Evan Gerike is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Canyon View for AZPreps365.com.

WADDELL – When Canyon View flag football coach Muhammed Oliver looks at his two underclassmen quarterbacks, he gets excited about the future of his young team.

After they combined for six passing touchdowns Thursday in a 55-12 win over Betty H. Fairfax, the present is looking promising, too.

Sophomore Nataley Laing threw for 200 yards on 9-of-13 passing with three touchdowns, while freshman Leila McInnis came off the bench to go 10 for 16 with 153 yards and three touchdowns as the No. 4 Jaguars (6-3) handled the No. 28 Stampede (3-5)  at Jaguar Stadium.

“It’s very intriguing,” Oliver said. “It’s something we’re so excited about because our team is predominantly freshmen and sophomores. We know in two years, this is going to be a really special team.”

Canyon View’s quarterbacks brought a balance of small, consistent gains and explosive plays. Laing needed just two passes to get the Jaguars on the board, hitting a hitch for 8 yards before finding junior receiver Raniyah Slocum for a 74-yard score to take a quick 7-0 lead.

Oliver said Laing, who started for the Jaguars as a freshman last season, has been mentoring McInnis, and the two feed off each other’s energy. 

While they sometimes learn who is quarterbacking each drive as it starts, they split playing time by quarter Thursday. Laing played in the first and fourth quarters, while McInnis played the middle two.

“It’s better for our younger years, getting to spread the time,” Laing said. “There’s not as much pressure on you as one person, taking the blame for everything happening at quarterback."

After Canyon View’s defense got a safety to give the Jaguars a 17-6 lead to end the first quarter, McInnis entered and took three plays to find sophomore receiver Nadia Fonseca for a 17-yard touchdown, making it 25-6.

Two drives later, McInnis completed two passes to freshman receiver Rylee Anderson, the second of which was an 18-yard score, putting the Jaguars up 33-6 at halftime.

“When there’s a touchdown, it allows us to boost our energy,” McInnis said. “If I can keep doing that, we keep all our energy. We’re having fun.”

McInnis has been the starting quarterback for Canyon View’s undefeated junior varsity team all season, and is now splitting her time with varsity. Oliver said her maturity level doesn’t match her grade.

“She’s a freshman biologically, but mentally and competitively, she’s not a freshman,” Oliver said. “She’ll step into a varsity game and be composed and not feel any pressure. It’s just the type of athlete she is.”

McInnis led an 86-yard scoring drive on her lone chance in the third quarter, which ended with a 39-yard pass to Slocum that put Canyon View up 41-12 with 1:46 remaining in the quarter.

McInnis said it is nerve-wracking to play varsity as a freshman since she didn’t expect it. But, after leading touchdown drives on three of four possessions, she said it’s relaxing to come in and play her game.

Laing returned in the fourth quarter, connecting with senior Brielle Leamaster for 27 yards and a touchdown to close out the Jaguars’ offensive scoring. The team’s sixth passing touchdown of the night made the score 47-12.

Freshman Chyna Price ended the game with a pick-six, returning it 25 yards to score for a 55-12 final.

Oliver told his team after the game he felt the defense shouldn’t have given up 12 points, though one touchdown came early in the first quarter when Canyon View thought it pulled a Fairfax player’s flag, but the referees ruled it inadvertently fell off and allowed the score.

“We learned from that,” Oliver said. “We know now to, if we don’t hear a whistle, just keep going and touch her.”

It was a teaching moment for Canyon View, whose roster is mostly underclassmen, Oliver said. Two seasons after winning a 5A state championship, the Jaguars’ young roster is continuing to grow week in and week out, Oliver said. 

“We’re going to be ready,” McInnis said. “We’re going to do it the Canyon View way, no matter who we’re playing.”

Canyon View will play at No. 5 Buena (7-2) at 6 p.m. Monday.

Fairfax will return home to face No. 29 Kellis (3-3) at 6 p.m. Tuesday.