Will Anderson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication student assigned to cover Independence High School for AZPreps365.com.

GLENDALE – Tears ran down senior defensive end Frederick Solomon’s face as the game-tying 46-yard field goal attempt missed wide right. Independence had taken down Glendale and retained the Pride Cup for another year. 

The power had gone out in the stadium, and they were down by 12 with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter, but that didn’t stop the Patriots (1-5, 1-0 region) from earning a 42-39 come-from-behind victory over their crosstown rivals in the Glendale Cardinals (1-4, 0-1 region).

“We had a gauntlet of a first half of our schedule,” Independence head coach Shane Hagen said. “We knew that if we just did our job for four great quarters, we had an opportunity to be successful tonight.”

The Patriots were extremely successful on Thursday, tallying over 350 yards of total offense and forcing two turnovers.

The two-headed monster backfield that features senior running back Thomas Kpakra and senior running back Daniel Rodriguez lit the spark for Independence’s offense all night long. 

Rodriguez had six carries for just five yards, but two touchdowns. Kpakra carried the ball 16 times for 204 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard touchdown run, and the game-winning score with only 25 seconds left on the clock.

“We never gave up on each other, man, we stuck together,” Rodriguez said. “There were many times where we could have given up, but we didn’t.”

With 5:49 left in the fourth quarter, the Patriots were down 39-27. Glendale junior quarterback Michael Anguiano had just thrown his fourth passing touchdown of the game, and things looked to be out of reach for Independence.

Right after Independence took out the ensuing kickoff, the lights on both sides of the stadium turned off. After a 10-minute delay, the grounds crew was able to get the lights running again, and the Patriots' offense got back on track as well.

Independence scored 15 unanswered points in those five minutes, while also not allowing a point on defense. 

The Patriots’ defense was tested all game long, especially against senior wide receiver Santiago Navarrette. 

Navarrette did it all for the Cardinals, hauling in 13 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard house call. On top of his offensive production, Navarrette also intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter that turned into the touchdown that put the Cardinals up by 12.

Winning this game meant a lot to the Independence players and coaches. The Patriots began their season 0-5, allowing their opponents to score over 40 points per game. They felt like there was a reset button hit when they reached the regional portion of the schedule.

On top of the first win of the season, Independence maintained possession of the Pride Cup for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time in their high school careers that the players at Independence get to keep the trophy for another year. 

“You put your all into the game, and it just gives it right back,” senior defensive end Frederick Solomon said. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful feeling.”

The Patriots plan to parade the Pride Cup around campus on Friday for everyone to see, just like they did last year.