Alex McKinley is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Marcos de Niza High School for AZPreps365.com

TEMPE – The Marcos de Niza Padres’ season came to an end with a 51-14 home loss to the Mesquite Wildcats Friday night. A dominant outing from the Gilbert-based Wildcats ensured this game was never really close.

It was senior night for the Padres, meaning it would be the last time some of the players take the field for Marcos De Niza. Despite the loss, they left everything they had out on the field. 

Right out of the gates, the Wildcat offense showed what they're capable of. Mesquite marched down the field and scored its first touchdown of the game in under three minutes. For the Padres, their first drive was nothing special. After a 20-yard catch from Brody Bybee and a five-yard rush by Clinton Hopkins were nullified due to penalties, Marcos de Niza was forced to punt.

The Wildcat offense took the field again and went right to work. Just a couple of passes and a ton of short runs later , Mesquite scored its second touchdown. Then, in what was the Padres' best play of the game to that moment, Xavier Bueno burst through the Wildcat offensive line and blocked the extra point attempt, keeping the score at 13-0.

Following another quick few plays and a punt from the Padres, the Wildcats looked to increase their lead to three scores. They were able to push their way to MdN's side of the field before the Padres’ defense stopped them and forced them into a 50-yard field goal attempt. 

The Padres’ lined up to defend the kick, the ball was snapped, and Mason Stromstad charged through. Reminiscent of his game-winning field goal block from the previous week against Seton Catholic, Stromstad blocked the kick, snagged the ball, and ran it back 60 yards for the touchdown.

“It was exciting,” stated Stromstad. “Being able to help the team and then standing in the endzone while everyone is running at you, it’s just exciting.”

Stromstad brought his team to within six points but the Padres were never able to capitalize. The Wildcats returned to the field and wasted no time in scoring. Similar to their first drive, it took no more than three minutes to find the endzone, putting the score at 20-7, Wildcats.

Offensive lineman Lino Valenzuela lines up at quarterback for the last play of the game  (Alex mckinley/AZPreps365)

The Padres then fumbled on the first play of the next drive, giving the Wildcats excellent field position and a chance to score going into halftime. They did what the Padres had struggled with all game: they capitalized on the opportunity . Scoring one last touchdown before the half, the Wildcats led the Padres, 27-7.

The second half was much like the first, with Mesquite dominating on both sides of the field. Scoring 24 unanswered points and activating the running clock rule, the game was essentially over. 

This didn't mean the fun was over, after all, it was still senior night. With six minutes on the running clock the Padres didn't have much time. They charged down the field with a blend of passing from quarterback Braeson Leon and rushing from  Hopkins, the ball was set precisely one yard away from the end zone.

“Yesterday was my first practice back,” Lino Valenzuela stated. “We worked on it for the first time then.”

The Padres’ head coach, Antony Figueroa, signaled for a timeout with 45 seconds remaining in the game and as the Padres ran back onto the field there was a very noticeable adjustment on offense. Coach Figueroa took out the starting quarterback and in his place was Valenzuela, a senior offensive lineman.

The ball was snapped directly to Valenzuela who rammed his way into the endzone for his first-ever touchdown in the last game of his high school career. “It was really crazy,” he said. “You know, being an offensive lineman and getting the chance to score a touchdown on senior night, it was awesome.”