Photo: 8 Aubrey Kitahata on her way to one of her three touchdowns in the win over Higley
Prescott quarterback Riaana Aguilar connected with Aubrey Kitahata for 3 touchdown pass plays in a 35-20 win over the Higley Knights. The defense had a good night too, picking off three Higley passes, including a pick-six by Maggie Maneely.
Both teams came into this one undefeated, so it figured to be a good contest with the Division 6A Knights.
On only their second play from scrimmage, the Badgers struck first when Aubrey Kitahata pulled in a pass from Rianna Aguilar and took it 55 yards for the touchdown. Delainey Courtney kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead less than a minute into the game.
Photo: Ady Larson and Addalyn Brandon attempt to stop Knight’s receiver Maci Kerns who did score on the play
The Prescott defense got the ball back, but Aguilar was intercepted by Jayla Freeman at Higley 34. Once again the Badger defense got a stop, but Aguilar was picked off a second straight time, this time by Ava Haney at the end of the first quarter.
Photo: Badgers quarterback Rianna Aguilar throws a pass to Maggie Maneely
The tide turned right away back to the Badgers, when Maggie Maneely plucked one out the air and took it for a 55 yard pick-six, to give Prescott a 14-0 lead, a few seconds into the second quarter.
The Knights got on the board when Jayla Freeman connected with Maci Kerns on a 12 yard pass play, but the kick failed leaving the score at 14-6 just above the eight minute mark in the second quarter.
The Badgers rolled the dice on a fourth and four to pick up a first down to help extend the lead to 21-6 when Aguilar hit Kitahata for a second TD score of 54 yards.
In the third quarter, Delainey Courtney picked off a pass, setting the Badger offense up at the Knight 34. Three plays later, Aguilar called her own number and bolted in from six yards out and a 28-6 lead.
Higley came right back when Freeman rushed in form 11 yards out and then ran in the two pint conversion and the score was now 28-14 early in the fourth quarter.
After a turnover on downs, Ady Larson picked off a pass to get the ball back for the Badgers with nine minutes to play.
Aguilar hit Kitahata for a third time and a 35-14 lead with 8:11 on the clock.
Higley scored one final time when Ava Taliaferro caught a 9 yard pass from Freeman. The Badgers ran out the clock for a 15 point victory.
Ady Larson said this about her interception, “I came in and shadowed the girl, while their quarterback took a while to throw it to number one. It would have been a good catch but it goes off her hands up in the air and I came down with it. Then I just tucked it and ran.” On playing these bigger schools Larson said, “We think during the week, oh its 6A team, and then you see them, and once you start playing and settled in, you’re not nervous anymore.”
Photo: The Badgers celebrate the pick-six by 9 Maggie Maneely
Maggie Maneely had this to say about her pick-six, “I just dropped back to cover and they stopped short as the ball came, and I just came up to get it and ran it back for the score. It was so exciting.” On which side of the ball she likes to play best Maneely said, “I like defense more because I understand it better right now, but offense is fun when you can get the ball and run fast too.” On the teams fast start, she added, “It is amazing being 3-0 and playing these big schools and winning. We just need to keep it going.”
The Badgers will travel to Phoenix on Thursday for a 6 pm game versus another 6A opponent, the Shadow Ridge Stallions.
PRESCOTT BADGERS 35, HIGLEY KNIGHTS 20
Score by Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Higley 0 6 0 14 – 20
Prescott 7 14 7 7 – 35
Scoring Summary
P-Kitahata 55 yards pass from Aguilar (Courtney kick)
P-Maneely 55 yard interception return (Courtney kick)
H-Kerns 12 yard pass from Freeman (Kick failed)
P-Kitahata 54 yard pass from Aguilar (Courtney kick)
P-Aguilar 6 yard run (Courtney kick)
H-Freeman 11 yard run (Freeman run)
P-Kitahata 42 yard pass from Aguilar (Courtney kick)
H-Taliaferro 9 yard pass from Freeman (Run failed)
4A MOUNTAIN SKY REGION
School – W-L W-L
PRESCOTT 0-0 3-0
Coconino 0-0 1-1
Mingus 0-0 0-1
Mayer 0-0 0-2
Bradshaw Mountain 0-0 0-3
Flagstaff 0-0 0-3
SCOREBOARD
PRESCOTT 35, Higley 20
Crismon 38, Bradshaw Mountain 7
Alhambra 12, Central 0
Boulder Creek 14, Notre Dame Prep 0
Campo Verde 20, Casa Grande 7
Canyon View 12, Desert Edge 0
Coconino 41, River Valley 7
Desert Ridge 13, Eastmark 7
Desert Vista 21, Gilbert 14
Dobson 39, Tucson 7
Hamilton 42, Williams Field 0
La Joya Community 27, Copper Canyon 0
Maricopa 21, Vista Grande 0
Mesa 27, Flagstaff 7
Mesquite 20, Marcos de Niza 6
Mohave 8, Tuba City 6
Mountain View Mesa 18, Highland 13
North 40, Betty Fairfax 6
Page 7, Lee Williams 5
Paradise Honors 34, Dysart 12
Queen Creek 14, Perry 10
Red Mountain 28, Cesar Chavez 6
Sandra Day O’Connor 21, Desert Mountain 0
Scottsdale Christian 26, Arcadia 13
St. Mary’s 21, Deer Valley 0
Tempe 17, Barry Goldwater 14
Thunderbird 40, Mayer 0
Verrado 20, Lake Havasu 0
Westview 20, St. John Paul II 9
