Alan Judson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Notre Dame Prep for AZPreps365.com

GILBERT – The Notre Dame Prep Saints (2-3) run game fell short against the Campo Verde Coyotes (4-1) in a 30-17 defeat Thursday night.

The legs had been the strength of the Saints football team all season, averaging 231 rush yards per game entering Thursday’s contest, but Campo Verde brought a different story, with the Saints just able to eclipse 100 yards rushing in the loss.

“We were just trying to do our best to make life difficult,” Campo Verde Coach Ryan Freeman said. “We knew that their run game was great and that they were gonna get yards, but we didn't want to give up a ton of big plays.”

It was the Coyotes who found the first big play, when off the ground, senior safety Wyatt Rauch fielded a fumble and called home for the first score of the game, just one play after the Saints recovered a fumble themselves.

After junior running back Gunnar Perry ripped off a 60-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game 7-7 with 4:40 left in the first quarter, Campo Verde found the lockdown of the run game, limiting Notre Dame Prep to just 50 yards rushing the remainder of the contest.

After a Coyotes touchdown, the two teams would swap field goals prior to halftime, entering the break at a 17-10 difference.

After the rush went silent, the Saints were forced to go to the air, a place where senior third-string quarterback Landon Stych had only thrown two passes this year prior to the contest. Stych struggled, throwing a pair of interceptions, while failing to surpass 100 yards through the air on the night.

“For that kid to go out there, throw the ball, run the ball, and then go play linebacker, he's an absolute warrior,” Notre Dame Prep head coach George Prelock said.

Junior quarterback Luke Jacobs hardly saw the field as he continued to deal with frozen shoulder, inflammation that causes Jacobs pain when he throws, which forced Stych into the heightened role. Stych relied on Perry plenty, with Perry scoring both Saint touchdowns, including a three-yard rush in the fourth quarter to put Notre Dame Prep within three.

Campo Verde would kick a field goal to go up six prior to getting the ball off a Saints punt, where Coyotes senior running back Drake Bradley would go 68 yards and ice the game, taking the score to its final resting place.

Despite the rushing struggles Thursday night, Notre Dame Prep’s offensive line has stayed a constant in the ever-fluid season.

“We're gonna recover over the weekend, come in next week, and practice hard,” junior tackle Sam Jenkins said. “Get ready for region play and come back hot and looking for more.”

The Thursday night matchup may have hindered the Saints on the front end, but allows an extra day from typical rest prior to Notre Dame’s first region matchup, the Horizon Huskies, who defeated the McClintock Chargers 62-3 Thursday night.

“We’ve got the toughest schedule in the state, but we wouldn't have it any other way,”  Prelock said.

That Saints’ schedule continues on the road, with Notre Dame returning home just once before senior night on Halloween.