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

GOODYEAR -- Desert Edge beat Cienega 46-7 in the second round of the Section 5A playoffs.

This game marked the second matchup this season between Desert Edge and Cienega. In their first matchup on Sept. 5, Desert Edge shut out the Bobcats 26-0, with Blake Roskopf throwing a pair of touchdown passes and defensive back Ramari Hodge returning an interception for a score.

Desert Edge showed no signs of rust or fatigue after a first-round bye week, entering the Section 5A playoffs as the No. 1 seed.

Desert Edge ran for 280 yards, with 250 of those yards coming from sophomore running back Byron Brandon, who carried the ball 25 times.

“I really have to give credit to the offensive line," Brandon said. “They just play lights out and enable me to do what I did. They just create a lot of opportunities.”

Cienega started the game with the ball and drove into the Desert Edge red zone, but would be stopped on fourth down when Antonio Para made the first big play of the night for the Scorpions, sacking quarterback Julian Hainley.

Desert Edge drove down the field with ease and capped off its first possession when Roskopf connected with Dayvon Standard for a 25-yard touchdown pass.

On Cienegas next possession, Hainley threw an interception to Nekhi Lambeth, setting up Desert Edge in plus territory.

Brandon's first touchdown of the night came on the following possession, putting the Scorpions up 13-0.

Cienega's offensive struggles continued into their third drive of the night when Desert Edge forced Cienega to go three-and-out, punting from inside their own 10-yard line.

Desert Edges stayed on track during their third drive of the game. On the fifth play of the drive, Roskopf would launch a ball to Stanford, who hauled in his second touchdown of the night.

Cienegas only score of the night would come on the following drive when Hainley connected with senior receiver Ayden Billings.

Desert Edge scored a rushing, passing, and defensive touchdown in the second quarter, extending the Scorpions lead to 32-7 at halftime.

Brandon continued to dominate in the second half of the game, scoring his third touchdown of the night and capping off his 250-yard rushing performance. 

Desert Edge forced opposing offenses to turn the ball over 24 times in the regular season, and they continued that trend against Cienega with a pair of fumble recoveries and an interception.

Desert Edge will host the Desert Mountain Wolves at home on Friday, Nov. 21st, in what is shaping up to be a very physical and defensive game. Desert Mountain has allowed 14.9 points per game this season, while Desert Edge has allowed 11.8.

“The most physical team is going to win, so we are preparing this week to make sure that it’s us,” said Head Coach Henri MacArthur. “Play hard, run to the ball, play with great technique and great pad level.”

The two teams have never met, and their first matchup will be in the quarterfinals.