Payne Moses is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Gilbert Christian High School for AZPreps365.com.

QUEEN CREEK – Crismon football flipped the script on Gilbert Christian on Friday night, scoring 27 unanswered points to pull off a 30-21 victory in front of a homecoming crowd.

Rattlers senior running back Dominick Nix ignited the offense with 237 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 32 carries. He amassed eight runs of 10 or more yards, highlighted by a 53-yard burst that set up the eventual go-ahead drive for Crismon.

“The offensive line is doing amazing right now, keeping those holes open for me,” Nix said.

After not punting once in the first half, Gilbert Christian (2-3, 0-0) was forced to boot the ball away on their first two possessions after the break. 

Knights second-year coach John Carlson called a fake punt with 3:50 left in the third quarter, and after senior Brody Moore failed to convert a first down, the momentum was completely on the Rattlers’ side. Carlson said it was a poor decision and he took full responsibility for the gamble.

“(Crismon) is doing a really good job, and they earned it,” Carlson said. “Great first half (for us), in a lot of ways, in all phases. I thought we just didn’t do enough.”

Despite the untimely turnover on downs, the Knights possessed the ball near midfield trailing 27-21 with 10:16 in the fourth. 

A 5-yard gain by sophomore Malachi Ahlman was followed by a mishandled pitch, as Moore could not control a ball from senior quarterback Tyler Burr. Rattlers senior Carson Hammon recovered the fumble and Crismon (2-3, 0-0) put the win on ice with the longest drive of the game (7:02) and a 23-yard field goal off the foot of senior Jayden Snowden.

“Defensively, we just made some adjustments with personnel,” said Derrick Sainz, first-year coach of Crismon. “(Our defensive coordinator) saw what was coming out at the half that he adjusted to, and did a great job.”

Gilbert Christian senior running back Sam Webb was shot out of a cannon to start the game, returning a kickoff 92 yards for a tone-setting score with 5:15 in the first quarter. Though he finished with 114 yards and two touchdowns, Webb was limited to 30 yards on eight carries in the second half. 

“I think we just got a little bit tired, and they flipped the script,” said Webb, a 2023 3A Metro East All-Region First Team selection. “(Crismon) just wanted it, maybe a little bit more.”

After the opening fireworks, Webb carried the ball four times for 51 yards on Gilbert Christian’s first real offensive possession. His 30-yard touchdown effort capped an 11-play, 99-yard drive that pushed the Knights’ advantage to 14-3 midway through the second quarter.

“Sam’s a phenomenal athlete, a stud, tough as nails,” Carlson said. “He gets hit hard, and he keeps getting back up, so happy for him that he got to pop that and score.”

As both opposing running backs were high-impact players, Burr and Crismon junior Carston Robinson had nearly identical passing numbers. 

Burr completed 12 of 21 for 167 yards and one touchdown, a big chunk coming on a 60-yard TD catch-and-run from junior Caleb Ely. Ely hauled in a team-high four receptions for 131 yards.

Robinson threw for 186 yards on 13-of-21 passing, including an efficient 5 for 6 in the second half. Robinson separated himself thanks to a 14-yard rushing score that lifted Crismon to their first lead, 27-21, with 10:18 remaining in the game.

Carlson said he and his coaching staff will study film this week and try to put the Knights in a better position to play well. 

Hyatt Lang was a defensive factor for Gilbert Christian as the junior blocked two Crismon extra points. He entered Friday with 43 tackles, ranking sixth in 3A behind senior Colton Rogers whose 50 placed him second. Rogers recorded the Knights’ lone sack of the night, for his second of the 2024 season.

Gilbert Christian (2-3, 0-0) will host Fountain Hills (2-3, 0-1) next Friday at 7 p.m. Crismon (2-3, 0-0) will travel to Winslow (3-2, 2-0) next Friday at 7 p.m.