March 28, 2024 11:02 AM
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Eagles Air Assault Too Much for Badgers In 55-35 Loss – Ron Williams

Photo: 7 Alex Vaughan pulls in a 45-yard pass from Jaxon Rice for the first touchdown of the game as 21 Colin Hall tries to defend

There was an air show at Bill Shepard Field Friday night, as American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North quarterback Adam Damante threw for 464 yards and seven touchdown passes to lead the visiting Eagles to a 55-35 win over the Prescott Badgers.

Things started out in the dark, literally, as the visitor side lights of the stadium went off prior to kickoff. The outage delayed the start of the game for nearly 30 minutes.  As if the lights out delay wasn’t enough, the game was plagued with penalties, many unsportsmanlike on the Eagles. Officials had their hands full for the 48 minutes of action.

The Badgers came out and jumped on top first when Jaxon Rice hit Alex Vaughan on a sweet 45-yard pass play down the center of the field. Cole Gross added the extra point for a 7-0 lead. The Prescott lead was brief as the kickoff return by McKay Beardall set the Eagles up at the Badgers 22. After an offside penalty, Damante demonstrated his speed for the first time, bolting 17 yards into the end zone.

Prescott failed to move the ball and was forced to punt. The snap went through the outstretched hands of Alex Vaughan, who ran back to cove the ball at the Badger 22, losing 26 yards in the process. Damente showed everyone his arm this time completing a perfect spiral pass to Tyton Slade in stride to take the lead at 14-7 with 5:14 in the first quarter. Damante hit Brandon Phelps to increase the lead to 21-7 as the first quarter came to an end.

Photo:  24 Cody Leopold with the second of his three touchdowns on the night

Cody Leopold crossed the goal line with 10:10 in the second quarter to pull within 21-14 as the Badgers tried to stay within striking distance, but once again Damante came through with his third touchdown pass of the game when he drilled MacKay Beardall on a 25-yard scoring strike, and it was 28-14. Leopold again scored from one yard out to make it 28-21. Once again, the Eagles scored when Slade caught his second TD pass from Damante with 90 seconds left in the half. Prescott failed to move the ball and the Eagles had one final chance to score, but Brandon Phelps failed on his field goal attempt to leave the score 25-21 at the half.

The Eagles received the kickoff to start the second half and were poised to put the game out of reach, but a rare mistake came when Damante fumbled and Cort Lewis came up with the loose ball, giving the home team a much-needed break. Leopold would eventually score on a one yard run to close the gap to 35-28 with 8:09 left in the third quarter.

The game was not without penalties and both teams fell victim to mistakes, but when the Eagles failed to get a first down after a pair of penalties, Prescott once again had a chance to tie the game. After getting a break on a possible fumble, Jaxon Rice made his only mistake overthrowing a pass down the middle of the field, that was picked off by Austin Izydorczyk. The Eagles were determined to score and get some breathing room, did on a 20-yard pass from Damante to Phelps to go ahead 42-28. Another costly mistake by the Badgers came when Maurea Norris fumbled, and the Eagles capitalized on a 25 TD pass from Damante to Slade to go up 49-28 after three quarters.

Photo: 9 Uriah Tenette weaves his way down the field through Eagle defenders

Uriah Tenette scored on a nifty five yard run to cut the deficit to 49-35 with 11;06 left in the game, but the Eagles would add one more touchdown when Damante hit Slade on a 30-yard touchdown pass to put the game out of reach for good.

Photo: 8 Adam Damante threw for 7 touchdowns, giving him 19 on the season

Adam Damante, heading to play for NAU next season, accounted for all eight TDs, finishing the night throwing for 464 yards and seven touchdowns, completing 26-38, and was the leading rusher with 63 yards on four carries and a TD. Tyton Slade caught nine passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns while the others in the supporting cast, Mackay Beardall 7-147, one TD, and Brandon Phelps 5-89, two TDs.

The Badgers were led by Cody Leopold’s 178 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Jaxon Rice threw for 135 yards, completing 13-26, with one interception. Cian Mckelvey completed his one pass for a touchdown. Alex Vaughan and Uriah Tenette caught one touchdown pass each, while Jake Hilton led with seven receptions for 60 yards. Tenette also led the team with nine tackles. Cody Leopold and Cody Hanna had eight and seven respectively.

ALA coach Randy Ricedorff said, “That is a good football team over there. They tested us with their size and their physical play and their backs just run hard. They didn’t quit and it showed a lot of spirit.” About his QB, Ricedorff added, “He is a special quarterback, and we are pretty good at throwing the ball. We have a lot of weapons for sure.”

Damante said, “It was a team win for sure. Everyone just did their job, and I had to get rid of the ball quick with all the pressure they were bringing. The receivers did the rest.”

Prescott (2-1) travels to Phoenix to face Greenway next Friday at 7 pm. ALA-Gilbert North (3-1) travels to play ALA-Queen Creek.

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY-GILBERT NORTH EAGLES 55, PRESCOTT BADGERS 35

Score by Quarters-     1        2        3        4   –    T

ALA-Gilbert North     21      14      14       6   –   55

Prescott                        7       14       7        7   –   35

Scoring Summary

P-Vaughan 44-yard pass from Rice (Gross kick)

ALA-Damante 18-yard run (Phelps kick)

ALA-Slade 5-yard pass from Damante (Phelps kick)

ALA-Phelps 15-yard pass from Damante (Phelps kick)

P-Leopold 8-yard run (Gross kick)

ALA-Beardall 25-yard pass from Damante (Phelps kick)

P-Leopold 1 yard run (Gross kick)

ALA-Slade 20-yard pass from Damante (Phelps kick)

P-Leopold 2-yard run (Gross kick)

ALA-Phelps 20-yard pass from Damante (Phelps kick)

ALA-Slade 25-yard pass from Damante (Phelps kick)

P-Tenette 5-yard run (Gross kick)

ALA-Slade 30-yard pass from Damante (Kick failed)

 

GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS

School-                            W-L      W-L

Lee Williams                  0-0        3-1

Mingus                            0-0        3-1

PRESCOTT                      0-0        2-1

Bradshaw Mountain    0-0        1-2

Coconino                        0-0        1-2

Flagstaff                          0-0        1-2

 

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS SCOREBOARD

Combs 36, Bradshaw Mountain 34

Florence 41, Chino Valley 7

Salome 34, Bagdad 20

Joseph City 47, Mayer 26

Boulder Creek 51, Tolleson 7

Buckeye 56, Lake Havasu 41

Camp Verde 58, St. John Paul II 0

Eastmark 45, Mohave 10

Empire 6, Deer Valley 0

Lee Williams 49, North Canyon 6

Marcos de Niza 55, Amphitheater 7

Moon Valley 24, Carl Hayden 14

Poston Butte 29, Coconino 28

Thunderbird 58, Greenway 27

Thursday Scores

Central 20, North 13

Desert Ridge 34, Williams Field 33

Mingus 48, Washington 0

 

Badminton

The Badgers have taken over first place in the Division 2, Northwest Standings with a pair of wins this past week. None bigger than their 6-3 win at Chaparral. It was a battle of the unbeatens, and a gritty test for Prescott as they continue to establish themselves as one of the top teams in the state.

Prescott swept North Canyon 9-0 at home earlier in the week, then it was all eyes on Chaparral.

 

PRESCOTT BADGERS 6, CHAPARRAL FIREBIRDS 3

SINGLES RESULTS

#1 Megan Townsend won 21-19, 21-12 over Chi Chi Bracken

#2 Riley Crockett lost 21-19, 21-13 to Ellie Bucher

#3 Elle Long won 14-21, 21-18, 21-13 over Molly Rich

#4 Lindsay Carter lost 21-15, 15-21, 21-16 to Myra Duncan

#5 Lauren Farley lost 21-9, 21-16 to Emerson Lewis

#6 Calli Naylor won 19-21, 21-19, 21-14 over Hadley Huffman

DOUBLES RESULTS

#1 Crockett/Long won 21-12, 21-17 over Bucher/Bracken

#2 Townsend/Carter won 21-12, 21-16 over Rich/Duncan

#3 Naylor/Lauren Farley won 21-17, 21-14 over Lewis/Huffman

DIVISION II NORTHWEST STANDINGS

School-                     W-L        W-L

PRESCOTT                4-0         9-0

Chaparral                 4-1         9-1

Horizon                     3-1         8-1

Shadow Mountain  2-2         7-2

Deer Valley              2-1         6-2

Paradise Valley        2-1        5-3

North Canyon           1-4        3-7

Saguaro                     0-4        2-7

Barry Goldwater      0-4        2-8

 

Volleyball

The Badgers fell 3-0 to the Bears in Prescott Valley. The loss drops Prescott to (1-8). Lee Williams comes to town for a match on Tuesday, at 6 pm in the Badger Dome.

 

BRADSHAW MOUNATIN BEARS 3, PRESCOTT BADGERS 0

Games-                            1        2        3

Prescott                          15      12      11

Bradshaw Mountain    25      25       25

 

GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS

School-                           W-L        W-L

Bradshaw Mountain    3-0          4-3

Flagstaff                         3-0          4-5

Coconino                        3-2         4-4

Lee Williams                 1-2          3-3

Mingus                           1-3          3-5

Mohave                          1-3         1-4

PRESCOTT                      1-3         1-8

 

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