Tucker Sennett is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism assigned to cover Williams Field High School for AZPreps356.com

After a perfect 4-0 start, Williams Field met its match Friday night as Red Mountain punished the Black Hawks with a strong running attack in a 40-21 victory.

The 6A East Valley Region opener did not go the way the Black Hawks hoped.

It was a different start for Williams Field on the road in Mesa. After scoring at least 35 points in its first four games, it was held scoreless in the first quarter and to just seven points in the first half.

“I think we just came out slow, and you know that always hurts a team that’s trying to come out fast all the time,” senior tailback Dylan Lee said.

The star running back faced a formidable rush defense which held him in check through three quarters other than a pair of 10-plus yard runs which amounted to zero points.

Lee would leave the game with an ankle injury in the second half.

“I think I’ll be fine, I tweaked it,” he said. “I can fight through stuff like that, and I have to be here for my team and my guys so I’m good.”

After the scoreless first quarter, the Red Mountain defense struck first.

On a broken play by Williams Field that forced quarterback Kody Guy to snap the ball to avoid a delay of game penalty, the quarterback fired a pass under pressure over the middle that was picked off.

Junior safety Logan Haynie ran it back for a touchdown, taking a 7-0 lead with just over 11 minutes left in the first half.

The offense responded in a big way, with Guy and Lee leading an impressive drive in the second quarter trailing 10-0. The drive was capped off by a rainbow touchdown pass from Guy to senior wide receiver Josh Sandru, who went over the top of his defender to haul it in.

It was Sandru’s second highlight reel grab in as many weeks.

“When the ball is in the air, go get it,” the receiver said.

The Black Hawks trailed 13-7 at the half.

Williams Field was unable to cash in on the momentum swing of Sandru’s touchdown coming out of halftime.

Junior quarterback Xavier Buckles took the snaps on the second half’s first drive. On a crucial fourth-and-3 play, a toss play to Lee, was blown up by the Red Mountain defense.

Red Mountain junior quarterback Simon Lopez showcased his running ability in the second half, gashing a tired Black Hawk defense numerous times.

Lopez’s touchdown rush following the fourth down stop at the beginning of the second half swung the momentum completely in his team’s favor.

He finished the game with four total touchdowns, including another rushing touchdown where he ran for 36 yards on a quarterback keeper.

“He’s so dynamic with his legs,” Williams Field head coach Steve Campbell said. “It’s just one of those spirit breakers when a quarterback takes off scrambling for a first down and that’s what he did to us.”

Williams Field’s offense simply couldn’t move the ball enough in the early portion of the second half.

When the offense finally showcased the big play ability it had shown through the first four weeks, it was too late.

As Campbell has alluded to for a few weeks now, the schedule only gets more difficult for the Black Hawks.

“I think every week is going to be a little bit different,” he said. “I just told them [Queen Creek] is going to smack you in the mouth… if we can match their physicality, we have a chance and if we can’t then we don’t.

“Next week, that’s what we’ve got to do,” he said.

Both teams moved to 4-1 after the matchup.

Campbell, Lee and Sandru all said practice and preparation needs to improve going forward, especially with tougher opponents like Highland and Perry coming on the schedule.

“It’s one loss, the season is not over,” the coach said. “We’ve got five more regular season games that we have to get ready for.”