Goodyear Desert Edge advanced in the 5A playoffs following a dominant 31-6 victory over Phoenix Mountain Pointe on Friday, Nov. 13.
Senior linebacker Nate Jones played a pivotal role in the win, recording two sacks, two tackles for loss and an eight-yard touchdown run during the first half, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Jones, a three-star prospect committed to Wisconsin, joined the team after transferring from Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep.
He previously told his teammates, “I came in and told the kids, ‘I’m taking over.’”
Desert Edge coach Henri MacArthur utilized Jones on offense to maximize his impact on the field.
Regarding the decision to play Jones on both sides of the ball, MacArthur noted, “We try to get the most out of him and put him where he can impact the game.”
The team held a comfortable lead throughout the contest, allowing them to rest their starters for the entire fourth quarter.
Quarterback Blake Roskopf praised the defensive leader for his influence on the team’s morale.
Roskopf stated, “The energy with Nate is unreal. He picks everybody up. He makes our team want to play for him so much more.”
The scoring began when Jones bulldozed into the end zone for a touchdown with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter.
Later in the second quarter, Roskopf connected with wide receiver Zerek Sidney for an 18-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead.
Following a sack by Jones, kicker Esteban Antonsen-Ayala added a 24-yard field goal to bring the score to 17-0.
Social media coverage highlighted the linebacker’s versatility during the game, noting that Jones was all over the field while forcing a punt and contributing on both offense and defense.
Desert Edge now holds a 9-2 record as they continue their postseason run.