Photo: 24 Cody Leopold scored three first half touchdowns for the Badgers
Cody Leopold rushed for three first half touchdowns to lead the Prescott Badgers in a beat down of the Carl Hayden Falcons 43-0, in the season opener for both teams. The game was slightly delayed due to lightning, but once the game started, it went by fast.
It was a game dominated by the Badgers on both sides of the ball. The Badgers took a 21 point lead after the first quarter on two touchdown runs of 12 and 6 yards by senior Cody Leopold. The other first quarter TD came on a 5 yard run by another senior, Cian Mckelvey. Leopold said, “We played a good game. The line did a great job of creating holes for me to get through, and the defense just shut everything down. This was a good way to start off the season, but we will need to be ready for Glendale next week.” The Badger defense kept the Falcons from getting a first down till late in the second quarter as the Prescott kept the ball inside Carl Hayden territory for nearly the entire game.
Photo: 72 Landen Francis and 30 Jake Wright go after the punt in the first quarter
Coach Cody Collette said, “We did some really good things tonight. I thought our line did a great job of controlling the game and we were able to get a lot of players in to play. We did have some things that I would like to clean up such as penalties, but overall it was a good game against a good opponent. Last year they finished 6-4, so we knew coming in that they could play.”
Prescott went up 28-0 on a 57 yard run by Maurea Norris. The final score of the first half came on Leopold’s third TD, another 6 yard run, as teams went into halftime with Prescott up 35-0.
Photo: 17 Levi Vandyke on the tackle of 21 Gavin Rosser with 11 Cole Gross and 7 Alex Vaughan
The final score came to start the second half as Jake Hilton took the kickoff at the four yard line, and used some key blocks to go the distance, 96 electrifying yards. Hilton said, “I just got the ball and as I was moving down the field I had some holes open up with some good blocks and I was able to outrun the last two defenders to make it in the end zone.”
A running clock made quick work of the rest of the 90 plus minute contest. Statistically, the Badgers rushed for 187 yards, led by Maurea Norris with 70. Cody Leopold had 65 yards. Cian Mckelvey 42, and Uriah Tenette, who came off the bench to QB for Jaxon Rice, had 10. Tenette created some exciting moments on punt returns and was very active at the QB spot. “This was my first varsity game and I just wanted to come out and make some plays for our team.” Passing was the weak spot for Prescott, completing just 20% for the game, but the ground game and defense worked so well, going to the air was not needed. Alex Vaughan and Issac Muffley each had a reception.
The defense was intense all night and Carl Hayden never threatened to score. The team effort was led with seven tackles each by Cody Hanna, Cody Leopold, and Ryan Smith who led the charge. Landen Francis, Cole Gross had six each. Caden Pena came up with the first pass interception of the year, and Jake Wright had a fumble recovery.
Prescott (1-0) will play their first road game at Glendale on Friday at 7 pm. The Cardinals lost a wild game 48-42 to Apollo.
Photo: The Pride of Prescott Marching Band and Color Guard perform prior to the start of the game
PRESCOTT BADGERS 43, CARL HAYDEN FALCONS 0
Score By Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Carl Hayden 0 0 0 0 – 0
Prescott 21 14 8 0 – 43
Scoring Summary
P-Leopold 12 yard run (Gross kick)
P-Mckelvey 5 yard run (Gross kick)
P-Leopold 6 yard run (Gross kick)
P-Norris 57 yard run (Gross kick)
P-Leopold 6 yard run (Gross kick)
P-Hilton 96 yard kickoff return (Smith run)
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SCOREBOARD
Page 22, Chino Valley 6
Anthem Prep 58, Mayer 16
St. David 70, Bagdad 20
Apache Junction 48, Estrella Foothills 14
Apollo 48, Glendale 42
Betty Fairfax 34, La Joya Community 0
Barry Goldwater 49, Deer Valley 7
Boulder Creek 42, North 14
Camp Verde 48, Scottsdale Prep 34
Central 34, Paradise Valley 32
Hayden 42, Mogollon 34
Higley 50, Poston Butte 43
Holbrook 32, Winslow 6
Lake Havasu 38, Lee Williams 20
Payson 24, Miami 8
Pusch Ridge 51, Mohave 14
Sierra Linda 46, Alhambra 6
Sunnyslope 51, Greenway 7
Wickenburg 41, Tempe 20
Williams 60, Salome 0
Badminton
The state runner-up Badgers are back on track, starting off their season with three straight wins.
Prescott returns home on Tuesday at 4 pm to face Millennium, after a pair of road wins at Ironwood 8-1, and Casteel 9-0. The season started off with a 9-0 sweep at home over Agua Fria.
The six single players are Megan Townsend, Riley Crockett, Elle Long, Lindsay Carter, Lauren Farley, and Calli Naylor. Doubles teams are Crockett and Long, Townsend and Carter, and Farley and Naylor. An overall combined score of 26-1 to start is impressive on their quest for a state championship.
Girls Swimming
Prescott 109, Thunderbird 60
Kylie Marlott won both the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle for the Badgers. The Prescott relay team took first in the 200 Medley, 200 Free Relay, and the 400 Free Relay.
Boys Swimming
Thunderbird 93, Prescott 62
Rome Bassett won the 50 Freestyle and the 100 Freestyle for the Badgers.
