Desert Edge senior quarterback Blake Roskopf, right, tosses a ball to senior wide receiver Zerek Sidney after practice Oct. 29 in Goodyear. Both players have verbally committed to the University of Washington.
(Courtesy Ed Russell Photography/For West Valley Preps)
Desert Edge sophomore receiver Zerek Sidney catches a short touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Blake Roskopf to open the scoring against Cactus late in the first quarter Nov. 1, 2024.
It happened so naturally during the 2024 state title run for Desert Edge sophomores Blake Roskopf and Zerek Sidney, as Sidney caught 22 of Roskopf’s passes for 314 yards and seven touchdowns in the playoffs.
This duo seemed destined to destroy 5A defenses for the next two years. Life, however, has a way of derailing destiny.
Both could only watch as Scottsdale Desert Mountain upset the undefeated Scorpions in the 5A quarterfinals.
Roskopf tried to play with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. Sidney was only starting to recover from an illness that hospitalized him.
“They were both motivated. He was super disappointed that he wasn’t able to play in that last game. Zerek was frustrated and worried about his health and had a lot going on,” Desert Edge Coach Henri MacArthur said.
Both just finished a healthy regular season. Sidney led the 8-2 team in receiving with 50 catches for 985 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Now they appreciate another chance in the playoffs, as No. 5 seed Desert Edge prepares for a home game Nov. 13.
“The team we have around us ... you can’t prepare for everything we have on the field,” Sidney said.
Sidney played in four varsity games his freshman year, including the 5A title game against Gilbert Higley.
The duo first worked on their timing when Roskopf transferred in from Liberty in the spring of his freshman year.
“Once we got to play together you could see that he’s a special player and he’s going to go get the ball every time. You’ve got to go to a guy you trust, for sure,” Roskopf said.
MacArthur said the quarterback and receiver were on the same page and it was not a happy accident.
“They work together after practice. They talk to each other when there’s issues. They address it with one another to make sure they’re on the right page. That state championship season, that connection was the driving force of the offense,” the coach said.
Name brand Division I college programs started to offer Sidney during that season.
Offensive coach Sean Lanzarotto called plays during the playoffs and the pieces fit as Desert Edge won every playoff game by more than a touchdown.
“It was great having a guy come in and immediately connect with him, on and off the field,” Sidney said. “Looking back on it, those were some of the best times of my life my sophomore year.”
Then, the star receiver’s junior season ended after three games.
Sidney was stricken with Valley Fever, but not aware of it for weeks as he rapidly lost weight and strength. His mother insisted doctors test for the disease.
“It was going from the peak of my athletic ability to getting sick and not being right for weeks,” Sidney said. “It’s a blessing to be back out here. I’m back and better than ever.”
Desert Edge was still rolling to an 11-0 record, and again no opponent could get within a touchdown. The new Air Raid offense of coordinator Josh Goodloe averaged 41 points per game.
That roll stopped with Roskopf’s injury in the first round of the playoffs against Vail Cienega.
“It was a great team we had that year and I think we were on the track to win it all. It wasn’t meant to be so I can’t look into the past and dwell on that,” Roskopf said. “I try to forget that play.”
Both Roskopf and Sidney verbally committed to the University of Washington in the offseason.
Sidney was on the Huskies' radar for a while.
“I came to my decision a little bit earlier than Blake. Me and Coach KC (Kevin Cummings) have had a good connection since before my freshman year, so it really came down to that relationship,” Sidney said.
Roskopf missed the first five games of his sophomore year after his transfer.
He made up for lost game film quickly.
“They were all getting offers before me and I had to go take the visits. He was committed probably three or four months before me. But it was definitely a deciding factor, for sure, to get to play with my receiver,” Roskopf said.
Both signed well before the season started, though Washington, like many schools in the current college football landscap, has a coach with a tenuous job status.
The four West Valley Huskies commits — and one now former Husky commit, Peoria wide receiver Dontay Tyson — have a group chat.
“Having that security and being locked in with your school, all you’ve got to worry about is Desert Edge football and winning state championships,” Sidney said.
Now they’re the veterans on the offense.
Picking up where they left off, Roskopf threw for 418 yards in the season opener and Sidney caught seven passes for 142 yards.
“They have a great feel for each other. Blake is a smart quarterback and knows where to place the ball. And Zerek is a super smart receiver,” MacArthur said. “You have two guys that can be on the same page without even discussing it and that’s rare at the high school level.”
Midseason losses to ALA-Gilbret North and Mountain Pointe were reality checks.
Desert Edge finished the season with five wins and a Desert West Region title.
“I don’t think anybody likes to lose but you can definitely learn. It’s the same team but we’ve learned from our mistakes and then we’re growing on it,” Roskopf said.
The quarterback said he probably will study business in college.
Sidney plans to study business with an emphasis on real estate. His father, Tracy, is a mortgage specialist with Right Away Lending.
“They’ve done a great job of maturing and growing into those roles as seniors. The story is still yet to be told because we have this playoff run. That’s where leadership and all that is tested and comes into play,” MacArthur said.
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
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