Madera wins thriller for D3 title berth

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune

Members of the Madera Coyotes football team spray water into the air to celebrate last Friday’s come-from-behind 56-49 victory over the Kennedy Thunderbirds in the Div. III Central Section semifinals. The Coyotes earned a berth into the Div. III championship game, which they will host for the first time in Memorial Stadium.

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Editor’s note: Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, The Madera Tribune’s publishing schedule had to change. Thus, last Friday’s game will appear after the championship game is played. The Madera Tribune apologizes for any inconvenience it may have caused.

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In a game that saw both teams combine for more than 1,300 yards of offense, more than 100 points, 52 first downs and 29 total possessions, it took a touchdown with 10.8 seconds left to send the Madera Coyotes football team to the Div. III Central Section Championship, which they will host for the first time in school history.

“These guys just don’t have any quit in them,” head coach Kenny Paolinelli said. “It means everything. The community put a lot of money into this place. To be able to host a Valley title game, this was their vision. Hopefully, we can fill it up and get the community involved.”

Madera quarterback Joel Arellano hit a wide-open Emanuel Soliz for a 65-yard touchdown with 10.8 seconds left in the game to cap a come-from-behind victory over the third-seeded Kennedy Thunderbirds, 56-49, last Friday in Memorial Stadium.