Following a challenging 0-10 season, nothing excited Scottsdale Prep coach David Primavera and his team more than winning their first game of the new season last Friday against Camp Verde.

Although it was Scottsdale’s first victory in over a year, the Spartans were far from satisfied as they looked to double their win total on a hot and sweaty Friday in Phoenix.

While the sun was setting beneath the high rising skyscrapers, Scottsdale’s evening was just beginning. Scottsdale Preparatory Academy (2-0) marched into the heart of Phoenix and defeated Arizona State University Preparatory Academy (0-3) by a final score of 34-12.

Even with temperatures in the mid-90’s, nothing was hotter at the start of the game than Scottsdale quarterback Oscar Frias. 

The sophomore by completed three of his first four passing attempts as the Spartans jumped on top with the first score of the game.

“It was good that our guys came out with energy and scored early,” said Primavera. “We had 14 points in the first quarter which really set the tone for the game.”

Frias, though slight in frame, wasn’t afraid to sacrifice his body for extra yards as the second-year starter showed poise and resiliency even after a second quarter interception.

Despite the interception, the sophomore gunslinger made plays. In the fourth quarter with the end zone in near sight, Frias rolled to his left, scrambled to avoid a sea of defenders and eventually found wide receiver Daxton Strader in the end zone.

Frias’s school yard-esque play put the nail in the coffin for any hope of an ASU Prep comeback.

“I ran to my left and I saw this guy who wanted to tackle me and I said, ‘you’re not going to tackle me,’” Frias said. “As soon as I got off him I just looked up and saw (Strader) in the end zone.”

“Oscar’s pretty good about making things happen and he’s got a great arm,” Coach Primavera said. “Oscar plays hard, he’s kind of aggravating at times, but he really makes good plays out there.”

Before catching Frias’ touchdown pass, Daxton Strader proved he was more than just a reliable weapon on offense.

In the second quarter, after ASU Prep scored, Strader dropped deep toward his own end zone to fetch the ensuing kickoff for the Spartans.

Initially it appeared as if Scottsdale was going to be forced to start its next drive deep in its own territory, but the junior wideout clearly had other plans. 

Strader zigged and zagged his way by defenders and found the end zone to give the Spartans a 15-point lead.

“We answered right there with the kick return and stole the momentum back from (ASU Prep),'' Primavera said. “It really set the tone for the rest of the game and put us just enough out of reach.”

“Coach told me to run through the middle, our team practiced blocking to the outside for the whole week and we executed,” Strader said.

The wide receiver and kick return specialist was a key playmaker for the Spartans on the defensive sidel with a diving interception and a key third down pass deflection.

Strader and Frias may have been the headliners, but no Spartan fought harder  than star running back Simeon Walther.

Walther was the key to Scottsdale's attack. The senior used his strength, low center of gravity and sneaky agility to make ASU defenders miss all night.

Scottsdale heads to San Carlos next week.