A year of heartbreak, distractions and a rough start to the season couldn't keep Desert Edge from persevering. 
It paid off Friday night at Mountain America Stadium, where the Scorpions took down Cactus, 28-19 to win the 5A state championship. 
Desert Edge used big plays on offense and defense to build a 28 point lead towards the end of the third quarter.

Cactus (10-4) fought back late in the second half, but it was just too late. 

"I'm so proud of these kids because they're the ones who did the work, never gave up and sacrificed their bodies," said first year Desert Edge coach Henri Macarthur.

"Last year's game had nothing to do with tonight's game. We just knew we had to play to our standard."

Macarthur was referring last December's 42-41 championship loss to Higley. 
 

How it happened
 
Sophomore quarterback Blake Roskopf threw touchdown passes of 85 and 74 yards, and also scored on a 25-yard early in the third quarter. That was the shortest scoring play for Desert Edge. The sophomore completed nine passes but finished with 256 yards. 

Roskopf's first touchdown came on the game's third play, the 86-yard strike over the middle to Malakai Moala.
Meanwhile, Cactus found success running the ball, but three of its four lost fumbles came in the first half, which wiped out drives. 
The third lost fumble was most damaging, and turned into perhaps the biggest scoring play of the game. Just before halftime.

Trailing 7-0, Cactus was driving in Desert Edge territory, when Scorpion defensive end Iyod Selph stripped the football, which was scooped up by Linebacker Joshua Hopphaus who returned it 78 yards for a score. 
It was deflating for Cactus heading into halftime, as they trailed 14-0.

Desert Edge jumped on the Cobras in the third quarter, with 

A year of heartbreak, distractions and a rough start to the season couldn't keep Desert Edge from persevering. 
It paid off Friday night Mountain America Stadium, where the Scorpions took down Cactus, 28-19 to win the 5A state championship. 
Desert Edge used big plays on offense and defense to build a 28 point lead towards the end of the third quarter.

Cactus (10-4) fought back late in the second half, but it was just too late. 

"I'm so proud of these kids because they're the ones who did the work, never gave and sacrificed their bodies," first year Desert Edge coach Henri Macarthur.

"Last year's game had nothing to do with tonight's game. We just knew we had to play to our standard."

Macarthur was referring last December's 42-41 championship loss to Higley. 
 

How it happened
 
Sophomore quarterback Blake Roskopf threw touchdown passes of 86 and 74 yards, and also scored on a 25-yard early in the third quarter. That was the shortest scoring play for Desert Edge. The sophomore completed nine passes but finished with 256 yards. Roskopf's first touchdown came on the game's third play, the 86-yard strike over the middle to Malakai Moana.

Perhaps the biggest scoring play of the game occurred just before halftime by way of defense. Trailing 7-0, Cactus was driving in Desert Edge territory, when Scorpion defensive end Iyod Selph stripped the football, which was scooped up by Linebacker Joshua Hopphaus who returned it 78 yards for a score. 
It was deflating for Cactus heading into halftime, as they trailed 14-0.
The momentum carried early into the third quarter for Deserrt Edge, as Roskopf led a 69-yard drive capped by his touchdown run. 

Another promising Cactus drive ended with a lost fumble in Desert Edge territory. Elijah Sherbin-Fox made the recovery, and also scored the next touchdown for the Scorpions. The senior took a short pass from Roskopf before zigging and zagging his way 72 yards to Paydirt and a 28-lead out the Cobras in an insurmountable hole. 
Sherbin-Fox had started the season at quarterback before Roskopf took over midway through. Sherbin-Fox then found ways to make plays on both side of the ball.

"Elijah kind of represents this team and it's season, Coach Macarthur said of Sherbin-Fox. "Everyone did whatever it took."

Cobra Comeback Falls Short

To its credit, Cactus never stopped fighting and never stopped moving the ball. Tristan Varga scored on a three-yard run and five yard reception from Antonio Casia (20-35, 155 yards). Tayejion Player added a short scoring run for the Cobras with under a minute left, but Desert Edge had blocked two PAT's, essentially ending the game.

The Cobras rushed for 246 yards with Casias adding 82 on the ground. Juju Stubblefield caught 10 passes for 84 yards to lead Cactus. But the story of the game was the four lost fumbles.

"I love this team so much," Varga said after the game. "We overcame so much this season and I'd never want to play with any other group."