Stella Tai is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Camelback High School for AZPreps365.com

It might not have been a perfect season for the Camelback Spartans, but beating a team fighting for a  playoff spot with an 8-1 record in the season finale is the best ending they could hope for, especially on Senior Night.

Camelback won four of its last five games to finish with a 5-5 record.

The loss will keep Central from qualifying for the state playoffs.

Camelback found success in all facets of Friday’s 48-20 victory. Not only did it hand Central its season-low 20 points, but it also never took its foot off the gas offensively, with seven touchdowns and two points shy of their season-high 50 points.

“You know, guys are like ‘this is my last game,’” Camelback coach Jamar Pinnock said. “So we gotta go out the right way.” 

In fact, it only took the Bobcats 16 seconds to get on the scoreboard as senior runnerback Khameron Athy broke free and returned the kickoff with a 43-yard TD to start the game. 

However, all momentum had shifted to Camelback’s side when senior runnerback Shawn Pereira scrambled for 42 yards and bulled his way into the end zone.

Camelback made sure they had capitalized on a handful of Central’s sloppy passes. In the ensuing play, the Bobcats gave up an interception on its second drive to Spartans junior linebacker Tyler Warchol which put his team in a great position on their own 15. 

In less than 80 seconds from the previous touchdown, Camelback senior quarterback Rocco Mortensen heaved a 20-yard completion to senior runnerback Jaylen Gillis, giving the Spartans their first lead and they never looked back.

“Defense helped a lot by getting those stops,” Mortensen said. “Just give us a chance to score and when we get those stops, that's how we win games like that.” 

Central failed to generate the same offensive production as they had throughout the whole season. 

“We turned the ball over early and had some short fields. We didn't do a good job. That falls on me,” Central coach Chandler Hovik said.

Mortensen finished the first half with another amazing scoring throw, zipping a 57-yard strike to Pereira. This TD helped Camelback record a new season-high in half-time scoring. The Spartans led the Bobcats 28-14.

“I trust my receivers,” Mortensen said. “ I know they're open and they will get the ball. So that's all I had to do. We've just been working all the way from the offseason ever since like last January, winter and everything.”

Camelback came out of the locker room with the same tenacity as they entered. With less than five minutes left, Central freshman quarterback Cam Allen tried to recover the ball he nearly lost, but ended up with a bad pass which was picked off by Dontre Gammag, whose 60-yard return added insurance for the Spartans.

In fact, that was not the only pick-6 Camelback had for the night, who kept the defense on the field for the majority of the game. Junior wide receiver Kemahn Knight intercepted another errant pass from the Central. His 40-yard touchdown put the game away with a 48-20 lead.

“We have a great secondary core,” Pinnock said. “Coach Lewis has been doing a great job with the defensive backs. We have a lot of young guys who can score and make big plays.”

“Given the adversity where we've lost some close games, like two games by less than two points, we haven't been able to close,” Pinnock said. “So a lot of reflecting to do. But overall, the way they play, I couldn't ask for more. A lot of kids have a bright future. I look forward to keep on supporting them outside of football because football is a byproduct of everything,”

The Bobcats’ worst game came with bad timing. The most important game happened to be their season-low in scoring and season-high in opponent points. 

“This game is everything that we've worked for from going back to the offseason and the seniors for the past four years, to coming down to this last game against our rival for a chance to the playoffs to solidify that region title. It means the world to us,” Hovik said.

“Obviously, we got to regroup. Proud of the seniors. Proud of this team and I'm looking forward to next season.”