Arizona HS football roundup: Desert Edge, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, NW Christian post wins

QB Millender leads Desert Edge past Millennium

By Anthony Perez

It took a while for Goodyear Desert Edge (7-2) and sophomore quarterback Hezekiah Millender to get going.

But once he and his teammates started hitting on all cylinders they were close to unstoppable as the Scorpions routed Goodyear Millennium (4-5), 56-14, on Friday night at Millennium to earn bragging rights over their crosstown rival.

Standout performers

Friday night belonged to Millender as he was responsible for five of Desert Edge’s eight scores. He helped open the scoring with 2:23 left in the first quarter when he connected with junior Kezion Dia-Johnson on a 41-yard pass. He followed that up on his team’s next possession with a five-yard run into the end zone, and he tacked on three more touchdown passes in a 4:22 span in the third quarter.

Millennium’s senior quarterback Derek Berry tried all he could to match Millender’s effort as he was responsible for both of his team’s scores. Following Desert Edge’s first touchdown of the game, he threw to junior tight end Simeon Johnson to answer right back. He then opened the scoring in the second half on a seven-yard run to cut the visitors’ lead to 21-14, but midway through the third quarter, Berry was hit hard by a Desert Edge defender on a third down play and did not return to the game.

Highlight of the game 

Following Millennium’s drive that opened the second half and resulted in a  Berry touchdown run that cut Desert Edge’s lead to 21-14, the visitors responded right back with an 85-yard kickoff return. This was the first of four unanswered touchdowns in a span of 4:22 where the deficit went from a manageable seven to a tall task of 35.

Quote of the game 

“I think I missed a couple of throws, I think I could’ve done better, but we did good. We did good as a team” - Desert Edge sophomore quarterback Hezekiah Millender on his play against Millennium

Up next 

Desert Edge will conclude its regular season at home against Glendale Cactus, while Millennium hosts Peoria Sunrise Mountain next Friday.

Queen Creek outlasts Williams Field

By Damian Adams

Williams Field would put up a fight in the fourth quarter but fall short, 28-21.

The third quarter started with special teams having an impact once again as a shanked punt led to a touchdown for Queen Creek. Williams Field responded immediately with a 68-yard touchdown pass. Queen Creek led 21-14 with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter.

After a few stalled drives Queen Creek would score again to close the third quarter up 28-14.

Special teams ruled the second quarter as Queen Creek scored the first touchdown after a big punt return. Queen Creek would score their second touchdown thanks to a special teams mishap by Williams Field. Queen Creek led 14-0 midway through the second quarter. Williams Field would finish the quarter strong with a touchdown drive. Where the right side of the offensive line led the way. At halftime, Queen Creek lead 14-7.

This game started off as a defensive struggle as both offenses took a while to find their rhythm. The score was tied at zero at the end of the first quarter.

Queen Creek is now 5-4 and Williams Field fell to 4-5.

Player of the game

This game was a huge reminder that their are three units, offense, defense, and special teams. The special teams unit for Queen Creek made less mistakes and was a huge part of this victory.

Up next

Queen Creek will be at home next week as they host Salpointe Catholic. Williams Field goes on the road but won't travel too far as they play against Higley.

Northwest Christian holds off Buckeye rally

By Alex Suarez

Buckeye Union and Northwest Christian squared off Friday night in a 4A conference matchup with both teams owning a 6-2 record and eyeing the playoffs.

Northwest Christian held off the late comeback attempt by Buckeye Union for the 24-17 win.

Buckeye rallied behind running back Viliami Tongotea as the Hawks scored 17 unanswered points to tie the game with 2:56 left in the fourth quarter. Northwest Christian regained the lead following a 32-yard touchdown pass from Ashton Kamp to Kyler Thruston. The Crusaders defense stopped the Hawks late push, as Cole Martin got the game winning stop with an interception.

Standout Performers

Tongotea finished the game with two rushing touchdowns for Buckeye Union.  Kamp threw two touchdowns to Thruston for 14-yards and 32-yards.

Key Plays

Tongotea scored his second rushing touchdown of the game that brought the deficit down to three.

Thruston caught a 32-yard pass to give the Crusaders the lead 24-17.

Martin had the game sealing interception for the Crusaders defense as the Hawks tried to tie the game with under two minutes left.

Key Quotes

"We knew we had to play out of our minds to beat this team," said David Inness, head coach of Northwest Christian. "This region’s really tough, Tongotea is a stud. We found a way, winning is really hard."

"We were trying to give it away at the end," Inness said. "We found a way, made a play and made a couple of plays on defense to end it."

Up Next

Northwest Christian will end the regular season on the road next Thursday at Glendale High School; Buckeye Union will host Peoria on Friday.

Savoie leads AJ past Arcadia

By Howard Schlossberg

For Apache Junction, it helps to have a back like Isaiah Savoie, the 185-pound junior, who is willing to tote the ball 34 out of his team's 36 rushing attempts.

For Savoie, he says he's more then willing to do that, with his dynamic offensive line as he and his Prospector teammates ran away from host Arcadia on Friday night, 42-21. It was a key 4A game with playoff implications.

Key plays

As far as Apache Junction (6-3) coach Bruce Binkley was concerned, the game turned in the 2nd quarter, when his defense turned away Arcadia, with the Titans threatening to turn their 10-0 lead into a runaway.

Linebacker Mason Roets caught Arcadia's Quintyn Isabell behind the line for a 4-yard loss on fourth down inside the Apache Junction 20.

"The game turned there," said Binkley, whose team subsequently went 83 yards and scored on a Gavin Limongello-to-Carlos Juarez-Reyes 22-yarder with 27 seconds left in the half to go in trailing by only 3, 10-7, and holding momentum.

And it showed. They opened the second half with a 78-yard drive in 3:37, scoring on a 6-yard run by Savoie, but the drive was keyed by Limongello's 30-yard completion to Juarez-Reyes

An inspired defense did the rest, keeping Arcadia out of the end zone until halfway through the 4th quarter and the lead at 22 points.

The defense wasn't done making plays either. Dane Fidler took a Braylen Rooney pass intended for a receiver who never looked back and ran it 63 yards for a TD to close the third quarter.

After the momentum-changing, red-zone stand in the second quarter, "We outscored them 42-11 from there," Binkley said proudly of his defense.

When Savoie wasn't carving up Arcadia's defense, Limongello was. On each of the second-half scoring possessions, Savoie's running set up key completions of 22 and 30 yards to Juarez-Reyes, 41 yards to Garrett Garcia and 44 yards to Ben Valenzuela, all respectively.

The defense, meanwhile, thanks to Fidler, Roets and Major Cheadle especially in the secondary, held Arcadia's potent offense in check.

Key players

Savoie was the star but he gave all the credit to his offensive line for what he called taking him "to the brink."

Limongello finished with a nifty 9 of 10 for 258 yards and a TD to Juarez-Reyes. Garcia had 5 catches for 133 yards.

Quintyn Isabell had a big night for Arcadia (5-4), which still hopes to nab 4A playoff spot. He finished with 20 carries for 154 slashing yards.

But Rooney, 4 of 7 in the first half for 89 yards, finished just 7 of 21 for 121, as Apache Junction turned up the pass rush and had him throwing on the run a lot.

Key quotes

Binkley said his kids "...showed a lot of character," especially after that second-period stand that turned the game.

Savoie spent his postgame chat with the Republic heaping praise on his offensive line. And rightly so.

Next up

Arcadia hopes to still secure a playoff spot, hosting Combs on holiday eve next Thursday night.

Highland tops Red Mountain in final seconds

By Ben Stapley

Friday night’s matchup between 6A heavyweights Red Mountain and Highland limped it’s way through the first half before turning into an instant classic by games end.

Highland escaped from Red Mountain with a last minute, come-from-behind, 17-14 victory in a 6A East Valley section thriller in Mesa.

Highland junior Kody Cullimore was the man of the hour and especially the fourth quarter, when he ignited Highland with a host of clutch plays, including the game-winning, 14-yard touchdown reception with 45 seconds remaining.

Highland (6-3, 2-1) puts itself in good position for a high seed in the 6A playoff race.

Red Mountain (5-4, 2-1) nearly pulled off an unlikely victory despite a slew of key starters missing.

Key playmakers

In addition to scoring both of Highland’s fourth quarter touchdowns, Cullimore gave Highland’s offense much needed balance, which helped sophomore quarterback Kalen Fisher settle down in the second half.

Cullimore was equally clutch running the ball.

On the game winning drive, Cullimore caught four passes, and when Highland faced a 4th down and 3 on its own 34 yard line, Cullimore was called upon, this time taking a handoff and slicing through Red Mountain’s defense for 8 yards.

Stats of the game

The first half was a mix of strange and sloppy football. After Highland recovered the opening onside kick, both teams lost fumbles on their first possession. Both teams got within six yards of the end zone without scoring.

Also in the first half, Red Mountain blocked two Highland punts and one field goal attempt. The Mountain Lions also had a dazzling 34-yard touchdown reception called back. Wideout Ja'kobi Lane‘s one handed catch from junior Kyle Heap was nullified

When Lane was flagged for offensive pass interference.

Highland also rushed for 117 first half yards.

All of this and not a single point.

Lane would later throw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Bode Wagner in the after taking the snap in the Wildcat formation. The score gave Highland a 14-10 lead with 3:54 remaining in the game.

With starting quarterback Carter Crispin sitting out with a knee injury, junior Kyle Heap got the start, and got Red Mountain on the board first with a one yard run in the third quarter.

Quotes of the game 

“We just had to keep fighting. We felt our offense picking up steam as the game went on. It feels amazing right now.”

—Highland running back Kody Cullimore

Up next

Red Mountain will visit Mountain View (2-7) while Highland hosts Chaparral (3-6).

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona HS football roundup: Desert Edge, Queen Creek, NW Christian post wins