Markos Tsegaye is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Shadow Ridge High School for AZPreps365.com

SURPRISE – Senior running back Nia Young ran 58 yards for a touchdown on the third play of the game and then the Shadow Ridge defense took over as the Stallions posted a 17-0 win over Trevor Browne on Tuesday.

Shadow Ridge coach Theron Frazer applauded his team’s effort. 

“They kept fighting the whole way, even though some things didn’t go our way,” Frazer said. “It was a good win.”

The scoring started early for the Stallions (2-1) as Young took a hand-off and evaded defenders en route to a 58-yard touchdown. Young thought she was tackled at one point during the play, but when she realized that wasn’t the case, she kept on going. 

“They’re (Young and senior running back Sincere Johns) both 100-yard dashers,” Frazer said. “I tell them to watch film on Barry Sanders because all of his things came from flag football.”

Browne (1-3) thought they responded quickly to Young’s TD with a 71-yard rush to the end zone by sophomore running back Queniece Richardson, but the play was called back due to for a holding call on the Bruins. 

Before the end of the first quarter, Shadow Ridge’s sophomore kicker Rylan Birnstein converted on a 19-yard field goal to give the Stallions a 10-0 lead.  Birnstein’s field goal was set up by a 26-yard connection between senior quarterback Jordyn Scott and senior wide receiver Delaney Salasek where two Browne defenders tipped the ball into Salasek’s hands.  

The score remained 10-0 until late in the fourth quarter. With just over three minutes remaining in the game, Scott found junior wide receiver Taylor Pico for a 1-yard TD pass. 

Johns and Young finished with 44 and 118 all-purpose yards, respectively. Scott finished the game with 125 all-purpose yards. 

Trevor Browne coach Guy Fennell said his team didn’t help themselves as they played from behind and lacked the “fire” they needed.

“The defense played pretty darn good, but the offense definitely struggled,” Browne said. “We can’t be playing not to lose, we’ve got to play to win.”

To Fennell’s point, the Bruins' offense crossed the 50-yard line just once.

Browne sophomore quarterback Zeiynap Al-Hemedat Hernandez finished the game with 31 all-purpose yards. After the game, she said the team didn’t play with enough effort. 

“It was just low energy. We defeated ourselves before we even got on the field,” Hernandez said. “We just have to practice harder and not get in our heads anymore.”

There were two moments in the game, most notably before halftime, where Shadow Ridge opted not to kick a field goal to extend the Stallions’ lead. Instead, Frazer preferred to keep the offense on the field. He said his decisions were made to prepare his team for late-game situations where a touchdown is needed. 

“In our first game, we didn’t have to but we went for two and ended up winning the game by one,” Frazer said. “You never know. I always believe in my kids and how well they will do.”

Shadow Ridge (2-1) will play at Mesa (3-1) on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Browne (1-3) will host  Dysart (5-4) on Thursday at 6 p.m.