Rome Kadi is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Notre Dame Prep High School for AZPreps365.com  

The No. 27-ranked Notre Dame Prep Saints (5-4) beat the No. 21-ranked ALA-Gilbert North Eagles (6-3) Friday in an all-time classic game, 51-48, at Bemis Field in Scottsdale.

Before the game, Notre Dame Prep seniors and their families congregated near the field where the traditional Senior Night ceremonies would take place. Unbeknownst to them and everyone who attended the game, this contest would be one for their football program’s history books. 

The Saints came into this game struggling to find their footing after winning four straight games to begin the season.

After a 40-0 loss against Brophy on Sep. 27, they lost three straight games against regional opponents including Horizon, Higley, and Cactus Shadows. 

On the other hand, the Eagles beat Higley and Cactus Shadows in two one-possession games, before last week’s 17-7 loss to Desert Mountain.

Along with that, Friday’s game also was the Fiesta Bowl Friday Night Showdown Game of the Week. The Fiesta Bowl’s mascot, Spirit, was in attendance and had a great time with the fans. 

Spirit, the Fiesta Bowl's mascot, rallies the crowd. (Rome Kadi photo/AZPreps365)The first quarter started off with scoreless drives from both teams. That is, until a fake-punt-play from the Eagles got their offense back on the field and into the red zone. 

They would eventually score on a run play at the goal line to open the scoring, 6-0. The extra point was blocked by the Saints and gave them the positive jolt they needed. 

On the ensuing kickoff play, senior running back and outside linebacker Brayden Higby had a 62-yard return that put the Saints into opposing territory.

However, it only resulted in a 33-yard field goal to cut the lead in half for the Eagles, 6-3.

On the Eagles' next drive, they would score another touchdown on a five-play drive that ended in a 16-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Bryson Landon to sophomore wide receiver and center Cam Shepard.

In the second quarter, it seemed like the Saints flipped a switch and were in control.

Their first offensive drive of the second quarter was a four-play drive that resulted in a 56-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Luke Jacobs to senior wide receiver Cooper Perry. That cut the Eagles’ lead to 13-10. 

Then, with a chance to respond, the Eagles would fumble the ball and turn it over on their first play of the drive. 

The next offensive drive for the Saints was a three-play drive that resulted in a 22-yard touchdown from Jacobs to junior wide receiver and kicker Garrett Baker. That gave the Saints a 17-13 lead. 

On the next offensive drive for the Eagles, it was a four-play drive that ended in an interception by Saints senior defensive back J.J. Francis. He returned it to the Eagles’ 28-yard line.

After getting the ball back near their own end zone, the Eagles would then lose 1 yard on a run play. On the next play, Landon would get sacked in the end zone for a safety by sophomore defensive end Nathan Jones. Those two points would extend the Saints’ lead to 19-13. 

The Saints would then get the ball back after a scoreless drive by the Eagles and further stretch their lead on a 51-yard touchdown that almost became an easy interception for the Eagles, but Perry rose up and ripped the ball out of the hands of the Eagles defender and virtually walked into the end zone for a 26-13 Saints’ lead. 

The Eagles would show some grit and determination at the end of the half on a chaotic, penalty-filled 11-play drive that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Landon to senior running back and inside linebacker Kody Thorley. The score going into the locker room was 26-20 Saints. 

After the Eagles’ first drive of the second half ended with no points, the connection between Jacobs and Perry would keep on rolling. The pair were involved in three plays out of a five-play drive, capped off with a 23-yard touchdown pass from, guess who, Jacobs to Perry. On the route, Perry looked to create space and pushed off of his defender and the ball fell right into his lap for the score. It is now 33-20 Saints. 

However, the Eagles would respond on a nine-play drive of their own that resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run to make it a one-possession game, 33-27.

On the next drive, senior running back and middle linebacker Jason Samis broke through a gaping hole for a 46-yard run to put the Saints on the doorstep of the end zone. Then Jacobs hit Perry with an 11-yard pass, but Perry was shaken up when he was hit. He would go to the sideline to get treatment but returned to the game. Samis would eventually run the ball into the end zone from 1 yard away to widen the Saints’ lead, 39-27. 

After that, it was pure chaos for the rest of the game. There would be four lead changes before it was over.

After two scoreless drives for the Saints, the Eagles would take the lead and score 13 unanswered points to lead by one point, 40-39.

Then, on the very next drive, Perry would get the ball for the Saints on a nifty run play and sprint 73 yards to the end zone to retake the lead for the Saints, 45-40.

The Eagles then went on a seven-play touchdown drive to get the lead right back, 48-45. They would score a two-point conversion after the touchdown. 

Then, Jacobs marched down the field in a 2-minute-drill drive that lasted 11 plays and finished with what ended up being the game-winning passing touchdown to senior safety and wide receiver Kanon Kayyem. The score was 51-48 after the Saints fumbled the snap on the extra-point attempt. 

With just a few seconds left on the clock, the Eagles tried to pull off the unthinkable and win the game with a Hail Mary pass. The Saints’ defense would step up and bat down the deep pass. 

When Jacobs was asked how he was able to step in for Dylan Rarden, the senior starting quarterback who is sidelined with a season-ending injury, he thanked the people who helped him get this win.

“My team [was] leading me through it,” Jacobs said. “They [were] helping me out.” 

Francis was grateful for the defense.

“I am super proud of this defense,” Francis said. “Moving forward, I would love to see the defense make more plays. With the offense rolling, I think we are a great team.”

Higby, who had the forced fumble and shared a sack with fellow senior linebacker Cody Wells, talked about how well this team looks going into its final game of the season. 

“I feel like we were kind of on a low point because we were losing [to] all those teams,” Higby said. “So, I feel like that’s really going to boost us [and] say that we can play with anybody.” 

Perry took home the Fiesta Bowl Player of the Game, after scoring four times. 

The Saints finish their regular season at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, when they hit the road against the Desert Mountain Wolves in Scottsdale.

Meanwhile, ALA Gilbert-North will play its final game of the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at home against the Horizon Huskies.