Aaron Johnson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arizona College Prep for AZPreps365.com 

Despite a 35-16 loss to ALA-Gilbert North (8-0) on Friday at home, Arizona College Prep (6-2) accomplished something that the Eagles’ previous three opponents didn’t accomplish – they forced them to play their starters the entire game. 

“It’s been really three weeks where our starters haven’t played more than a half,” ALA-Gilbert North coach Ty Detmer said .”We’ve had our way for a few weeks in a row and we needed a tougher game here and have to play a full game and execute.” 

In their previous three games the Eagles outscored their opponents a combined 184-0 and are ranked second in Division 5A. 

Arizona College Prep coach Jacob Rutter knew the Knights were in for a challenge. 

“We knew they were going to load the box and play aggressive defense,” Rutter said. “So our (game plan) was to get them uncomfortable in what they want to do, and we did not do that. They played great defense tonight and they suffocated us.” 

The Knights scored their first points of the game on a 47-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Gunnar Schmidt to senior wide receiver Dalton Speaks with 10:09 left in the second quarter. This brought the score to 7-6 after the Knights missed the extra point kick. 

This score was the first points that the Eagles surrendered in 14 quarters of play. The last touchdown scored against ALA-Gilbert North came in the third quarter of a 33-30 win over Desert Edge on Sept. 18. 

Following that the Eagles went on a 14-3 run in the second quarter scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run from senior running back Weston Powell at the 5:27 mark and an 11-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Ben Livngston to senior wide receiver Isaac Massey with 2:01 remaining, which gave the Eagles a 21-9 lead heading into halftime. 

Massey finished with eight receptions for 112 yards. 

Livingston completed 17 of 24 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown while having two turnovers. 

With 9:38 left in the third quarter, Livingston threw an interception to Knights sophomore defensive back Marcus Fitzgerald, who returned it 30 yards for a touchdown that cut  ALA-Gilbert North’s lead to 21-16. 

The Eagles did not allow this to become a big swing of momentum in favor of the Knights as they followed the pick six with an 80-yard scoring drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by senior running back McRae Skinner. 

ALA-Gilbert North was able to ice the game thanks to a great two-headed rushing attack with Powell and Skinner. Powell had 23 carries for 140 yards and two touchdowns while Skinner had 17 carries for 111 yards with two touchdowns. 

“Skinner doesn't always get the most carries,” Detmer said. “Powell went down (injured) a little bit and was gassed on the defensive side and Skinner is always ready to jump in there. He’s a physical runner and we got to put the game away running the football.” 

Skinner delivered the final blow in the game as he scored a 34-yard touchdown run with 1:46 left in the fourth quarter. 

This game marked the Knights’ first home loss of the season, which came in their final home game. 

The biggest play of the night for Arizona College Prep was one that didn’t count. With less than 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Schmidt connected with Speaks for an 81-yard touchdown that was overturned due to an illegal block-in-the-back penalty. 

“It’s frustrating because it was an unnecessary block in the back,” Rutter said. “I’m not gonna sit here and complain about calls. The referee made the right call. Our kids need to be smarter than that and make better decisions.” 

The touchdown would have brought the game within one possession. Instead, the score remained 28-16. 

Arizona College Prep’s next game will be at Notre Dame Prep (6-2) on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.

ALA-Gilbert North will host Campo Verde (6-2) on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.