Vincent Deangelis is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Camelback High School for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX- “Hustle! Hit! Never Quit!” were not only the words painted on the Camelback High School football team’s banner tonight but also the exact way to sum up a game of constant back-and-forth as the Spartans (4-2) beat the North Canyon Rattlers (1-5) 53-44 in their first  5A Metro section game of the year.

Sophomore quarterback Max Martin made his highly anticipated debut tonight for the Spartans, as it was his first game eligible after transferring from Liberty High School. “We had a hell of a game tonight,” said Martin. “I love these guys”.

Martin did not disappoint with four passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, along with two crucial 2-point conversion runs to seal the game. 

The game began like clockwork for Camelback with a kickoff return touchdown from Amos Slokan. Immediately after, on the Rattlers’ first drive, junior outside linebacker James Iradukunda picked off Rattler quarterback Amari William Harrison and returned the ball to the Rattler 1-yard line. This set up a Martin read-option keeper touchdown on the very next play to make the score 13-0 Spartans two minutes into the game.

North Canyon got something going on the next drive. Senior running back Brock Biley ran in an easy touchdown after three penalties from the Camelback defense on that possession.

The Spartans got the ball back and didn’t waste any time. Martin found freshman fan-favorite receiver Kemahn Knight for a 30-yard touchdown. Two minutes later Martin and Camelback struck again, this time on a 60-yard catch-and-run from senior Joe Martinez to make the score 25-7 with three minutes still remaining in the first quarter. 

No less than 30 seconds after that, Camelback wideout Dejon Packard returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown to make the score 31-7 at the end of the first quarter.

What appeared to be a blowout made a complete 180-degree turn in the second quarter thanks to 18 unanswered points from the Rattlers. The wheels fell off for the Camelback defense, which committed seven penalties in the first half alone and allowed the North Canyon senior backfield of Izzy Durgin and Biley to run for two touchdowns in the quarter. By halftime the Rattlers had closed the gap to 31-25. 

At the half, It looked like two games had already been played as Camelback was only up by one touchdown. “We had some maturity issues,” said Spartan head coach Brandon McNutt. “ I told my team to calm down, this is football.”.

Nonetheless, the nerves did not settle in the third quarter as both defenses became very effective. It was as if another game started, as no points were scored in the quarter. It didn’t help that Packard, who is a key part of the Spartan offense, had to sit out for the quarter after tweaking his shin. 

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Rattlers scored to take their first lead of the night.  Visible gasps were heard all around the Camelback bleachers. But, there clearly was a lot more game to be played. Two minutes after North Canyon's score, Martin found Ignacio Lopez, who ordinarily lines up at offensive guard, for a touchdown to tie the score at 37-37. 

“We started off hot, but we had to keep it going,” said Martin. “We just kept working, and never gave up.”

The Rattlers showed no quit, either. Quarterback William Harrison found Makhi Golston for a 40-yard catch-and-run touchdown to put North Canyon back on top, 44-37.

The game took yet another turn as Packard returned to the field and scored a receiving touchdown two minutes later. “I told coach I’m ready, put me in the game,” said Packard. “We had to step up, be the better players on the field.”

That was followed up by a Martin read option 2-point conversion to make the score 45-44, and give the Spartans all the momentum.

That momentum transmitted to the Camelback defense on the next drive. The Spartan D forced the Rattlers to punt with three and half minutes to go in the game. “Close this out, five!” multiple Camelback supporters shoutd at Martin as the Spartans could see victory in their sights once again.

The Spartan offense then preceded to execute a picture-perfect drive that ended with a Slokan rushing touchdown and a clutch two-point scramble from Martin to make the score 53-44. That was followed by a game-sealing interception by senior Cornerback Cameron Huckaby in a battle that never looked like it would end.

The football team and cheerleaders celebrating a homecoming win (Vincent Deangelis/AZPreps365)

“This team has no quit,” said McNutt. “I appreciate it because it shows our character at the end of the day.”

The red-hot Spartans take on the Maryvale Panthers(0-6) at Maryvale next week in their second section game of the season.