The Higley Knights defeated the Desert Edge Scorpions 42-41 in Friday night’s battle to be crowned 5A Divisional champions.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The game was played at Arizona State University’s Mountain America Stadium in Tempe.
The Controversy Starts
Controversy sparked towards the end of the first half when a scuffle broke out between the two teams.
Benches clear in the 5A State Championship between Higley and Desert Edge with 1:21 to play in the 2nd quarter. @azfamily pic.twitter.com/sg2TyIcJW2
— Julia Lopez (@JuliaLopez3) December 2, 2023
The fight resulted in 16 Desert Edge players and just three Higley players being ejected from the game.
Desert Edge Comeback
Despite being down 16 players and trailing 42-13 in the second half, the Scorpions (11-3) climbed back against all odds.
The team cut the lead down to just one as time expired, with senior athlete Deshawn Warner rushing it in from Higley’s one-yard line.
Touchdown Desert Edge. Deshawn Warner punches it in from a yard out.
42-41 Higley. No time left. Two-point conversion incoming pic.twitter.com/EFhO5VT2gh
— Zach Alvira (@ZachAlvira) December 2, 2023
Flag Takes Win Away From The Scorpions
Desert Edge then went for two on a draw play with Warner and was successful… until a flag was thrown. The Scorpions thought they were champions, however, a controversial holding call took the conversation away.
Desert Edge thought they had won the 5A championship, but a flag is thrown on the two point conversion attempt 😳 pic.twitter.com/hfeg4E3wOv
— ArizonaVarsity.com 🔥PREPS🔥 (@AZHSFB) December 2, 2023
The holding call pushed them back 10 yards but did not stop the Scorpions from going for it again. However, this time it was not successful, ending the game.
Higley Crowned 5A Champions
With all the controversy to the side, the Higley Knights (12-2) played incredible football.
Knights’ star senior running back Daxen Hall totaled 336 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Hall ended a dominant high school career with a memorable performance.
#WestValleyPreps Kick catch interference sets up Higley at the Desert Edge 23.Big problem. Four plays. Fagrell fumbles but quickly gets it to Hall for 10. @daxen_hall8 right up the guy 11 touchdown. Larry Halvorsen runs in 2P conversion 22-0 @HIGLEYFOOTBALL 8:52 second quarter pic.twitter.com/3gsjluoBEx
— Richard Smith (@RsmithYWV) December 2, 2023
This was a rematch between the two teams this year, as they met in September with Desert Edge coming out with the overtime win.
Higley now got their revenge and are champions of the 5A, until further notice.
ICYMI: Higley held off a furious 28-point comeback by making a stop on the 2-point conversion in a 42-41 victory to repeat as 5A champs. pic.twitter.com/n0RTPRCFGg
— Gridiron Arizona (@gridironarizona) December 2, 2023
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Saleh Awwad is a writer/reporter covering Phoenix High School Sports and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @SalehAwwad_
