Floyd Gordon is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Queen Creek for AZPreps365.com

The Queen Creek Bulldogs extended their win streak to six with a win over the Highland Hawks, 23-20 Friday in an East Valley Region game.

The Bulldogs (8-1, 3-0) travel to American Leadership Academy-Queen Creek next week with the region title on the line. 

 As as the game against the Hawks, it was described by the coaches as an ugly win, but the team was able to keep its composure and do what needed to be done.

In this close battle, quarterback Tait Reynolds finished with 77 yards passing, 171 yards rushing, and a rushing touchdown. 

The opening offensive drive started with the Hawks (6-3, 1-3) driving the ball down the field. It seemed like the perfect combination of passing and rushing. The Hawks got to midfield and looked to get inside the red zone but linebacker Jayshon Liles put an end to the drive with the first interception of the game. 

“I was playing for the guy next to me, my brothers. I love that it was a momentum shift. These are the things that makes the game fun for me,” said Liles. 

A few possessions later the Bulldogs' defense forced a fourth down stop setting up their offense in great field position. A few plays later, Tristan Vogt kicked a 37-yard field goal to lead 3-0 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, defense forced a three-and-out and the Bulldogs put together a six-minute drive on offense. Reynolds scrambled to put the Bulldogs inside the 5-yard line. The drive is finished off by a 1-yard touchdown run by RJ Jackson. The Bulldogs went up 9-0. 

The Hawks got the ball back on offense and quarterback Kalen Fisher threw a bomb to running back Kruz Cullimore to set them up inside the red zone. Fisher finished the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Hayden Daughtery. The Hawks failed at their 2-point conversion and the score was 9-6.

Coming out of the half, the Bulldogs put together another six-minute drive. The ball started on the 36-yard line. A few handoffs to running back David Rosson and a huge scramble from Reynolds put the ball inside the red zone. Handoff to Rosson for a 2-yard touchdown and the Bulldogs went up 16 to 6.

On the ensuing possesion, Fisher and the Hawks offense attempted to chop down the lead. On a third and long, Fisher scrambled and threw up a prayer to wide receiver Anthony Martin for a 65-yard touchdown to cut it to 16-13.

The Hawks defense forced a big interception that seemed like a momentum shift leaning in their direction. Queen Creek coach Travis Schureman explained that in that moment the team was able to stay calm and do what they do best. 

“We never panicked. We see week in and week out our kids just keep their composure and just play to the best of their abilities,” said Schureman.

In the fourth things began to heat up.

The Bulldogs defense forced a stop and the Bulldog offense got the ball back on their own 25-yard line. After a few plays, Reynolds scrambled off of a broken play to put the offense inside the red zone.

A few plays later he lowered his shoulder in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown and the Bulldogs went up 23-13. 

The Hawks got the ball back, and Fisher looked to get this game within three points.

He scrambled for a long run to get the Hawks inside the Bulldogs' 40-yard line. Fisher then threw a deep ball to Cullimore to put the offense inside the red zone. The drive finished with a 7-yard rushing touchdown from Greyson Sparks. The Hawks cut the lead to three, 23-20.

The Bulldogs got the ball back with a little over five minutes left and tried to to run out the clock.

It came down to a crucial third-and-1 in which the Hawks got the stop and called a timeout.

The Bulldogs decided to go for it in their own territory because a first down wins the game. Reynolds ran up to the line of scrimmages and faked the snap count to draw the defense offsides.

The Bulldogs got an automatic first down and they sealed the victory.

This win could possibly put the Bulldogs high in the playoffs for The Open. The common message around the team was that they are honored, but anything can happen. They are continuing to take it one day at a time, focusing on their next opponent. 

“We’re not thinking about that right now, we’re just worried about next week,” said Reynolds.

This team is a brotherhood. They love to play for the person next to them and the people associated with the program. It is what motivates them to continue to get better, even when mistakes are made. 

“In that last quarter, we had a lot of mistakes, but we responded. It's just unbelievable how positive we just have joy in playing the game,” said Reynolds.

The Bulldogs never fail to rise to the occasion during these games. They are never looking to impress. They always fall back on their training and the result of that is a victory.