Football Preview: Chino Valley Cougars vs. Payson Longhorns
The Chino Valley Cougars will square off against the Payson Longhorns at 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
It's never fun to lose, and it's even less fun to lose 42-14, which was the final score in Chino Valley's tilt against Maryvale two weeks ago. The Cougars gained 75 more yards on the day, but it was the Panthers that made the best use of them.
Despite their loss, Chino Valley saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Kai Holmes, who picked up 78 receiving yards and two touchdowns, was perhaps the best of all. Ben Sibole was another key signal caller, throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, while Payson put up plenty of points on Friday, the same can't be said for Fountain Hills. Payson simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Fountain Hills 49-0 on the road. The matchup marked the Longhorns' most dominant win of the season.
Payson's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Nolan Keeney led the charge by throwing for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Keaton Potter also deserves a mention for his punt return touchdown.
Chino Valley's defeat was their fifth straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 2-2. As for Payson, their victory bumped their record up to 4-1.
Chino Valley was taken down by Payson 46-0 when the teams last played back in September of 2023. Will Chino Valley have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
