Bennett Silvyn is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Shadow Mountain High School for AZPreps365.com. 

The Shadow Mountain football team struggled in a 52-13 loss to North on Friday, putting the Matadors at 0-4 on the season. 

The game picked up at the end of the first quarter with North breaking the 0-0 deadlock. Senior running back Jj Herrera broke loose on a 35-yard touchdown run, resulting in a 6-0 Mustangs lead. 

Later in the second quarter, North struck again with senior quarterback Caleb Miller finding junior Benjie Calvillo from six yards out. This time the snap was good on the extra point and Kenny Bahena converted to give the Mustangs a 13-point lead. 

It did not take long for Shadow Mountain to respond with sophomore Arturo Nubez taking the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to the end zone. This shattered the mark for the Matadors’ longest touchdown of the year, held by senior Carson Becktold (80 yards). 

With two minutes left in the second quarter, North returned a punt 49 yards and senior Gabriel Aldana rushed into the end zone for a touchdown on the next play. 

On the Matadors’ next drive, Nubez fumbled and the Mustangs recovered. With just 34 seconds in the half, Miller found one of his favorite targets, freshman Ezy Brown, for a 32-yard touchdown and a 27-7 halftime lead.

The field in the first half was covered in yellow penalty flags, with North accounting for 14 penalties for 100 yards. Shadow Mountain had only eight penalties for 50 yards. The theme of penalties would continue in the second half. 

North dominated the third quarter, scoring 19 unanswered points. Aldana rushed for a touchdown, while Herrera had two of his own with a 1-yard run and a 40-yard scoop and score.  

Down 46-7 entering the fourth quarter, the Matadors successfully executed a fake punt where Meyn found Nubez for a 36-yard gain. As soon as the offense came back on the field, sophomore quarterback Nico Alvarez scrambled for seven yards into the end zone. The homecoming crowd erupted in cheers.

Herrera found the end zone for the third and final time of the game in the fourth quarter to close out the scoring. 

North’s running back duo of Herrera and Aldana combined for 215 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. In the air, Brown and senior Layne Marquez combined for 11 receptions for 170 yards.

“When we have a running game, it makes the passing game easier so when we’re efficient running the ball, we are also efficient passing the ball,” said North quarterback Miller.

Even with all their success, penalties were a major problem for the Mustangs. North ended the game with 28 penalties which added up to 220 yards. 

According to head coach Mark Mejia, this is a culture problem for his team. 

“The big thing is we are trying to change the culture,” Mejia said. “Everyone knows North is an inner-city school and all the stereotypes that come with it. That is what we just demonstrated on the field and that is what we as a coaching staff are trying to change.”

The Matadors’ woes continued on both sides of the ball. The offense came out hot but stalled out on the opening drive due to a turnover. 

“Our youth came back out again, and guys started to play hero ball which is doing too much instead of their job,” said Shadow Mountain head coach Ron Fagan. “They are young and hungry, we just made simple mental mistakes.”

The Matadors offense finished with 170 total yards and two turnovers. Even with the offensive struggles, senior running back Edward Welch looked the closest to being fully healthy all year after a foot injury in preseason training, finishing with 14 carries for 60 yards. 

Fagan pulled Welch in the fourth quarter because Welch was “exhausted” after missing most of the preseason conditioning due to his injury. 

Shadow Mountain goes back on the road to face Washington at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8.