The Desert Ridge Jaguars varsity football team won Friday’s home game against the Mesa High Jackrabbits 31-7.

Desert Ridge (3-1) got off to a hot start in Friday night’s Class 6A non-region bout against Mesa (1-4) and never looked back. Jaguars quarterback Cooper Schmidt had a big game with one passing touchdown and two scores on the ground.

“I thought he did pretty well,” Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock said about Schmidt. “He can run, as we saw, and he throws a nice ball.”

Hathcock’s team played well on both sides of the ball. The offense had 339 total yards, and the defense held Mesa to 154 total yards.

“Coming off a big loss it’s good to get a W and get going in the right direction,” Hathcock said.

The Jaguars did have two turnovers in the game; one interception and a fumble. However, Mesa was never able to capitalize.

“We were still sloppy on offense with all the turnovers and lack of execution,” Hathcock said. “But I credit Mesa. They came out and played very hard.”

Despite the loss, Mesa’s Kris Jackson secured his fifth-consecutive 100-yard rushing game on the season. He finished with 130 yards on 29 carries.

“It’s solid, but we still ended up with a loss, so I’m always going have that sick feeling in my stomach,” Jackson said about his performance.

The Jackrabbits could only find positives in Jackson on offense. The team’s only touchdown of the game came late in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Jackson.

“He’s always going to play his heart out,” Mesa coach Kap Sikahema said. “That’s why we love the kid. Regardless, win or lose, he’s going to get his. He’s fighting for something bigger than himself.”

Jackson came into the game with the fourth-most rushing yards in the state of Arizona. He now has 805 rushing yards through five games.

“He’s a stud, and he’s humble,” Mesa offensive coordinator Junior Taylor said. “He is the best back in the state of the Arizona, hands down.”

Jaguars running back Deonce Elliot also had a quality game. He had 78 yards rushing on eight carries, closing in on almost 10 yards per carry.

Mesa lined up to punt with less than nine minutes in the second quarter, but the snap went high and off the Jackrabbit punter’s hands and the Jaguars recovered for a touchdown to take a 21-0 lead.

“It’s a matter of us finishing,” Jackson said. “This time we didn’t make as many mistakes, but we did have a couple crucial mistakes that put us back and negated first downs.”

Taylor said the team continues to shoot itself in the foot.

 “We move the ball between the 20s, and then something happens as far as some type of penalty or not executing our plays,” he said.

Mesa quarterback Nate Hanna was held to 37 yards passing and was sacked seven times.

“It’s frustrating, but there’s still some good in there,” Taylor said. “To be successful and to win games, we have to be a lot more consistent.”

Desert Ridge will welcome in Desert Mountain (3-1) for another home game next Friday. Mesa High goes back home as well for its homecoming game against the Basha Bears (1-4).