CAMP VERDE — Quarterback Brayden Walsworth tossed four touchdown passes, Thaine Cook had three scores and the Camp Verde took their frustrations out on previously undefeated Mountainside with a 54-15 win Friday night.

The Cowboys, defending 2A Agua Fria region champs, suffered a tough 30-27 loss to Arizona Lutheran a week ago in a game that coach Aaron Gronwald said they “gave away,” channeled their anger in Week 5 against an upstart Wolves program that had won just five games in the previous two seasons, but were undefeated in four games this fall.

Cook’s 2-yard touchdown run put Camp Verde (2-2, 1-0 2A Agua Fria) on the board first, 7-0, then Walsworth found Gage Wolf on a 4-yard touchdown pass to quickly make it 14-0 Cowboys at the 7:05 mark in the first quarter.

Mountainside answered back as quarterback Daniel Gregg found Alex Knepper down the left sideline on a perfect 44-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7, but the game wouldn’t be close for long.

After a 35-yard field goal by Logan Ayotte, Walsworth found Cook on a 19-yard strike, then found him again on a 57-yard screen pass that went for a touchdown and suddenly the Cowboys led 30-7 with 11:48 to go in the second quarter and they never looked back.

Cook said the 2-2 Cowboys are tougher than they look.

“We’ve [played against] some pretty tough teams,” Cook said. “We have some minor things to fix, and hopefully we can continue to come out on top and keep this going. We’re trying our best, brick-by-brick. I’m thankful I have a great line and a great quarterback.”

That offensive line he speaks about is likely one of the largest in the state.

“I think there is a level of intimidation, with how big our players are. We have multiple players over 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, so it’s great to have them out here. It helps me out a lot, I’m so thankful for them,” Cook said.

Walsworth said the line play Friday night really opened the offense up against Mountainside, which came into Friday night with an opponent win-loss record of 3-12.

“Our line is our main focus, that’s how we’re running the ball so well. Passing with screens, we’re getting a lot of yards off that. Once defenses bite on our run, we’re doing well with blocking technique, and we work on that every day in practice,” Walsworth said.

Camp Verde quarterback Brayden Walsworth (15) scrambles for a few yards against Mountainside on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Camp Verde. The Cowboys won 54-15, and are now 2-2 on the season. (Brian M. Bergner Jr./AzPreps365)Despite the win, Gronwald still believes there’s more to his club than what they’ve seen through four games in 2024.

“We knew if came out and played four quarters, which we have not done yet, that we could put them out pretty quick. And we did,” Gronwald said. “There are still a few things, a little bit of lapses in focus, we wanted to put up a zero on those guys, because we think we’re capable of that on defense right now, so there’s still things to fix.”

That defense Gronwald speaks of had an impressive goal line stand in the first half, holding Mountainside without a score after four tries from the 1-yard line.

Camp Verde’s defense was well-rested thanks to their counterpart’s ability to control the ball, and Walsworth is a large part of that as a junior transfer from Mingus.

“He’s an incredible kid. He’s a leader,” said Gronwald, adding that the signal caller received fourth most votes for team captain at the end of camp despite having only known his teammates for a short time.

“At that point this team had known that kid for three weeks, so that speaks to his character,” Gronwald said. “Everybody you talk to will say the same thing. He’s incredible in the classroom, he’s a leader, he’s caring and he’s one of the most coachable kids I’ve had.”

UP NEXT

Camp Verde travels to Kingman Academy (0-4, 0-1 2A Agua Fria) on Friday, Sept. 27. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Wolves (4-1, 1-1 2A Agua Fria) host the Griffins from Glendale Prep. on Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on X at @AzPreps365Brian or on Facebook at @Five2MediaWorks. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.