Desert Edge Holds Off Millennium 30-23 to Claim Desert West Region Title

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The Desert Edge Scorpions defeated the Millennium Tigers 30-23 in a game that was for the region title.

Because a storm ran rampant throughout most of the Valley, the game was delayed to an 8:30pm kickoff.

While the storm may have slowed some teams, the Scorpions started off on a strong note.

The defense for Desert Edge was able to force a quick three-and-out.

Leading the charge on defense is 3-star Wisconsin LB commit Nate Jones, who has been tasked as a team captain, as he said the coach asked him to be that leader for them.

“Coach said we need leadership,” Jones said. “So I stepped up and did that role.”

For Millennium, a big mistake occurred early on as they fumbled the snap on the punt.

After recovering the botched snap, the Tigers were still able to get the punt off, but it only went about 20 yards.

With great field position to open the game, the Scorpions offense got on the board quickly.

Scoring first would be a pair of Washington commits connecting for a score.

4-star Washington quarterback commit Blake Roskopf rifled a pass to the middle of the end zone to 4-star Washington wide receiver commit Zerek Sidney for a 15-yard touchdown.

The following drive saw the defense for Desert Edge come up with another huge play.

2028 linebacker Kayden Smith was able to rip the ball away from a Millennium player and give his offense the ball right back.

This time around, the Scorpions could not find the end zone but instead had to settle for a field goal.

2028 kicker Esteban Antonsen-Ayala drilled a 45-yard field goal to extend the Scorpions' lead.

Trailing 10-0 early in the game, Millennium needed a spark to get them on the board.

Fast forward to the middle of the second quarter, and the Tigers were able to get their first points of the night.

3-star Idaho RB commit D’Mari Bryant broke loose for a huge 40-yard rush to set his offense up in field goal range.

The Tigers would have to settle for just three points on the drive as 2027 kicker Jackson Rogers hit a 35-yard field goal.

As halftime started to approach, the Scorpions got back into scoring position and added to their lead.

For the second time in the game, Antonsen-Ayala hit a field goal, this time from 25 yards.

With only 18 seconds left in the first half, Desert Edge led 13-3.

However, Millennium would go out swinging to end the half.

2027 wide receiver Kiaun Davison returned the kickoff for the Tigers and proceeded to turn on the burners and return the kick all the way back for six points.

The play was a huge momentum swing that the Tigers desperately needed heading into halftime.

With 24 minutes down Desert Edge led 13-9.

While the Scorpions allowed a big kickoff return for a touchdown at the end of the second quarter, they came out swinging in the third.

With the help of some bad punts by Millennium, Desert Edge was set up deep in Millennium territory on back-to-back drives.

Both times the Scorpions capitalized.

Roskopf was able to notch two more passing touchdowns.

One of which was to 3-star 2028 wide receiver Jhaheem Brown from 7 yards out.

Then on the following drive, Roskopf and Sidney connected for a second touchdown that was a 3-yard fade route to the corner of the end zone.

Just like they did previously in the game, though, the Tigers started to crawl their way back into the contest.

Wrapping up the third quarter, Millennium was able to cut into the lead.

2028 quarterback Myron Lee was able to pick up a huge 45-yard run with his legs to set his offense up near the goal line.

Two plays later, Lee lofted a pass over to Idaho State wide receiver commit Kadin Johnson for a 3-yard touchdown.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Scorpions were able to extend their lead a little bit more as Antonsen-Ayala hit his third field goal of the night to give Desert Edge a 30-17 lead with 7:32 left in the game.

Not going down without a fight, Millennium proceeded to score their longest touchdown of the night to make it a close game.

Lee threw a quick pass to 2029 running back Jeremiah Carson, who broke through a plethora of tackles to score a huge 50-yard touchdown.

The onside kick attempt proved to be unsuccessful for the Tigers, however.

Desert Edge then proceeded to chew up the rest of the clock and go back home with a win and a region title.

Now heading into the 5A playoffs, Desert Edge is ready to make a run to get that gold ball.

“That’s the standard,” Sidney said when asked about getting back to the 5A title game. “We came up a little short last year, but we're coming back this year.”

Next up: 8-2 Desert Edge and 9-1 Millennium await their seedings that are released at noon.