Alyssa Raia is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Williams Field High School for AZPreps365.

Brophy Prep closed out its regular season with a dominant 56-28 victory over Williams Field on Friday night at Central High.

With both a part of the 6A Central division, the teams entered the game with playoff appearances already secured, with Brophy (6-4) looking to build momentum for the Open Division playoffs and Williams Field (7-3) hoping to stay sharp heading into the postseason.

The two programs ended up in a three-way tie with Higley for the 6A Central Region title.

While Williams Field has shown plenty of promise coming into the game with a strong record, Brophy was able to emerge victorious.

The Broncos jumped to an early lead, relying heavily on quarterback Case Vanden Bosch. Vanden Bosch was able to connect in the end zone twice in the first quarter, giving the Broncos an early 14-0 lead.

Williams Field did not go down without a fight though, as running back Q Skillings had a standout performance.

Skillings’ rushing ability kept the Black Hawks in the game for most of the night. A 1-yard touchdown run by Skillings provided the first scoring drive of the game for the Black Hawks, making it 14-7.

But each time the Black Hawks attempted to close the gap, Brophy answered back with another big play.

The Broncos capitalized on a key fumble recovery in the second half to extend their lead, and when Williams Field fumbled again on the ensuing kickoff return, Broncos defensive back Thatcher Wilson was able to recover the ball and eventually allow the Broncos to tack on another touchdown.

Brophy’s defense, led by linebacker Josh Anderson, was also able to make crucial plays when needed, including an interception late in the game that sealed its ultimate victory.

“It felt great to make that play,” Anderson said. “The coach told me to stay focused, and I just read the quarterback’s eyes. I knew it was a big moment, so I just made sure I kept my feet under me and finished the play. It was a team effort, though. Our whole defense was locked in tonight.”

Brophy’s head coach Jason Jewell also applauded his team’s offense during the game.

“The offense was clicking tonight, but I’m especially proud of how we responded to their runs,” said Jewell. “We stayed aggressive, and our defense made the plays when they had to.”

The Black Hawks, while frustrated by the turnovers and missed opportunities, continued to show their resilience. After another touchdown from Skillings early in the fourth quarter, they tried to keep the pressure on, but Brophy’s execution was far too much to compete with.

The Broncos added another touchdown late in the fourth as the ball connected to running back Harrison Chambers, making the game 56-28.

“Tonight wasn’t our best performance, but we’re not going to let one game define us,” said Williams Field cornerback Sean Boyd Jr.. “We’ve had a great season, and we’re still confident as we head into the playoffs.”

The win puts Brophy in a good position as it heads into the playoffs, while Williams Field plans to take its lessons from this game and work on any mistakes prior to its postseason run.