Charlie Cohen is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Camelback High School for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX – Junior transfer running back Anthony Scott Jr. and the Camelback Spartans ran back the opening kickoff 78 yards and set the tone early, defeating the South Mountain Jaguars 59-6 on Friday night to get their first win of the season.

In the Spartans' Friday night pinkout game to help raise awareness for breast cancer, the Jaguars had no answer for Camelback’s offense. With 2:53 to go in the first quarter, Spartans senior quarterback Angel Neria unloaded a 67-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass to Anthony Scott Jr. for his third touchdown of the quarter, putting Camelback up 30-0.

Spartans Head coach Dante Foster said the goal for the week was to start out fast, and that getting Scott Jr. off the transfer suspension and into the starting lineup was huge.

“Ant has been energetic since day one, and I’m just so excited for this kid,” Foster said. “He’s a dog, and I hope everybody knows, we got that guy. His name should be out there now.”

Scott Jr. totaled 159 all-purpose yards in the first quarter alone, and accounted for 22 of the teams 30 points in the quarter. He said he’s been waiting a long time for this opportunity and is glad to see his work come to fruition after sitting the first five games out.

“ I’ve been working hard for this opportunity since last year, and my goal this game was to get four touchdowns,” Scott Jr. said. “I’m satisfied with three, but there’s more work to do. I’ve been patient, and when my time came, I did what I had to do.”

Alongside Anthony Scott Jr., the defense and special teams came alive in the first quarter. Camelback got to Jaguars senior quarterback Noah Vargas three times, and freshman defensive lineman Javelle Abdul-Kabir grabbed his first career interception, returning a tip-drill 26 yards to the Jaguars 14 yard line. 

A punting mishap and successful onside kick gave the Spartans possession in Jaguars territory twice, where Camelback would end up capitalizing on senior running back Christian Lee and Anthony Scott Jr. touchdown runs. 

Vargas would end up leaving after Abdul-Kabir’s interception midway through the first quarter with an injury, where sophomore quarterback Bernard Butler took over until the second half. Bernard would end up throwing a second interception in the first quarter to senior safety Adan Medrano.  

South Mountain finished with 125 yards of offense, 61 yards coming from a long touchdown run from senior running back Jamere Beck in the first quarter. Senior wide receiver Marquise Lambert ran quarterback from the wildcat formation in the second half, gaining 69 yards on 10 carries. Head coach Foster said he’s proud of how the defense played, and expects more outings like this moving forward.

“It was huge for our defense to step it up,” Foster said. “We had a lot of younger guys playing, and they bought into it. I’m proud of the guys, but we have to get better at a few things.”

With the win, the Spartans move to 1-5 on the season. Senior quarterback Angel Neria said it feels great to get the first win, and gives the team a much-needed confidence boost going into their final four games.

“We really needed that, we were struggling over those first five games,” Neria said. “Our last four games, we’re going to show them what we’re about. I hope those boys are ready.” 

Neria set season-highs in passing yards and touchdowns, finishing 12 of 14 for 243 passing yards and three touchdowns, adding 15 yards on the ground. He said he can’t wait to celebrate this one with his brothers.

The South Mountain Jaguars move to 0-6 on the season, and will look to get their first win next Friday at 7:00 p.m. against the Central Bobcats, another 0-6 team. The Camelback Spartans look to win their second straight game at home against the 0-6 Browne Bruins next Friday at 7:00 p.m..