TEMPE — It is hard to imagine a football state championship as gratifying as the one earned by the Desert Edge Scorpions on Friday night at Mountain America Stadium.
To say Desert Edge has had a lot to overcome in the past 12 months would be a gross understatement.
It began with the 2023 5A state finals on the same field a year ago. The Scorpions had a potential championship-winning two-point conversion against Higley called back on a highly questionable holding penalty. Their second attempt failed and the Desert Edge left ASU feeling like they were robbed — angry DE fans later printed T-shirts proclaiming their frustration in the 42-41 setback.
“We felt like we should’ve been going for a repeat,” Desert Edge star cornerback Jamar Beal-Goines admitted.
Then in the offseason, Desert Edge was dealt a real haymaker.
A social media post by a Cactus parent received a response from then Desert Edge Co-Head Coach Mark Carter. That turned into an alleged recruiting violation and the Arizona Interscholastic Association later placed the football program on probation. Then Mark and his twin brother Marcus, adored by their players, resigned as co-head coaches to keep Desert Edge off probation and still eligible for this fall’s postseason.
Henri MacArthur was promoted to head coach and the Scorpions never looked back. Desert Edge overcame all obstacles and it paid off with the school’s second state football crown, a 28-19 win over bitter rival Cactus in front of a jubilant Scorpion Nation.
“I really tried to separate this game and this whole season apart from last season because I didn’t think it was the right thing to sort of mix those emotions,” MacArthur explained. “Obviously, the end of 2023 was tough but we focused on this night and this opponent and I think we responded well.”
The Scorpions’ regular season saw peaks and valleys. The team started 1-3, but those three defeats came to quality foes in Liberty, Notre Dame Prep and Higley. DE also dealt with injuries as all teams do.
With sophomore Blake Roskopf taking over as starting quarterback, Desert Edge struggled mightily in the first half against Sunrise Mountain before flipping momentum and pulling away from the Mustangs.
“Changing head coaches was difficult for some people at first, but if I wanted anyone to coach me, it was Coach Henri 1000 percent,” Beal-Goines said. “Just look where we are now.”
Middle linebacker Josh Hopphaus agreed with his defensive teammate.
“We always had trust in Coach Henri,” Hopphaus explained. “He’s been here, he knows the culture and what’s expected. Promoting him was the best thing for the team — he’s our guy.”
With Roskopf learning and improving each game, another adjustment occurred when MacArthur appointed Nick Ludovico as offensive coordinator full time near the end of the regular season.
The Scorpions lost at Verrado and cost themselves the outright region title, but they had bigger goals in mind. DE went back to Buckeye and ended the Vipers’ season with a convincing semifinal playoff victory.
That set the stage for Friday’s final against arch rival Cactus, who had upset top-seeded ALA-Gilbert North to punch its ticket to the title game. And although Friday’s showdown had more than its fair share of miscues and turnovers by both teams, the result was a thing of beauty for Desert Edge.
Scorpions assistant coach Jacob Seliga worked closely with MacArthur all season long after Seliga left the media this year to fulfill his dream of coaching high school football.
“If you would’ve told me a year ago I’d be here, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second,” said Seliga, who shared baked treats with his players on the field after the game. “I found my home at Desert Edge and this family, this community — it’s special. DE is a Title 1 school, meaning these kids really grind because they come from backgrounds that other people can’t imagine. So to see them win this, I’m really at a loss for words.”
Seliga also spoke about MacArthur’s leadership.
“He paid his dues with nine years on the staff before becoming head coach,” Seliga said. “He worked hard as did all the coaches. I have nothing but love and respect for Henri MacArthur.”
As the season continued, MacArthur felt something special might be brewing.
“I’ve been at DE a long time so that helped make the transition a bit easier,” MacArthur noted. “But it was mental toughness that carried us through. I’m just so happy for these kids.”
With a second championship under their belts, the Scorpions are looking toward future success with MacArthur at the helm.
“Coach Henri was definitely the right choice,” Goins said.
Hopphaus agreed.
“We faced a ton of adversity, especially in the offseason, and overcame all of it,” Hopphaus said. “This is surreal. To win a title, it’s a blessing.”
Matt Loeschman
Editor | Daily Independent
I have edited and written about almost everything in my 20-year journalism career, but I have a strong passion for sports since my father was a teacher and coach when I was young.
My job has allowed me to meet many influential people, including Hillary Clinton, Al Gore (I have a brief, on-camera part in his second movie), George Strait, Matthew McConaughey and several world-class athletes.
I have worked for Independent Newsmedia on two separate occasions – 2000-09 and 2018-present – after studying journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.
