Reyna Stanley is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mesa High School for AZPreps365.com

MESA, Ariz - Mesa High School closed out its regular season in dominant fashion Thursday night, shutting out Skyline High School 36-0 on senior night to close the season with a three-game winning streak and a record of 10-6.

Before kickoff, Mesa honored its five seniors (Lexee Sunderhaus, Payten Laws, Tru Sandoval, Daisy Chavarria, Alyn Rosales Olvera) with introductions alongside their families, giving the players a moment to celebrate their contributions to the program. Each senior had the opportunity to be recognized before taking the field for the final home game of the regular season. 

“I’m super happy with the outcome,” Mesa player Erienne Allen said. “I feel like we all played really hard to honor our seniors.”

Mesa carried an 18-0 lead into halftime, establishing control early and maintaining its advantage throughout the game. Though  the team faced a few challenges with pulling flags and some difficult calls, it continued to find ways to make plays and keep the Coyotes from gaining momentum. Mesa also missed its two-point conversion attempts following its scores, leaving some opportunities to add to its lead.

Defensively, Mesa made its presence felt with multiple interceptions, including strong performances from Leka Vaitafa and Lexee Sunderhaus. The two consistently created opportunities to get the ball back for their offense, disrupting Skyline’s attempts to move down the field. Their defensive play helped limit Skyline’s scoring opportunities and kept the Coyotes off the scoreboard.

While the final score reflected Mesa’s control of the game, the night was about more than the result. The team made an effort to get its seniors involved in the game, while spreading opportunities across the roster and making sure everyone had a chance to touch the ball. It gave the players an opportunity to celebrate their teammates and recognize the contributions each person made throughout the season.

For the Coyotes, the season has brought its own set of challenges. Skyline has dealt with roster and organizational changes, creating obstacles throughout the year. Despite those setbacks, the team continued to compete, and coach Kevin Smith emphasized that his focus was on his players’ effort rather than the scoreboard.

“We try not to really excel in regards to the scoreboard itself, but in regards to our effort,” Smith said. “The effort was really good. It’s just a matter of fighting today.” 

Although the result did not go Skyline’s way, Smith was proud of the fight his players showed. 

For Mesa coach Mikhail Barton, the final result was another reflection of how far his team has come beyond individual wins. Watching the players develop and grow throughout the year has been one of the biggest takeaways.

“Just the growth. It’s indescribable watching them come out,” said Barton when asked about his outlook on the season.

The victory also brought Mesa full circle. The team opened its season with a three-game winning streak and closed the regular season with another, giving it momentum heading into the postseason selection process. 

With the regular season complete, the Jackrabbits will now wait for Saturday’s playoff selections to find out whether it has earned a spot in the postseason. After a season of development and a strong finish, the team hopes to have another opportunity to take the field.

For the seniors, Thursday night marked a celebration of their time with the program and the teammates who shared the field with them. As they prepare to pass the torch, the rest of the team will look to carry the progress they’ve made into whatever comes next.