kelly presnell / arizona daily star

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Unlike the last three games, Santa Rita did not have to make any miraculous comeback in its 34-20 home victory over Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain.

After finishing 0-10 last season, the Eagles now find themselves in the Class 4A-II state semifinals.

Despite being the physically smaller of the two teams, Santa Rita's defense neutralized the Bears' running game.

"The last couple weeks we've been tentative, and this week we all came out 100 percent, attacked and worked our game plan," Santa Rita defensive end Joe Chiusano said. "We knew we had to shut down their run because they're a big team, and we came out and brought it."

The No. 4 Eagles trailed just 19 seconds into the matchup after Bradshaw Mountain's Ben Pigg burst through the Santa Rita defensive line on the game's first play from scrimmage for a 75-yard touchdown run.

"We were just caught with our feet in cement, there's no other excuse for that. We just sat there," Santa Rita coach Jeff Scurran said. "We didn't let it get us down, we came back and we went right back down and scored."

After Pigg's run, Santa Rita (11-1) only allowed the Bears two first downs in their six first-half possessions en route to a 20-10 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Bears tried to transition to the passing game, but quarterback Marshall Bailey was continuously pressured, leading to two Santa Rita interceptions after halftime. Bailey finished 4-for-14 passing.

"We knew they were going to pass because they were down two touchdowns," said Mike Snively, who had an interception for the Eagles. "I think we finally came together and played for a full 48 minutes. We knew they had our film from last week and we knew they were going to try to run on us, but we really stepped it up."

J.J. Holliday had two impressive touchdown receptions for the Eagles at the beginning of the game. The second catch, a towering Chris Johnson spiral that Holliday caught in the back of the checkerboard-pattern end zone, gave the Eagles a 20-7 lead.

AuBur´a Taylor balanced out Santa Rita's passing game with 197 yards rushing on 27 carries and a touchdown. Holliday had 99 yards receiving as Johnson went 10-for-15 passing with 113 yards through the air. Johnson also found the end zone on a quarterback sneak.

Pigg was the only Bradshaw Mountain player who put up significant numbers, carrying the ball nine times for 195 yards. Pigg had a 37-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and kicked two field goals. The Bears finished the year 8-4.

Santa Rita will face No. 1 Cottonwood Mingus on Nov. 30 at a neutral site to be determined.

Eagles overcome early deficit in resonant victory