Moore’s 47-Yard Walk-Off Gives Mesa First Win of 2026

PHOENIX — Three seconds remained between Mesa and its first win of the season.

From 47 yards out, sophomore kicker Cage Moore made sure the Jackrabbits wouldn’t need another second.

Moore connected on the game-winning field goal as time expired, lifting Mesa past O’Connor 31-28 after the Jackrabbits battled back from an early 14-point deficit.

The win was a much-needed response for Mesa after opening its season with a 58-18 loss to No. 1 Liberty.

Early on against O’Connor, the Jackrabbits once again found themselves playing from behind. The Eagles built a 14-0 advantage early in the second quarter, putting Mesa in danger of letting another game get away.

This time, the response was different.

“After falling behind 14-0 we knew offensively we had to step it up and go put points on the board to help our defense,” Mesa receiver Kingston Anetema said. “We settled down and started to play our game. We knew there was plenty of football left and stayed positive through it all and executing one play at a time.”

Mesa erased the deficit before halftime behind quarterback Kane Anetema, who threw three touchdown passes as the Jackrabbits turned a 14-0 hole into a 20-14 lead.

Two of those touchdowns went to a familiar target: his brother Kingston.

Kingston finished as Mesa’s leading receiver with 10 catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. The connection between the two brothers has been built through far more than their time playing varsity football together.

“The chemistry is unmatched,” Kingston said. “We have a connection on a different level than other QB and WR duos because we are brothers and we’ve been doing this ever since we were kids. We can make adjustments on the fly and I know he’ll make the right play when it needs to be made.”

Kane finished the night completing 22 of 38 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns.

Mesa’s comeback didn’t end the fight from O’Connor. The Eagles regained the lead in the third quarter before the Jackrabbits answered again. Lance Briggs Jr. broke free for a 33-yard touchdown, helping Mesa take a 28-21 lead.

O’Connor eventually tied the game at 28, leaving Mesa with one final chance.

Kingston never doubted the Jackrabbits would have an opportunity.

“I was very confident,” he said. “I knew we had enough time to make something happen, and we trusted each other. My mindset was to stay calm and execute as a unit so we can give ourselves a chance to win at the end.”

Mesa did exactly that.

The Jackrabbits moved into position for Moore, leaving the sophomore with a 47-yard attempt and the game resting on his leg.

Moore sent it through.

The kick ended the game and completed a 31-28 comeback, giving Mesa its first victory of the season.

For a team that had been on the other side of a lopsided result just one week earlier, the way Mesa earned the win carried extra weight.

“The win meant a lot,” Kingston said. “Starting the season the way we did against Liberty wasn’t what we wanted, so bouncing back the next week getting this win was great for the team. We stayed together, kept working, and proved that we’re capable of responding.”

Mesa walked into O’Connor looking to put its season-opening loss behind it. Falling behind 14-0 gave the Jackrabbits an immediate test of whether they could.

By the end of the night, they had their answer — and their first win.