we were pretty tired.”

With wins over the host Mustangs and Red Mesa High School, SRRHS was 4-1-1 before bowing to the superior numbers of Mingus Union High School in the semifinals to finish third.

“Most teams had 20, 25 people,” said incoming senior Justice Keane, who scored two touchdowns on eight receptions despite being the only Scorpion to play exclusively defense until the end of six-team pool play. “It was really uplifting to know we could compete with them.”

Although skill players like Keane, quarterback Derrick Johnson and fellow senior Bailey Ehrlich provided the primary offense, younger players like freshmen Justin Aleman, George Black and Alan Ruvalcaba kicked in with timely blocking and interceptions.

For more photos and the full story, please see the Wednesday, June 3, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.