Alan Judson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Notre Dame Prep for AZPreps365.com

SCOTTSDALE – 48 minutes awaited Notre Dame Prep and Maricopa, with the loser seeing their respective season come to an end, and the winner earning a date with Horizon in the second round of the 5A tournament.

Ultimately, the Saints rushed for more than 350 yards in a 49-20 win Friday night.

Junior running back Gunnar Perry and junior defensive end Nate Jones recorded three rushing touchdowns each, with junior wide receiver Decker Haskins-Smith running in the final Saints score.

“They've just all been phenomenal, and they're only as good as the guy next to them, because it's a team effort,” George Prelock said. “I'm so proud of the boys.”

The offensive line lent a hand in the rushing trio’s big night as well.

“They move bodies,” Nate Jones said. “They make gaps, we fill them with our lead blockers, and it’s off running after that.”

The game would begin with turnovers, as Notre Dame Prep would fumble its first possession away. However, on the next play, junior corner Matthew Higby intercepted the ball right back, and Nate Jones would find the end zone for the first time later in the drive.

Following a Maricopa punt, Notre Dame Prep would turn the ball over again, this time paying a little more than they did on the last turnover, with senior defensive back Micah Winters returning the interception 70 yards, evening the score at 7.

Just over a minute later, the Saints would punch back, as Jones would rush to paydirt again, this time from 42 yards out.

“As a team, we're able to battle adversity very well and just stick together,” Perry said.

Maricopa would land another punch. Early in the second quarter, the Rams would use a drive, fueled by penalties, to find the end zone. The Saints would jab back immediately, blocking the extra point to maintain a 14-13 lead. 

“We’ve got to keep our cool,” Prelock said. “With the holdings and all, we’ve got to keep moving our feet.”

Maricopa would be given a plethora of opportunities to take the lead for the remainder of the first half. First, a roughing the punter penalty gave the Rams a first down, but an off-setting illegal formation penalty would force another punt. 

On the ensuing drive, Maricopa would block Notre Dame Prep’s punt and start in its territory, but a sputtering drive would lead to another punt.

Then, with around 6:00 left in the first half, another interception would place the Rams 32 yards away from a touchdown, before turning the ball over on downs.

The following possession would see Jones break off a 54-yard run. It made way for Perry to punch the ball in from 2 yards out, putting the Saints up eight entering the half.

Following Maricopa opening the second half with a punt, Notre Dame Prep would find its groove, scoring touchdowns on four of its next five possessions, with Maricopa only able to muster up one, taking the contest to its final.

The Saints now await a date with Horizon, a team they defeated earlier this season in a 42-41 thriller in two overtimes. However, regardless of how the upcoming matchup ends, it’s clear to the Saints their season is nearing its end.

“For me, I feel like my family's being taken away from me,” Prelock said. “It's the worst feeling in the world to get eliminated from the playoffs.”

The contest will kickoff at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 at Horizon High School.