Matthew Ross is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Maryvale High School for AZPreps365.com

Devin Murphy led Maryvale (1-5) to their first victory in four years when they beat the Alhambra Lions, 24-14, at home on Friday.

The Panthers' sophomore wide receiver and free safety Murphy scored four touchdowns, grabbed an interception, and totaled 175 yards.

“That young man is going places,” Maryvale head coach Byron Traynor said. “He's just a sophomore but he's beyond his years in his mindset. He has grown up so much it's not even funny.”

Maryvale opened up the game with multiple running plays, setting the tone as a physical game. The Panthers eventually turned the ball over on downs giving the Lions (1-6) good field position. 

Alhambra was able to two first downs because of running back James Kane, but a huge third down stop forced the Lions to punt, which was shanked. That led the Panthers offense back onto the field around the Lions' own 35-yard line.  

Murphy then scored a 35-yard rushing TD to put the Panthers up 6-0 with a little less than nine minutes in the second quarter. 

The Lions offense could not compose themselves on the next drive as the unrelenting Panther defense forced an interception caught by Murphy.  

Maryvale trotted back out to good field position as they could feel the energy start to shift as the fans got more involved.

In Maryvale's next possession, Murphy escaped five tackles and exploded for a 52-yard TD, and the successful extra point extended the Panther's lead to 13-0.

The Lions started to feel the game slip away. They responded by driving down the field for a TD and scored a two-point conversion.   

After the failed onside kick, the Panthers offense set up at their own 44, and Murphy's 45-yard gain put the offense at the Lions' 11. However, Maryvale committed several penalties, which pushed them back to midfield.   

The Panthers had a 13-8 lead at halftime. The Lions drove the ball down to the Panthers' nine, but were stopped in the red zone and forced to turn the ball over on downs.  

Maryvale's next drive from their own five took lots of time off the clock in a long and methodical drive, which was capped by another 65-yard rushing TD by Murphy. That gave the Panthers their 19-8 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Panthers defense could not stop the Lions from driving down the field and Alhambra scored again to keep the game within reach at 19-14.  

Murphy led Maryvale down to the goal line once more, and had a controversial fumble as he was crossing the end zone plane. That led to a Lion recovery and touchback. 

The Lions marched the field thanks to a controversial pass interference call putting them onto Maryvale's 36, and the Panthers defensive line came up clutch as they forced a turnover on downs.  

With only six minutes left to play, the Panthers offense milked the clock until they were forced into a fourth down and three-yard situation, which Murphy converted on a quarterback sneak to seal the game.  

“Man, it's something else, this is my win at Maryvale,” Murphy said. “It feels awesome.”

As the clock ran down the Maryvale fans celebrated like they had won the Super Bowl, ecstatic to see the Panthers' losing streak finally end.

“It's definitely a big deal. Especially to these boys who have been really working hard," Maryvale junior WR Dekyndrick Evan's father Cleavland Evans said.