Diamante Burton, Canyon Springs stun Cheyenne with last-minute TD

Canyon Springs first-year football coach Gus McNair calls his players “fighters,” saying they have had to overcome obstacles most of their lives.

McNair added he wanted his team to use that aggression in the right way, especially on the football field.

When it mattered most Friday night against down-the-street rival Cheyenne, the Pioneers stepped up to the challenge.

Diamante Burton threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Keyon White with just over 15 seconds remaining, giving host Canyon Springs a wild 28-22 win over the Desert Shields.

Burton, starting in place of the injured Dexter Hammond, engineered a pair of scoring drives in the final two minutes for the Pioneers (2-0).

“I can’t say enough about Burton,” said McNair, who gave the game ball to the junior following the game. “This team fights every day. We are just trying to channel that energy. When you get faced with adversity, you have to play as a team, not just as individuals.”

Burton threw for 136 yards and three touchdowns and added 84 more rushing, including a 36-yard scoring run to open the scoring in the first quarter.

Canyon Springs led 21-16 after Burton’s 10-yard scoring pass to Lazarus Kyle with two minutes left, but the Desert Shields (0-2) didn’t quit.

Cheyenne, which had two drives stopped inside Canyon Springs’ 1-yard line, traveled 57 yards in just four plays to take a 22-21 lead on a 1-yard run by Cajuin Jackson with 58 seconds left.

But Burton got one final chance, and thanks to a pair of pass interference calls against the Desert Shields, he moved the Pioneers to victory.

Burton threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Haulcy just before halftime, capping a 99-yard drive to give Canyon Springs a 14-7 lead.

Cheyenne, who had its final drive of the first half stall at the Pioneers’ 1, opened the third quarter with a scoring march as Matthew LaBonte threw a 23-yards pass to William Federson to tie the game at 14.

The Desert Shields appeared ready to take the lead on the next offensive possession, but again Canyon Springs came up with a goal-line stand. This time, Cheyenne did get points when center Donovan Wolfe snapped the ball over Burton’s head, causing a safety.

LaBonte threw for 238 yards for Cheyenne, while Corwin Bush rushed for 110 yards on 19 carries and added 145 yards on six receptions.

Jayvion Pugh had 87 yards on 12 carries for Canyon Springs.