John Kuziej is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Brophy for AZPreps365.com

A 6A Northeast Valley conference game between the Highland Hawks and Brophy Broncos came down to the wire Friday in Phoenix. With seven seconds left, the Broncos had the ball on the Hawks' 1-yard line, down five. A Hawks defensive stop saw them come away with the victory, 13-8.

“Extremely proud,” Brophy Coach Jason Jewell said. “There was no one in the media. No one in the state. No one in the stadium other than maybe our crowd who thought we had a chance.

"I knew we did. I thought we had a good game plan. Come in and be physical because nobody had really been able to be physical with these guys (Highland) and we were.”

The tone was set from the first drive, which ended in a Brophy interception. Highland took over a short field, starting at the Broncos' 37-yard line.

After driving to the Brophy 4-yard line, the Broncos forced the Hawks backwards, making them settle for a 30-yard field goal by senior kicker Crew Crockett to give Highland a 3-0 lead with 5:32 remaining in the first quarter.

A 30-yard punt return by senior Cole Crandall set up the Hawks at the Broncos' 15-yard line.

The Broncos' defense once again forced the Hawks backwards, holding them to a 34-yard field goal by Crockett to make it 6-0 Hawks with 9:30 left in the second quarter.

“It was our physicality,” Brophy senior linebacker Strider Aston said. “This was the best we’ve played. Everyone was flying to the ball.”

The Hawks struck again on a quick drive capped off by a 36-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Joseph Walter to sophomore wide receiver Greg Toler Jr. That extended the lead to 13-0 with 5:48 remaining in the second quarter.

Brophy drove down the field but a holding penalty cost the Broncos four points as they settled for a 27-yard field goal by junior kicker Connor Furey, making  it 13-3 Hawks with 1:27 until halftime.

The Broncos defense got an interception with 1:04 remaining in the half, giving the offense another chance to score.

Junior quarterback Charlie McGinnis slipped out of a sack and threw the ball down field to junior wide receiver Jax Ryan for a 69-yard touchdown, but an illegal formation penalty wiped it out and the score remained 13-3 at halftime.

The second half saw the Broncos defense pitch a shutout and force a safety when the ball was snapped over the head of the Hawks punter to make it 13-8 with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter.

“We cleaned up some things that they (Highland) were trying to do to us in the first half,” defensive coordinator Kevin Scott said. “They adjusted to it and they were hitting them in the mouth.”

On the final drive the Broncos pulled out a trick play, having senior running back David Lopez throw a pass which he completed for 25 yards to junior quarterback Jacob Buggie.

“Yeah, that was something. I wish it would have scored,” Jewell said.

An interception in the final moments by Highland cornerback senior Ezekiel Nautu saw Highland get the win 13-8.

“We are a young football team and we are still learning how to finish,” Jewell said. “This is not something to hang our heads about. This is a good football team (Highland) that has played in the 6A state championship the last two years. Won it last year.”

Brophy (1-3, 0-1) will host Notre Dame Prep (3-1) at 7 p.m. Friday. Highland (3-1, 1-0) will host Hamilton (3-1) at 7 p.m. Friday.