Canyon View's defense lines up as Desert Edge sophomore receiver Jhaheem Brown (#20) goes in motion before a snap during their Oct. 3 game in Waddell.
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By Caleb Craig
For West Valley Preps
Desert Edge held off a determined Canyon View team Friday night on the road, winning 29-21 in both teams’ first region matchup.
The Scorpions remain undefeated at 6-0 and have now beaten the Jaguars six straight times.
MacArthur noted that despite the win, cleaner execution is needed moving forward. Canyon View forced four Scorpions turnovers and stopped four Desert Edge fourth down attempts.
“We didn’t play well enough,” he said. “That was the worst game we’ve played this year. We will keep practicing hard and have a lot to fix.”
The game opened with both squads relying on their defenses in a scoreless first quarter.
Canyon View’s defensive line made key plays, forcing three first-half turnovers, including two fumbles recovered within its own 10 yard line.
“People don’t realize how good our defense is,” Jaguars coach J.R. Alcantar said. “I would put our front four up with anybody, including Desert Edge’s. If they didn’t see that tonight, they know it now.”
Desert Edge scored first midway through the second quarter. Junior quarterback Blake Roskopf connected with senior receiver Travion Dixson on a 49-yard touchdown pass with 6:43 remaining in the half, giving the Scorpions a 6-0 edge.
Canyon View answered with two scoring drives. The first ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Jay’mari Hector. On the next possession, a screen pass to senior running back D.J. Sims Jr. produced a 22-yard touchdown.
Despite trailing 14-9 at halftime, Desert Edge’s defense controlled much of the first half.
The third quarter featured rapid momentum swings. Roskopf and Dixson connected again on a 3-yard touchdown, putting Desert Edge back in front 16-14.
Canyon View regained the lead 21-16 on the following drive, as senior Brady Scott touched his third touchdown to junior receiver Braylon Anderson. Desert Edge responded immediately when Roskopf hit sophomore receiver Jhaheem Brown for an 80-yard score, giving the Scorpions a 22-21 advantage with just more than six minutes left in the third.
MacArthur praised the win but said his team still has room to improve.
“I’m really disappointed with myself, and I’ll take it on me defensively,” MacArthur said. “I didn’t make enough adjustments. Our standard of defense is higher than that.”
Canyon View got a boost in the fourth quarter when senior safety Brady Grizzell intercepted Roskopf with just more than 10 minutes remaining. However, Desert Edge quickly regained control on the next drive when sophomore defensive back Nekhi Lambeth intercepted the Jaguars at the 9:10.
Roskopf then led a five-minute scoring drive, finishing with a 6-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Byron Brandon, extending the lead to 29-21. Desert Edge’s defense held firm for the rest of the game.
“It sucks for the way it ended, but I’m proud of the way the boys finished,” he said. “It’s about how you learn from it and how you get better,” Alcantar said.
Roskopf completed 22-of-33 passes for 347 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Brandon added 177 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Desert Edge (6-0, 1-0) returns home Friday to face Verrado (4-2, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Canyon View (4-2, 0-1) travels to Raymond S. Kellis (1-5, 0-1) Friday at 7 p.m.
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