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

Dominating a team can help cure a team’s ills.

Just ask Sandra Day O’Connor.

The Eagles wanted to get back on track after back-to-back tough losses to top programs. After four touchdowns on the ground and beating host Shadow Ridge 35-14, Friday night was certainly the bounce back the Eagles needed to get back into rhythm.

In the process, O’Connor won its Desert Valley Region opener. The Eagles (3-3) began to dominate from the outset with the help of a rare passing touchdown by Mason Steele.

“Mason is who we use to spread the ball around,” Eagles assistant coach Colin Boulay said.

It was only the third passing touchdown for the Eagles this season, but their offense wasn’t done. 

The Stallions fumbled on their next drive, and the Eagles capitalized with a rushing touchdown. The Eagles then forced a quick punt and continued to drive down the field effectively.

The third drive ended with Steele pulling and scoring on a 27-yard rushing touchdown, making the score 21-0 as the first quarter ended.

“This is going to sound weird, but I went and visited Normandy over the summer,” Steele said about his mentality while running as a quarterback.

“Before every game I like to think I'm about to storm the beaches. I don't know, I guess it just gets me in the right mindset.”

The Eagles offense, however, stalled in the second quarter, when it allowed the Stallions to drive and score a touchdown before the first half ended.

The Eagles switched quarterbacks after halftime.

“One (Steele) is kind of more of a spread quarterback while the other (Canyon Anderson) is a run-heavy quarterback,” said Boulay.

The second half wasn't as flashy as the first for the Eagles, but it did secure the win for the Eagles.

The second half consisted of the more traditional run-heavy, Wing-T offense that O’Connor runs with Anderson under center and a fullback and tailback behind him.

“That's what we do,” offensive line coach Matt Kitna said. “We run the Wing T, and we aren't afraid to get into the spread and run the ball.”

That tactic brought success, as it led to the Eagles scoring two more rushing touchdowns while chewing the clock simultaneously and allowing just one score.

Next week, the Eagles will look to secure the top spot in the 6A Desert Valley Region at rival Boulder Creek.

As for Shadow Ridge (1-5), it’ll look to rebound next week against Apollo.