MESA - It is unheard of for a coach to speak to the opponent following a game, but there was Mesa’s Kelley Moore, moments after his team took its season-ending lumps, giving a quick lecture to the Tempe Corona del Sol football team.The message was short and sweet because the on-field tutorial was powerful.

Everything, it seems, is coming up Corona these days. At least it has for what’s now nine consecutive Friday nights on the football field following the fifth-seeded Aztecs’ 34-22 victory against No. 12 Mesa.

Opportunities are being cashed in. Mistakes quickly become an afterthought. Even an injury to the starting quarterback is but a pause on this ride.

"I told them they taught us a good lesson," Moore said.

The lesson planning continues for another week, as this magic gridiron ride travels to Phoenix College next week for a matchup against No. 4 Phoenix Brophy.

"We’re bringing the house," running back J.R. Hamm said following his 159-yard, three-touchdown night.

Lock, stock and barrel. The Aztecs (9-2) ran for 254 yards, accumulated 17 first downs, recovered a bad snap for a safety, recovered their own onside kick, made two interceptions, went 4-for-4 on third-down conversions during one second-half drive and blocked a punt.

"Little things cost us big," Moore said. "When you do that in the playoffs, you go home."

Corona sophomore quarterback Chase Cartwright went home on crutches after his ankle was twisted early in the second quarter while being tackled on a quarterback scramble.

Trailing 8-2, the Aztecs went deeper into their running game, collecting yardage and converting third downs. Led by Hamm, Kyle Schmella and a driving offensive line, the Aztecs scored 10 points in the final six minutes of the first half to take a 12-8 lead.

Corona recovered its own onside kick to start the second half and drove for Hamm’s second score, but Tony Gallegos and Beau Gardner quickly pushed Mesa (6-5) down the field in retaliation and cut the lead to 18-14.

Corona was forced to punt, but Lucas Starkey went unblocked off the corner for a sack to force a Mesa punt, then blocked that kick to set up Hamm’s second touchdown. It was Starkey’s ninth blocked kick of his high school career.

"The momentum changed so much," Hamm said, noting Mesa had quickly moved up and down the field on offense.

Corona coach Gary Venturo spilled the beans on his team’s magic formula: Run the ball and play defense. A ploy which can be confirmed by the previous nine game films.

"All I can say is we keep going," he said. "We haven’t changed. We’re wearing the same clothes, running the same plays. Everything is the same."

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