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

Leading 30-21 with 7:45 remaining, there was only one guy Notre Dame Prep was going to lean on to ice Friday’s game against Arizona College Prep – senior running back Decker Haskins-Smith. 

Haskins-Smith carried the ball for seven of the nine plays on the Saints’ final drive and also had a 19-yard reception. After picking up three or more yards on every carry for the Saints, the top-ranked team in 5A was able to run out the 7:45 and secure the victory, improving to 7-2 on their senior night. 

“(Haskins-Smith) had some big runs, especially in that last drive,” Notre Dame Prep  coach George Prelock said. “That’s just who Decker is. He’s a great player.” 

Haskins-Smith finished the day with 30 carries for 206 yards, making this the fourth game this season he rushed for more than 200 yards. 

Arizona College Prep got down big early, but put together  a late-game surge. After Notre Dame Prep junior kicker Ryder Ashcraft hit a 41-yard field goal the Knights found themselves trailing 31-6 with 2:08 left in the third quarter. 

On the first play of the next drive, Knights senior quarterback Gunnar Schmidt found junior wide receiver Hayes Fowler, who was left uncovered for an 80-yard touchdown. 

Schmidt finished the game 18 for 33 for 275 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. 

The Knights forced a Saints punt on their next drive and capitalized with Schmidt connecting with senior running back JJ Horne on a 15-yard pass for a touchdown. On the 2-point conversion attempt Horne ran the ball in on a pitch play to bring the score to 31-20 with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter. 

Horne had 12 carries for 57 yards as well as six receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. 

“Horne didn’t come off the field. He played offense, he played defense and he played special teams for us,” Arizona College Prep coach Jacob Rutter said. “He left his mark on the field. We’re going to continue to let that kid play until his senior year is over.” 

But ultimately it was too little too late for the Knights, as on their final offensive drive Schmidt was sacked on consecutive plays by senior defensive linemen Brayden Lavinia and James Mariotti, leading to the game-sealing drive from the Saints. 

“We can’t start slow and expect to finish strong,” Rutter said. “You can’t go down 31-6 against a good team and expect to win. You can’t give up field position on special teams and expect to win. Just special teams put us in a bad spot tonight.” 

Notre Dame Prep’s first score of the game came from special teams. 

Saints senior Mason Pavone had a 95-yard kick off return for a touchdown giving them their first lead of the game at 7-6 with 9:40 left in the first quarter. 

Arizona College Prep also allowed Notre Dame Prep to start a drive in the red zone at the 16-yard line due to a short punt plus a penalty. The Saints took advantage of the field position with junior running back Austin Bush punching in a 5-yard run bringing the score to 21-6 with 6:47 remaining in the second quarter. 

Bush had 23 yards on the ground while also snagging an interception as a defensive back. 

“He’s just a stud,” Prelock said. “He created a turnover, had some key pass breakups, made tackles and came in when we needed to run the football.” 

Arizona College Prep will be on the road for its final game against Campo Verde (6-3) on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. 

Notre Dame Prep will play its final regular season game on the road against 5A Desert Mountain, who are in first place in the 5A Northeast Valley Region, on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. 

“Next week is for playoff seeding and possibly a bye, home field advantage and for the region,” Prelock said. “Stuff like that is fun for everyone else but stressful for me.”