Austin Gibbs is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Edge High School for AZPreps365

GOODYEAR -- With Desert Edge securing the number one seed in section 5A, the road to Mountain America Stadium will go through Goodyear, Arizona.

“The goal we had was to come out and be 10-0, win the region, and get the number one seed, so we’re on track, but we have to keep working so we can get to where we need to be.” Said Scorpions Head Coach Henri MacArthur.

Desert Edge beat Millennium 66-27 on Senior Night. Blake Roskopf threw for 6 touchdowns, and the Scorpions’ defense held one of the best offenses in Arizona to just 6 points in the second half.

On the first drive of the game Millennium opted to be aggressive and try a fake punt from their own 30-yard line, but failed to convert, giving the Scorpions prime field position on their first drive of the game.

A few plays later, Scorpion running back Byron Brandon would find the endzone on the ground and put Desert Edge up 7-0. A few drives later, Byron Brandon would catch a receiving touchdown, totaling two touchdowns in the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Blake Roskopf would take off running for 30 yards, setting up his team inside Millennium's 5-yard line, and would then throw for his second touchdown of the night, connecting with Senior whiteout Travion Dixson, making it a 21-0 game.

Millennium had looked like they were down and out, but then running back D’mari Bryant broke free and found the endzone, giving Millennium their first points of the game.

Desert Edge quickly struck back as Roskopf rifled a 30+ yard TD pass to Hajj Brown, who toe-tapped in the endzone for a touchdown, making the score 28-6.

The Millenium Tigers would answer back as Rayden Reibel would rip a 66-yard pass to Junior Receiver Kadin Johnson, who would snag the ball with one hand and run into the end zone.

Both teams would put up 21 points in the second quarter, and Desert Edge would have the lead over Millennium, 35-21, going into half time.

Desert Edge had only given up 21 points in a game once this season.

“At halftime, we realized the way we were playing was not ourselves,” said Desert Edge Defensive Back Camren Hamiel, “Para and I had a conversation with them, and I said I was going to set the tone.”

As the second half of action kicked off, Desert Edge wouldn’t look back, and neither would Hamiel.

Hamiel did as he said he would in the locker room and set the tone by taking off for a monstrous kickoff return run that would end in the endzone, giving Desert Edge a 42-21 lead.

“I was just remembering what I was saying in that room, and I was thinking I got to lead by example.” Said Hamiel.

The Desert Edge defense would allow only six points in the second half to a millennium team that has put up 50 plus points in 5 of its games this season.

“I know our defense is the best.” Said Roskopf, “I wouldn’t want any other defense on our side, so I don’t take them for granted at all.”

With little time left, Desert Edge Defensive Back Antonio Para blocked a punt in the end zone, which was recovered for a touchdown and sealed the game for Desert Edge, who would win by a final score of 66-27.

Desert Edge finished the season 10-0 and is currently ranked as the number one team in the 5A section. They will likely have a bye week for the first round of the playoffs, and then play at home on November 14th.

“We’re all definitely bought in.” Para Said. “Our offense is doing really great, and our team chemistry is definitely there.” I’m definitely going to be studying my opponents, but definitely taking it one step at a time.”

Desert Edge will take on the winner of Cienega vs. Sunny Slope on November 14th.