Max Wu is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sandra Day O'Connor High School for AZPreps365.com

Homecoming night in Queen Creek remains a celebration as the visiting Eagles fail to ruin the Patriots' night. 

Playing in front of a lively and passionate homecoming crowd, American Leadership Academy (QC) and Sandra Day O’Connor  faced off on Friday night looking to increase their chances of making The Open with a third win.

The Eagles ultimately failed in spoiling homecoming night due to the Patriots' success in the air which led to a 24-10 victory for the Patriots.

It didn't take long for the Patriots' air raid to get started in ALA Queen Creek with an early 65-yard touchdown. Shortly followed with a 41-yard field goal to increase the lead to 10-0 in the first quarter.

O’Connor (2-2) didn't take this lightly and certainly the star of the offense, Nathan Buyas. He struck back quickly with a 66-yard rushing touchdown that left many Patriots (3-1) on the ground or in the dust, making the score 10-7 to end the first quarter.

Buyas has been the heart and soul of this Eagles offense these last couple of games with him averaging over 130 yards per game and racking up a total of nine touchdowns ahead of tonight's matchup.

“He’s a great kid, he's put in the work at the weight room and in the off-season,” O'Connor coach Brian Cole said. “It's his third year starting for us and he's just a great kid. He's continued to do everything we've asked of him and that's why he's having his success.”

Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Patriots took no time in answering back with a 48-yard passing touchdown to begin the second quarter to make the score 17-7. 

O’Connor ended the scoring in the first half with a 40-yard field goal from Jordan Westrich, cutting the score down to 17-10 heading into halftime.

Once the third quarter began and O’Connor's offense stepped onto the field, there was a major notable change at quarterback. The Eagles decided to replace starting quarterback, Canyon Anderson, with quarterback/wide receiver Mason Steele.

“The other quarterback is really good and fast and we had to change up the game plan,” Anderson said. “Defensive line was pinching, we tried to get some plays to the outside so we just decided to make a switch.” 

This decision ended up helping the team better execute their game plan as the Eagles constructed a 14-play opening drive that was kept alive by a botched punt that was convered for a first down. This drive consumed a majority of the third quarter but ultimately ended up netting zero points after a missed field-goal attempt by Westrich.

The Patriots capitalized on this missed opportunity by the Eagles as they marched down the field and scored a 9-yard rushing touchdown which put the Patriots up 24-10 with just over 9 minutes in the game. 

The Eagles forced a fumble late in the fourth with an opportunity to score but the Patriots sealed the game with a goal-line stand that left the clock with zeros and a score of 24-10 Patriots.

Despite the rough night for O’Connor, there was one player for the Eagles defense that continued to keep the energy the whole game and left the field with his head held high, Jackson Barton. 

“I know sometimes our defense gets down when something is not going right, so I try to be the guy that brings us back up,” he said.

Barton and the Eagles look to bring themselves back up when the team heads back home next week to take on the Basha Bears (3-1).

The American Leadership Academy Patriots look to continue making statements with another homestead matchup against the tough Pinnacle Pioneers.