Ireland Horvat is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Brophy College Preparatory for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX -- Elijah Warner threw for three touchdowns and the defense pitched a shutout as Brophy College Prep blanked Pinnacle High School, 21-0, Friday night. 

Warner's passing barrage began on the Broncos' opening possession. The senior tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Zimmerman. The play was redolent of a Warner scoring throw from Brophy's win one week earlier. “Just starting off the game with a touchdown is always great," said Warner. "Getting that intensity up when the defense gets stopped, just sets that tempo for the whole game." 

Zimmerman made a prodigious catch over two defenders, putting Brophy ahead 6-0 with 8:40 left in the first quarter. 

Warner, the son of former St. Louis Ram and Arizona Cardinal quarterback, Kurt Warner, has a coach on and off the field.  “He has so much knowledge that he can teach me, so all day long at the dinner table and car rides, we'll be talking about it," said the younger Warner, but it's nice to have him out here for sure. He taught me so much about the game."

“I feel like mentally I'm just so far ahead of my age group because of his knowledge," Warner added. "And it's just fun to have him out here. I mean, there's times where it's dad and son and it gets a little tough, but it’s nice having him out here.”

In the second quarter Brophy defensive back Billy Eastep intercepted a Pinnacle pass right off the turf. That gave the Broncos the football in good filed position and set up the team's second touchdown.

With six minutes to go in the second quarter, Warner threw a long pass to wide receiver Max Ware, who was tackled at the Pioneer 10-yard line. Warner then threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Carlos Dominguez, putting the Broncos up 14-0.

The Bronco secondary was predatory on this evening. Defensive back Josh Minton intercepteda a wayward Pioneer pass before halftime and later Sam William did the same. Both interceptions stalled Pioneer drives and helped the Broncos, ranked seventh in 6A, maintain a 14-0 lead through three quarters. 

In the first minute of the fourth quarter, Warner threw his third touchdown pass to a third different target. This time it was a five-yarder to Taj Hughes, extending Brophy's lead to 21-0.

Towards the end of the fourth quarter, Krush Sower of Pinnacle went down with a lower leg injury and was unable to walk off the field. As trainers rushed the field, an ambulance turned into Ray Laing Field to get him. His Injury is undisclosed. 

With minutes to go, Brophy’s defense did not budge. The clock ran out and Brophy's defense had recorded its second shutout of the season, 21-0. 

Brophy only played seven games in a Covid-shortened 2020, but the Broncos improved to 5-2 in this campaign. With plenty of football remaining. Third-year coach Jason Jewell was gratified with his boys tonight. “We’re playing good football," said Jewell. "I couldn't be more pleased with my coaching staff and our kids and the support here is awesome. It's going good. So it's a complete 180 from last year.” 

Brophy will play next Friday against Centennial at home at 7 pm.