Grace Rico is an ASU Cronkite Student of Journalism student assigned to cover Greenway for AZPreps365.com

In a Friday night lights showdown, the Greenway Demons fought hard against Thunderbird High School but ultimately fell short to the Titans, with a final score of 42-0. While the scoreboard may have reflected a tough night for the Demons, their resilience shined throughout the game.

Christian Shetler, senior wide receiver and cornerback for Greenway, is a vital player for the Demons, winning first team all-region and second team all-state wide receiver last season. He injured his arm and elbow region in their game against Deer Valley; he and several other players could not play due to injuries. However, this didn't stop Greenway High School from fighting on the field.

Looking at the first quarter, it was a high-pressure game. Greenway’s senior quarterback Tyler McNally was a leader on the field and laid blocks during the game. His ability to spread the ball around kept the Titans’ defense on their toes. 

“My plan going into this game was to throw a lot, but instead I stuck to runs because we were getting some good ones. Our passing game was working though, but runs are what I focused on. I trust my guys. I know if I throw the ball to them, I trust that they will make the catch. I trust my whole team,” McNally said.

In the second quarter, the Titans scored their first touchdown, and Greenway continued to fight. Andy Botic, a senior defensive end and outside linebacker, stood out on the field, whether it was him being open for the ball or blocking.

“Going into this game, I knew I wanted to run the ball as much as I could and get as many first downs as I could, and give my QB time to throw, and for me to be there," Botic said. "I know where everyone is, and I have good awareness on the field, which benefits me a lot in getting the ball and trying to make plays.”

Another notable player was senior Talen Pendarvis, who played a crucial role in Greenway’s defense until the third quarter when he was sidelined due to injury.

As the game progressed, the Titans maintained their momentum, leading 42-0 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, but the Greenway Demons and coaches kept applying pressure and trying new strategies.

“We tried and got a lot of kids on the field today, and we get to look at the film, learn from it, and work on it for next week. We have a lot of young kids out there—a lot of sophomores and juniors on the field—and just getting them some experience and building off it,” assistant coach Johnson said. 

Thunderbird’s offense, led by senior quarterback Andrew Cohill, threw for 148 yards, and senior running back Elijah Little scored three touchdowns. Despite the loss, the Greenway Demons hold their heads high and are ready to work hard heading into their game against Independence High School.

“We have to learn how to finish games. We had two close games before this. We’ve got to get to work and show up for that game,” head coach Ed Cook said.

“I think we need to get our spirits back up. We need to improve our mindsets. We can't be negative; even though we lost, we need to have a positive mentality,” Tyler McNally said.

The Independence Patriots will be Greenway High School's first region game; coach Johnson said, “This will be a fresh start, and now this is where it really starts to count."

Independence High School’s record is 4-1.