Connor Manning is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Alhambra High School for AZPreps365.com.

PHOENIX - The Alhambra Lions football team piled into a school bus and traveled to another high school football field for the first time in 42 days on Friday against the North Canyon Rattlers. North Canyon put the game out of reach fairly quickly, taking a 21-0 first-quarter lead and then easing into the halftime homecoming festivities up 42-0 . 

The same demons that have haunted the Lion defense all season returned, as Rattler senior wideout/running back Izzy Durgin exploded for 98 yards rushing and four touchdowns on only eight carries. Seven other Rattlers would garner at least one carry to combine for 294 yards on the ground and all eight touchdowns.

The arm of North Canyon’s senior signal caller, Amari William Harrison, was not put to much use. Harrison completed only six passes on 11 attempts for 145 yards and no scores. On top of North Canyon's constant onslaught, the Lion defense committed costly penalties that hurt them throughout the game as well. 

“Our biggest expectation is to come out and compete and try to progress each week,” said Alhambra coach Charles Rivera when asked about his team’s expectations for each game and the rest of the season. “The biggest victory for us right now is not giving up and making the other team know they’ve been in a fight.” 

Alhambra’s offense, which is starting to find its way onto the scoreboard consistently, could not find a rhythm in the first half. Matthew Green, the Lions' junior quarterback, faced constant pressure from North Canyon’s front and couldn’t find receivers. Green fell victim to three sacks in the first half.

Later on in the game Green began completing more passes and then orchestrated the Lions' only touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. He connected with junior receiver Roman Moreno at the left side of the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown pass. 

“I started to step up more in the pocket,” Green said. “The O-line (offensive line) created a circle around me so that I was able to deliver the ball.” 

Green finished the night completing eight of 21 passes for 118 yards with two interceptions. All but nine of the 118 receiving yards were caught by three different Lion receivers. Junior James Gaie had three receptions for 54 yards, Moreno had 36 yards on three catches to complement his touchdown and senior Kyshaune Linsay caught a 28-yard pass in the fourth quarter on a third-and-10 from the North Canyon 48-yard line that kept the drive alive for the eventual score.  

The Lions' next matchup will feature a return home to clash with a red-hot Camelback Spartans squad on Nov. 5. Camelback won its sixth straight game on Friday and is undefeated in 5A Metro region play. It is Alhambra’s home finale and homecoming game.