JP Rosales is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Copper Canyon High School for AZPreps365.com

GLENDALE — Copper Canyon’s defense held Alhambra to just one touchdown Thursday night as the Aztecs earned their first home win of the season, 32-7.

The Aztecs forced two turnovers and staged two fourth-down stops, while running back Jaedyn Valdez scored two rushing touchdowns en route to the win. Quarterback Brooklen Ortiz also returned from injury to make his first start back for Copper Canyon, which improved to 3-3 overall and 1-0 in 4A Copper Sky region play.

Copper Canyon’s defense set the tone early, recovering an Alhambra fumble on the Lions’ opening possession. The Aztecs turned the takeaway into a 15-yard Valdez touchdown run for a 7-0 lead with 8:36 left in the first quarter.

Both Copper Canyon first-quarter touchdown drives were extended with fourth-down conversions. Ortiz connected with wide receiver Isaac Simms on fourth-and-13 during the opening drive, then scrambled for a first down on fourth-and-6 during the Aztecs’ next possession. 

Running back Louis Castaneda scored on an 8-yard run one play later, putting Copper Canyon ahead 14-0 with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.

Copper Canyon stopped Alhambra on fourth down twice in the first half. Linebacker Tristan Grapes and safety Syncere Grant combined to stop the Lions short with 3:55 left in the first quarter, and Grapes later recorded a 12-yard sack in the second quarter.

“Relentless effort on the defense,” Copper Canyon head coach Rodger Schenks said. “They played well together. We got to get after it a little bit more and be a little bit more sound, but they’re playing hard and doing good jobs.”

Alhambra’s lone touchdown of the game came with four seconds left in the first quarter when quarterback Max Mathis connected with Duwayne Shelley for a 72-yard score, cutting Copper Canyon’s lead to 14-7. 

Kicker Sergio Bastidos added a 31-yard field goal just before halftime to give Copper Canyon a 17-7 lead at the break.

Coming out of the break, Copper Canyon briefly gave Alhambra an opportunity in the third quarter when Valdez lost a fumble, but defensive back David Camacho intercepted Mathis on the very next play. 

The Aztecs capitalized when Valdez scored his second rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 24-7 with 6:13 left in the third quarter.

Copper Canyon leaned on its running game throughout the night, using sustained drives that kept Alhambra’s defense on the field.

Valdez credited Copper Canyon’s offensive line for creating opportunities in the running game. 

“Just reading the blocks,” he said. “My offensive line really helped me.”

Ortiz added to the lead with a 27-yard rushing touchdown with 1:35 left in the third quarter, making it 30-7. Schenks said Ortiz handled his return well after missing time with an injury.

“He ran the offense well. He controlled it,” Schenks said. “He did what we asked and was solid.”

Copper Canyon offensive lineman Noah Perez credited the defense’s success to a team effort but had a simpler description of Grapes’ performance. 

“He’s a dawg,” Perez said.

Alhambra never scored again after Shelley’s first-quarter touchdown, and Copper Canyon added its final two points on a safety with 1:11 remaining.

After securing its first region win, Schenks kept his postgame message brief.

“Let’s get ready to go keep playing,” he said.

Copper Canyon will travel to Maryvale on Friday, Oct. 9 for its second region game of the season.