Desert Ridge's football team rested at at 2-4 when the calendar turned to October and a three-game losing streak attached. On the first day of November the Jaguars are champions of the 6A Central Region.

With a dominating defensive effort and four touchdowns from Avantae Barrett, Desert Ridge belted Highland, 28-14, at Desert Ridge.

"This team has showed so much," Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock said. "We might bend, but you'll never break us. I feel like our kids rose up and showed some resolve."

Desert Ridge (6-4, 4-1 region) won its last four games after absorbing a three-game losing streak to close September. Those losses were to Liberty, Corona del Sol and Chandler. Highland, which was on a roll of its own after an overtime loss to Desert Vista in late September, had three-game winning streak snapped. Both Desert Ridge and Highland (7-3, 3-2) will be part of the 6A playoffs - perhaps both hosting first-round games. 

Barrett, a junior running back-linebacker, jump-started the Jaguars with plays on both sides of the ball. His 23-yard touchdown run in the second quarter answered a pick-6 TD by Highland standout running back-linebacker Daniel Wood that opened the scoring with 8:48 left. Barrett's TD tied the contest at 7.

Barrett's run also came after a huge break Desert Ridge capitalized on. The ensuing play from scrimmage after Wood's interception of Jaguars quarterback Austin Kolb was a pass thrown by Kolb, deflected and nearly picked off by Highland. The deflection landed in the hands of Desert Ridge receiver Andrew Chino for a 58-yard gain. 

Barrett's defensive score was on the next play from scrimmge. Barrett picked off Highland quarterback Taylor Siren and wasted no time returning it 27 yards for a 14-7 edge and the lead for good.

Desert Ridge's defense was stout all night. It limited Highland to 55 yards rushing on 26 attempts and shutdown Wood, who managed 28 yards on the ground for the night. 

Desert Ridge put together two scoring drives in the second half - a 92-yard march on its first possession of the third quarter and a 73-yard jaunt late in the third to early in the fourth. Both were capped by short TD runs by Barrett of 3 yards and 1 yard. Barrett rushed for a modest 64 yards.

Highland managed an offensive TD in the final two minutes with Wood doing the honors. Wood took a short pass from Siren and turned it into a nifty 34-yard score.