Despite Weather Delay, Scottsdale Christian Rolls Pima in Opener

Not even thunderstorms could stop the Scottsdale Christian Eagles on Thursday night when they faced the Pima Roughriders. 

Thursday's first regular-season game of the 2025 AZ high school football season was a rematch of the 2023 and 2024 2A state championship game. Scottsdale Christian ended up beating Pima in both championship games to become back-to-back 2A champions. 

Once again, the Eagles ended up besting the Rough Riders 33-6. 

The Eagles were moving like a well-oiled machine on the very first drive to begin their 2025 campaign. '26 QB Sean Helgeson, lofted a pass to junior wide receiver Kyle Olafson for a 32-yard touchdown to give the Eagles an early lead. 

Pima struggled on their first drive of the game, even attempting a fake punt play, which ultimately ended in a turnover on downs deep in their own territory. 

The Eagles went right back to work as Helgeson found senior wide receiver Isaiah Steffen for a 22-yard gain to set them up on Pima’s one-yard line. The next play, senior running back Everett Salazar punched in the 1-yard touchdown to give Scottsdale Christian a 14-0 lead early in the first quarter. 

Soon after that second touchdown, thunderstorms rolled in and halted play. It's almost like a Week 0 routine for AZHSFB. Scottsdale Christian's marquee Week 0 game last year against San Tan Charter had an even worse monsoon that postponed the game until the next day. On Thursday night, the lightning ended up postponing the game for just over two hours. 

Anticipation is the only word that could be used to describe what the players and coaches felt. Pima and Scottsdale Christian both knew they would continue the game; it was just a matter of when. Pima had driven too far to Scottsdale for the game to be postponed to another day.

Scottsdale Christian head coach Mike Sheahan knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it was crucial to keep his team ready during the weather delay. 

“These boys have been so hyped, it's been eight months of work,” Sheahan said. “They were barking outside the door, still ready to go two hours later.”

Staying hyped and bringing the energy after the long weather delay is exactly what the Eagles did. 

Wasting no time, the Eagles got the ball back and a few plays later Helgeson found '27 WR Dom Dickerson on the deep left sideline for a 53-yard touchdown. It was Dickerson's first-ever touchdown catch in his first-ever high school football game.

“It was honestly just a joy to be out here,” Dickerson said. “The energy is unlike anything I’ve been a part of; luckily, the game slowed down tonight.”

After leading 20-0 early in the second quarter, the Eagles didn't let up on the gas. Once again, the next time their offense touched the ball, they turned it into more points. Dickerson did it all this drive for Scottsdale Christian, running and catching the ball, which eventually led to another Salazar touchdown, this time from two yards out. 

The score was now 27-0 at halftime.

When Pima needed to gain momentum the most, Scottsdale Christian kept responding with big plays of their own.

The Eagles' defense came up huge this time as '26 DE Joseph Kassisieh read the Rough Riders' screen play the whole way and jumped it for an interception, returning it to Pima's 14-yard line.

Shortly after, Salazar punched in a 5-yard touchdown for his third of the night. Salazar was happy to be back on the field after dealing with an injury last season.

“I didn’t even get touched thanks to my line,” Salazar said. “I’m really excited about this season.”

Even though it was too little too late, Pima ended up scoring for the first time of the night after '27 RB Joe Palmer scored a 1-yard touchdown near the end of the third quarter. 

The fourth quarter consisted much of Scottsdale Christian bleeding out the clock. Four and a half hours after the first kickoff, Scottsdale Christian had secured a 33-6 win to begin their quest for three straight 2A titles. Even after all the recent success the team has had the last few years, Sheahan wants to earn it again.

“We've got to get back to winning,” Sheahan said. “You’re not winners until you win again, we got to get Tonopah now.”