Zachary Wood is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Edge High School for AZPreps365.com

The AIA Game of the Week on Friday went to Desert Edge High School against Highland.

This was Highland’s homecoming game. The contest was back and forth early on, but a lack of discipline from the Scorpions saw penalties sway the game to the Highland Hawks.

The Hawks took the lead and never looked back, winning, 27-6.

With this being the AIA Game of the Week, the Grand Canyon State Gridiron Club hosted the event with an organization called Teen Lifeline to bring awareness to Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. They spotlighted those organizations before the game with the goal of visiting 40 high schools in  five weeks to help spread suicide awareness.

Desert Edge entered 2-0 with growing confidence around sophomore quarterback Hezekiah “Buddah” Millender. Highland started strong defensively, putting pressure on Millender, who was often forced to hand the ball off to running back Christopher Cordero.

“Moments like this are good for them,'' Desert Edge coach Marcus Carter said. "It’s good for the soul, it’s good for us. Did [penalties] affect the momentum? Sure, but there was momentum swings all throughout the game.”

Early in the game, Desert Edge receiver Gavin Parks was forced to leave with a possible concussion. With Desert Edge rattled from penalties and big hits, the game began to tighten its grip on the Scorpions.

“[Parks leaving] affected a lot, because the kid that we put in was a freshman,” Desert Edge coach Mark Carter said. “All the different shifts and motions… and alterations that we do in our offense, we can’t do anymore because he’s… JV. They don’t get as intricate as we do. It hurt, but we still got to play.”

Mark Carter is the co-head coach for Desert Edge alongside his brother, Marcus Carter. Mark focuses mainly on offense, while Marcus sets the tone for the defense. The Carter brothers came into the game with confidence and rallied their players on the sidelines as more frustrated heads looked downward.

Desert Edge found momentum as Millender got comfortable in the pocket, planted his feet, and set a soaring ball to the right endzone that was caught for a touchdown. But the excitement was thwarted as yellow flags were thrown for offensive holding. The Scorpions were outside of 20 yards from their first down marker more than three times through the night, mistakes all made from offensive penalties.

“It’s a win-win game for us,” Desert Edge athletics director Jason Linn said. “If we lose, we lose to the defending 6A champions. That’s supposed to happen. We win? We surprise everybody.”

The Scorpions play Ironwood on Friday night.