REGULAR SEASON VARSITY FOOTBALL 9.5.25 GAME 2

 

 

Skyhawks Claw Back to Top Bulldogs in Thriller


In just their second game of the season, the Deer Valley Skyhawks delivered a comeback to remember, storming back from a 19-point hole to defeat the Barry Goldwater Bulldogs 38–34.

Goldwater came out fast, leaning on their rushing attack. M. Larry (3) ripped off a 78-yard run on his way to 127 yards and a touchdown, while A. Williams (8) added two more scores on the ground. Quarterback J. Gastelum (21) also found C. Drank (18) for a touchdown through the air, and by midway through the second quarter a score correction had pushed the Bulldogs’ lead all the way to 34–8.

Deer Valley, though, refused to fold. Quarterback G. Youngker (1) kept firing, finishing the night with 281 passing yards and four touchdowns. His first-half strike to B. Keith (2) gave the Skyhawks life heading into halftime, trimming the gap to 34–15.

The momentum carried into the second half. Youngker connected repeatedly with C. Paxton (5), who hauled in 10 catches for 179 yards, and A. Chaves (10), who added 49 yards through the air. A third-quarter touchdown pass followed by a two-point conversion cut the deficit to 34–23 and had the home crowd buzzing.

The turning point came in the fourth. Youngker delivered another touchdown pass and two-point conversion to close within three, before the Skyhawks’ ground game finished the job. B. Keith (6) powered in the go-ahead rushing touchdown, and A. Chaves (10) knocked through the all-important extra point to give Deer Valley their first lead since the opening minutes.

Defensively, the Skyhawks were relentless. C. Smith (44) led the charge with 15 tackles, while W. Simpson (54) added 12 tackles, a sack, and two forced fumbles. N. Cervantes (11) contributed an interception that helped keep Goldwater’s passing game in check.

When the final whistle sounded, Deer Valley had flipped the scoreboard, sealing a 38–34 victory in front of a roaring home crowd. The Skyhawks now improve to 2–0, adding this comeback to their opening win over Peoria, while Goldwater falls to 1–1 after starting their season with a close victory against Raymond S. Kellis.