Zachary Wood is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Edge for AZpreps365.com.

A large crowd stomped on the bleachers that rattled the air. Parents yelled at referees and cheered as their children clattered about on the field.

Under the bright lights at Desert Edge High School, you would think you were at a varsity game given the atmosphere, but this is all for freshman football.

Desert Edge hosted Cienega on Thursday. They fought back and forth throughout the game. The Cienega Bobcats scored on their opening drive and established the offense. The Desert Edge Scorpions didn't find the same success on offense, but relied on defense to come alive.

The Scorpions led 14-6 at halftime. The Bobcats clawed back with a quick touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie the game at 14.

In the fourth quarter, Desert Edge tossed an interception deep in Bobcats territory that was returned for a touchdown, making the score 20-14.

Desert Edge running back Abnel Lazzerini scored his second touchdown with 8:01 to play in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 20. After several defensive stops from both teams, the Scorpions could not capitalize on their fourth-down attempt within 20 yards of the opposing end zone with seconds to spare on the clock.

The game had everything you want; action, controversy, back-and-forth style of play. Of course, after this particular game, there was not any “winner” when looking at the scoreboard. The game ended in a tie.

Even so, the experience provided valuable lessons for players who are doing their best to develop and learn the game of football.

“We’re the leader of men, so we evaluate our culture as well,” Desert Edge varsity head coach Mark Carter said. “Are the kids having fun? Are the kids being coached up? Things like that are important to us, because those are the things that brings kids back. You can’t sustain a program if kids are not having fun. … Then you lose kids, and anytime we lose a kid that’s a bad thing because that’s one less kid we get to impact.”

Varsity coaches observe the up-and-coming recruits for the next level. This is a place for players to make mistakes, learn from the action and provide them with the foundations needed to be competitors. Providing these players with that foundation falls to first-year head coach Daniel Williams.

“A couple of guys had to step up and I was really proud of them,” Williams said. “Offense -- we are having a slow start to our season, but they showed a lot. ... Twenty points on the board versus a nice, decent, disciplined team and I’m proud of them.”

Freshman coaching staffs have a lot to handle. Not just coaching these young men, but teaching them how to handle adversity and to be disciplined.

“One of my goals is to… retain our players,” Williams said. “If I can get about 50-60 percent of our guys to enjoy the game and come back to the next level -- them enjoying freshmen football is what it’s all about.”

“One thing we look for in a player is character,” Cienega coach Gabriel Gonzalez said. “We always preach, all of our staff, it’s student first, player second. It’s not all about talent, it’s about team effort, putting that work in. That’s kind of one of our mottos here at Cienega.”

The Desert Edge freshman team plays against Saguaro High on Thursday.