Anthony Remedios is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Paradise Valley High School for AZPreps365.com.

Paradise Valley lost 42-14 to Ironwood in its final non-league football game Friday night.

Despite the loss, there were positive things for the Trojans to take away from the game as they continue to adjust to players in new positions as a result of three collarbone injuries on the team.

“I thought our offensive line did a great job, especially Chris Rayas and Armando Nieves on the left side of our o-line, and because of that, we had a lot of success in the run game,” Paradise Valley head coach Greg Davis said after the game.

Nick Gardner, a 5-foot-11 senior, usually plays tailback but played running back for the first time Friday night, and benefited from a strong performance by the offensive line, finishing with 22 carries, 104 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards, according to MaxPreps.

“Every game plan [Davis] has is based around our o-line,” said senior quarterback and captain Ryan Deonise, who originally started the season as an outside linebacker.

According to MaxPreps, Deonise threw nine completions in 26 attempts in Friday’s loss, but totaled 129 passing yards and one touchdown pass to receiver Erick Reyes-Aguilera in the middle of the third quarter.

Neither team was able to put points on the scoreboard until Ironwood quarterback Connor Monahan threw a 29-yard pass to Adian Jones with just under eight minutes to go in the second quarter.

Monahan, a junior first-year starter, went on to finish the game with three passing touchdowns.

“He’s really starting to see our offense and feel good in it,” Ironwood head coach Chris Rizzo said of Monahan.

The second half had an eventful start, as Paradise Valley recovered their own kickoff at the Eagles’ 47-yard line. They were unable to secure a first down and committed a 5-yard false start penalty during the short two-minute drive, which ultimately led to a 78-yard punt return by Drey’lan Dobbin to extend the Eagles’ lead 21-0.

Dobbin carried the ball several times in Friday’s game, and earned several receptions as well.

“We were really trying to establish a run game and control the clock a little bit, and if we didn’t have so many penalties, then we’d be all right,” Rizzo said.

Two of the Eagles’ six touchdowns were rushing touchdowns by senior running back Elias Hernandez.

For the Trojans, Deonise and Reyes-Aguilera struggled to connect on the field at times Friday night, but Deonise and Davis are hopeful that both will improve as the chemistry develops through the remainder of the season. Reyes-Aguilera ended the game with only three receptions and 55 total yards, according to Maxpreps.

“Erick is a very athletic kid, who knows how to run, [he’s aware of his surroundings], and he had some great plays tonight and last week too,” Davis said.

“[Reyes-Aguilar] had a great game down the sideline,” Rizzo said. “He stretched the field deep.”

“Coming into the game, we knew Erick had a size advantage against their corner, so we knew to run the ball, and then we’re going to try to have him make an athletic play out there,” Deonise said.

Mainly a soccer athlete, Reyes-Aguilera has only been playing football for the past eight months.

His biggest struggles have been “knowing the plays and reading corners and safeties,” Reyes-Aguilera said.

The Trojans finish the non-league portion of their schedule 1-3. They will begin 5A Northeast Valley conference play in their next game at home against Cactus Shadows at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1.