Desert Vista Uses Strong Third Quarter to Defeat Mountain Pointe 27-21

Desert Vista broke open a tied game in the third quarter Friday night, scoring 13 unanswered points before holding off Mountain Pointe for a 27-21 varsity football victory at Mountain Pointe High School.

The two 6A Southeast teams traded scores throughout the opening half. Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe each scored seven points in the first quarter before matching one another again with seven points apiece in the second, sending the game into halftime tied 14-14.

Desert Vista running back Samuel Schiermeyer carried the offensive load for the Thunder. The junior finished with 139 rushing yards on 28 carries and four touchdowns, averaging 5.0 yards per attempt. His longest run went for 17 yards.

After the halftime tie, Desert Vista created the separation it needed. The Thunder scored twice in the third quarter and put 13 unanswered points on the board, taking a 27-14 lead into the fourth.

Mountain Pointe responded with seven points in the final quarter, but Desert Vista kept the Pride from completing the comeback and closed out the six-point victory.

Mountain Pointe running back Jamier McKinney produced a strong rushing performance of his own, finishing with 151 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry and recorded a game-long rush of 44 yards.

Quarterback Kristian Escobedo completed 10 of 19 passes for 133 yards for Mountain Pointe. Chris McCorkle led the Pride receiving group with six catches for 64 yards, while Aiden Rodriguez added a 38-yard reception and Devon Robinson finished with two catches for 19 yards.

Mountain Pointe also received major contributions from its defense. LeGarrette Blount Jr. and Amare Turner each recorded an interception returned for a touchdown, accounting for two of the Pride's three touchdowns.

McKinney scored Mountain Pointe's other touchdown on the ground, while Nicholas Gonzales converted all three PAT attempts.

Desert Vista attempted only 16 passes between Ethan Camrud and Chase Steel, completing four for 54 yards. Steel also contributed 47 rushing yards on six carries.

In the receiving game, Colton Cassutt finished with two catches for 22 yards, Jaeden Williams had one reception for 20 yards and Hayden Allan added a 12-yard catch.

Williams also contributed on special teams with three punt returns for 48 yards, including a 38-yard return. Jaiden Finger recorded a 35-yard kickoff return, while Marshall Carpenter made three of four extra-point attempts for the Thunder.

Ultimately, Desert Vista's third-quarter surge proved to be the difference. After entering halftime tied, the Thunder created a 13-point advantage and held on through Mountain Pointe's fourth-quarter response to secure the 27-21 road victory.