Desert Vista Holds Off Mountain Pointe 27-21 in Rivalry Battle
PHOENIX, Ariz. — By: Khael Sanford
The battle lived up to the hype.
Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista went toe-to-toe Friday night, September 4, in a heavyweight rivalry matchup that wasn't decided until the final whistle. After four quarters of big plays, momentum swings and hard-nosed football, the Desert Vista Thunder came away with a 27-21 victory over the Mountain Pointe Pride.
The loss drops Mountain Pointe to 1-1 on the season, while Desert Vista improves to 1-1.
Pride and Thunder Trade Blows Early
Neither team was willing to give an inch in the opening half.
Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista went into halftime tied 14-14, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.
The Pride's defense provided two of the biggest plays of the first half, scoring touchdowns on two interceptions.
Amare Turner came up with the first pick-six, while LaGarrett Blount Jr. added another defensive touchdown to keep Mountain Pointe within striking distance.
Despite the explosive defensive plays, Desert Vista continued to find ways to move the football.
Schiermeyer Leads the Thunder
The difference in the second half was Desert Vista running back Sam Schiermeyer, who delivered a monster performance.
Schiermeyer carried the ball 28 times for 139 yards and four touchdowns, repeatedly powering through the Mountain Pointe defense and keeping the Thunder offense moving.
His ability to run behind his blockers, establish his cuts and find running lanes gave Desert Vista a consistent offensive weapon throughout the night.
Every time Mountain Pointe appeared ready to swing the momentum, Schiermeyer helped the Thunder answer.
Desert Vista Adjusts at Quarterback
The Thunder also had to adjust offensively after quarterback Chase Still left the game at halftime.
Desert Vista turned to a quarterback-by-committee approach, with Ethan Camrud stepping in and helping the Thunder navigate the second half.
Camrud helped Desert Vista maintain its offensive rhythm and ultimately close out the victory.
Mountain Pointe Offense Keeps Fighting
Despite the loss, Mountain Pointe's offense produced plenty of yardage.
The Pride finished with 428 total yards of offense, but Desert Vista's defense made enough plays at critical moments to keep Mountain Pointe from turning those yards into a comeback victory.
The Thunder forced two fumbles in key second-half situations, creating important changes of possession and preventing the Pride from capitalizing on its offensive production.
Mountain Pointe continued to battle until the final whistle, but Desert Vista managed to protect its lead when it mattered most.
Coach's Corner
One of the interesting storylines surrounding the Pride was the presence of LaGarrett Blount, who served as defensive coordinator for the Rolling Pride.
The longtime football standout called an aggressive defensive game, and the results were evident with Mountain Pointe's two pick-sixes.
Turner and Blount Jr.'s interceptions provided huge momentum swings and demonstrated the Pride's ability to create points on defense.
Even in defeat, Mountain Pointe's defense continued fighting until the final whistle.
Final Score
Desert Vista 27, Mountain Pointe 21
The Thunder's ground attack, led by Schiermeyer's four-touchdown performance, ultimately proved to be the difference in a rivalry game that remained competitive from start to finish.
Mountain Pointe showed plenty of fight and explosive ability, but Desert Vista made the critical plays late to secure the win.
What's Next?
Both teams will return to action on Friday, September 11.
Desert Vista (1-1) will host Shadow Ridge (2-0), looking to build on its first victory of the season.
Mountain Pointe (1-1) will return home to host Mountain Ridge (1-1) in another important matchup.
After a hard-fought rivalry loss, the Pride will have a quick opportunity to respond
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