Julian Khoury is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Horizon High School for AZPreps365.com

SCOTTSDALE. Ariz - “Respect all, fear none.”

The slogan hangs all over Horizon’s football stadium, urging the young men on the field to play with camaraderie and take care of their jobs.

Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham constantly preaches the importance of culture and community, and there is no shortage of either for the Huskies.

After managing just 185 yards of offense in a grueling defeat to Notre Dame Prep last week, Horizon regained its mojo and beat Cactus Shadows 34-21 on Thursday for its first region win of the season.

“We had a lot of people doubting us,” third-year quarterback Kai Knudson said. “I think tonight showed that we can bounce back from adversity.”

The Fiesta Bowl Game of the Week did more than provide exposure for the athletes through television. Dillingham and his son, who wore a Diamondbacks jersey with his last name on it, were in attendance for the battle.       

ASU head football coach Kenny Dillingham and offensive line coach Saga Tuitele looking on. (Julian Khoury/AZPreps365)

Beneath a dark, clear sky, loud booms echoed across the landscape as fireworks flew through the air. In a seven-point game, with momentum building for the Falcons, third-year quarterback Gage Millard rolled out of the pocket, scanning the field.

As he moved through his progressions, so did the eyes of third-year safety Bryce Davis, tracking his every action. Millard released the ball, and it floated through the colorful lights in a scene straight out of the movie “The Sandlot.” Unlike the film, Davis wasn’t amazed at the sight. He saw only the rotating white stripes as he broke toward the Husky sideline, stepped in front of the receiver and intercepted the ball.

While Davis was swarmed by teammates in lime green and yellow jerseys, the scene on the other side was less pleasant: linemen with their hands on their heads, receivers struggling to understand what had happened and Millard standing alone in the backfield in disbelief.

Regrettably for Millard, it wouldn’t be the last.

"it's not often that you get a defense that can stop the other team from coming back two times," second-year running back Dylan Brush said. 

After the Falcons forced a stop a drive later, there was still time to make a run downfield. With a strong defensive line in front of them, they elected to run multiple screen plays in a row.

The first few worked, but on third down, as Millard dropped back, the rush was overpowering. With little time, he released the ball quickly, but in a disastrous attempt to find an open receiver, it landed in the hands of third-year linebacker Ryan Rottkamp.

Brush, a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, ran into the end zone and delivered the final blow for his second touchdown of the game. After crossing the goal line, instead of a massive celebration, Brush handed the ball straight to the referee, put his head down and ran toward his teammates on the near sideline, perfectly embodying the school’s motto.

“My dad doesn’t believe in celebrating and showboating. I’m tired enough getting in the end zone,” Brush said.

Brush has been phenomenal for the Huskies, with multitouchdown performances in six of seven games, including Thursday’s, and a six-touchdown game against Sunnyslope. He has more than 1,280 yards on the season and more than 20 touchdowns, second most in the state.

“Coach (Tyson) Ditmore is amazing. He has a lot of connections, and he helps me with everything,” Brush said. “I don’t want to be anywhere but Horizon.”

For a running back to operate at such a high caliber, he needs good protection up front. Dillingham wasn’t alone on the sideline. Arizona State offensive line coach Saga Tuitele was there, too, keeping an eye on a potential future Sun Devil.

With a 13-point lead in the second quarter and a chance to score in the red zone, Knudson clapped to break the huddle, but there was one other player who was practically impossible to miss.

Third-year lineman Liam McNeal, who stands 6-foot-7, according to 247Sports, jogged toward the left side of the line, placed his hand on the turf and stared into the eyes of his opponent.

The play call was a jet sweep with a receiver in motion. Just before the snap, the receiver ran past Knudson, and the fake handoff was on.

Knudson pulled the ball back, and a perfect crevice through the line allowed him to reach the end zone easily to put the team up 27-7.

“Tonight felt like the first time I really settled in,” Knudson said. “I had a couple nice runs, I trust my receivers and everyone else out there. We had a groove going.”

However, that wasn’t all.

On the Horizon sideline stood Tuitele, who watched the only two players still going after the whistle: McNeal and the linebacker he took with him from the left hash all the way to the sideline.

The referee told McNeal to take it easy, but Tuitele was thrilled with the move, yelling out, “Great job, Liam!”

McNeal was elated that Tuitele was there to watch.

“It means a ton. They’re one of the few schools that have showed up to a game so far,” McNeal said. “It really shows how much they appreciate me and how much I appreciate them.”

McNeal has offers from five schools, including Big 12 programs Texas Tech and Arizona State. He credits Ditmore for the work that made it possible.

“The way he has built our culture, and the way he has tried to make us into great men as well as great football players, we wouldn’t be here without him,” McNeal said. “On the recruiting side, he’s helped so much. He’s called me out of class to talk to coaches, he’s set up things for me personally to get recruited. I couldn’t be where I am without him.”

With Tuitele in attendance, the Huskies showed they can win the battle in the trenches, as all five touchdowns came on the ground. However, errors on special teams nearly doomed their bounce-back win.

“It’s a frustrating win for us,” McNeal said. “I love that we won the game, but we have to score more than one touchdown in the second half. That’s unacceptable.”

A blocked extra-point attempt cost Horizon a point early, and a late blocked punt put the Falcons in prime position to cash in and make it a one-score game, which they did.

“It’s the little things,” McNeal said. “It’s not getting to your right assignment. It’s not hitting the right gap.”

With primary receiver James Klopfenstein sidelined for the season after an injury in the fourth game, the Huskies are no strangers to challenge. 

“We’re resilient. Whenever we face adversity, none of us ever put our head down and sulk,” Knudson said.

As Horizon heads to Highland on Oct. 16, Brush stressed the importance of a selfless mentality.

“It’s not about a single person, it’s about the whole team,” Brush said. “We have one of the best brotherhoods in the state.”