Eve McFarland is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Deer Valley High School for AZPreps365.com

Senior running back Marcus Johnson rushed for 215 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead Deer Valley to a 40-12 victory over La Joya Community Friday night. 

Skyhawks coach Dan Friedman said Johnson’s mentality was to run the ball hard. 

“We had a little talk before the game and I said, ‘You (Johnson) need to go off and have a really good game'," Friedman said. 

“It's another game to me,” Johnson said. “Just keep working hard. We are trying to end the season 10-0, so take it game by game. Don’t get cocky and play your heart out.”

The Skyhawks started off strong after Brody Keith caught a 59-yard pass from Tyler Lebaron to land in Fighting Lobos territory. Soon after, Johnson scored the first touchdown of the night with 7:31 left. 

The Lobos (0-4) responded immediately with another long pass resulting in a touchdown by Jayden Quick for 55 yards.

The Skyhawks worked their way up the field after a trick play for junior receiver Coleston Paxton that resulted in a 35-yard gain and gave Johnson the opportunity to score his second touchdown from the 7-yard line enabling Deer Valley to build a 14-6 halftime lead.

The Fighting Lobos put pressure on the Skyhawks forcing two fumbles in the second quarter. 

Johnson and the Skyhawks (4-0) defense dominated the second half.

“We need to be able to take care of the football because if we give away possessions, no matter who it is, it is going to be a tight game for us,” Friedman said.

In the third quarter, Johnson scored his third touchdown on a 11-yard run with 7:51 left. 

The Skyhawks’ aggressive defense pivoted the game. Anthony Rosas had back-to-back sacks on Lobos quarterback Gabriel Waldren. 

“The first half we underestimated them and we shouldn’t have,” Rosas said. “But after that we locked in.”

However, the Lobos managed to pick themselves up. Sophomore receiver Christian Otterbridge scored on a 77-yard pass from Waldren, changing the score to 21-12 with about five minutes left in the third quarter. 

With 2:13 left in the quarter,  Johnson scored his fourth touchdown of the night on a 43-yard run to give the Skyhawks a 27-12 lead.  

Junior running back Adan Sanchez scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to end the game, 40-12. 

Lobos coach Adam Beene said this game was a turning point for them. He said they expected better since it was their homecoming game but pointed out a good first-half performance. 

“We told them as the other team was leaving the field to watch them leave,” Beene said. “We got it a little bit harder here at La Joya but we can either wear that as a badge of honor or we can fold.” 

The Fighting Lobos will host Paradise Valley (1-3) on Friday at 7 p.m. 

Deer Valley will celebrate homecoming next Friday when the Skyhawks host  Mingus (1-3) at 7 p.m.