Spencer Pullen
Special to AZPreps365.com

Scoring outburst, defense keep Desert Mountain rolling

September 10, 2022 by Spencer Pullen, AZPreps365


Desert Mountain (left) was near the end zone a lot Friday at Camelback. (Photo by Spencer Pullen, azpreps365.com)

There was a storm brewing Friday night at Camelback High.

It came in the form of the Desert Mountain Wolves.

Camelback and Desert Mountain were coming off huge opening season wins and were hungry for another ‘W.’ However, this 5A divisional matchup proved to be one-sided.

The Wolves hit the Spartans like a hurricane during their 50-8 win. The attack started right after the Spartans’ opening snap when junior ballhawk safety Dylan Tapley quickly got on the stat sheet.

“I was supposed to be in the post for that play, and as soon as the ball was snapped I saw the quarterback looking that way,” he said. “There were no receivers coming my way on that side. So I just cheated over, read his eyes, and he threw. I picked it off the very first play to get the game started.”

The turnover set up the Wolves’ offense just outside of the Spartans’ red zone.

Capitalizing on the great field position, Brady McDonough connected with tight end Dillion Hipp for a toe-tapping touchdown.

It was the beginning of a long first quarter for Camelback, which couldn’t get any momentum going on either side of the football. Later in the first quarter, McDonough threw another beautiful dime, this time to Tapley for a touchdown (He plays receiver too).

On the next Spartan offensive possession, a Martin pass was tipped and intercepted by Wolves’ defender Dom Colleto for a pick-six. By the end of the first quarter, the Spartans quickly found themselves in a 22-0 hole.

Thankfully, Camelback High received some time to regather their thoughts when the officials stopped the game due to nearby lightning. But it didn't cool off Desert Mountain.

“The delay got me fired up,” Desert Mountain junior receiver Jack Freeburg said. “I knew I’d come out hotter. When we got into the locker room everyone was blasting music. We were still getting hype. We’re cheering each other on, telling each other what we did right.”

Weather delays nor Camelbacks’ 300 Spartans-like spirit could stop the onslaught Desert Mountain brought Friday night.

McDonough added two more touchdowns in the second quarter to compliment his stellar performance. He found Freeburg and Tapley for scores.

Both receivers finished the night with two touchdowns. Backup quarterback Drew Tapley also threw two touchdown passes in the second half.

The Spartans eventually found the end zone late in the fourth quarter after a long kickoff return. Special teams was a bright spot for Camelback, as that unit blocked multiple extra point attempts.

But Desert Mountain, a semifinalist last year, still dominated for the second consecutive week. Its defense has allowed only 14 points so far.

“These guys are with each other morning, noon and night,” Desert Mountain head coach Conrad Hamilton said. “It’s just a family. We are together a lot. Anytime you want to have a winning situation in any athletic realm I think your team has to be close-knit.”

Dylan echoed what his coach said after the game.

“Almost all of us have been playing (football) with each other since eight, nine years old so we all know what each other does best, and it’s a family over here. We all love each other,” Dylan said.

The 1-1 Spartans will host Paradise Valley next week.

Desert Mountain (2-0) will travel to Mountain View next week to face the 6A Conference Toros.