Arizona state championship features 19 ejections, near-30-point comeback, and controversial call
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Higley High School (Gilbert, Ariz.) ran onto the field in jubilation and celebration as they successfully prevented a two-point conversion without any time on the clock to take down Desert Edge (Goodyear, Ariz.) 42-41 in a battle for the ages for the Arizona Interscholastic Association 5A championship.
The game featured 19 ejections, a near-30-point comeback, and a controversial call by the referees that played a role in the final play of the game.
Where to start?
With about 1:21 remaining in the first half and Higley leading 22-7, a fight broke out after a punt return by Higley. It is not fully clear what caused it from the NFHS Network video, but it appears there was a big blindside block on the return. You can see it around the three-second mark in this video:
Higley and Desert Edge Coaching staffs actually did an incredible job of breaking this up before it got out of hand. pic.twitter.com/ILxOQHjuDW
— ArizonaVarsity.com 🔥PREPS🔥 (@AZHSFB) December 2, 2023
According to Arizona Republic reporter Richard Obert, who was at the game, multiple players from Desert Edge’s sideline ran across the field toward the altercation. Zach Alvira at the East Valley Tribune reported that punches were thrown, and a referee attempting to pull players off each other fell to the ground.
In the video of the aftermath posted by Obert, there appears to be two dozen to three dozen Desert Edge players returning to their sideline:
This is ugly with 1:21 left in half. Fighting in scuffle, a ref gets knocked down, desert edge players rush field from sidelines. Big mess pic.twitter.com/YIjz9EXu00
— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) December 2, 2023
The search goes on for video of what happened in between, but a photo from Patrick Breen published to the Arizona Republic shows a snapshot of a Desert Edge player going after a Higley player while another Higley player is attempting to calm the situation and a third is being held back by a teammate.
(Photo: Patrick Breen/Arizona Republic)
Head coaches met at midfield and were given a list of players who were ejected. In total, 16 Desert Edge players and three Higley players were done for the game, with another half of football yet to be played. The Higley Knights, who out-gained Desert Edge 391-137 over the first two quarters, took a 28-13 lead into halftime after two touchdowns — a 59-yard reception by Higley junior John Decausmaker and an 89-yard kickoff return by Desert Edge senior Kezion Dia-Johnson — occurred in the final minute of the second quarter.
With the Desert Edge Scorpions down so many players, Higley escalated its lead to 41-13 in the third quarter.
Then, the game truly began.
With 1:53 left in the third, Desert Edge junior quarterback Hezekiah Millender threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jaqua Anderson. Dia-Johnson came up big again with 10 minutes to go in the fourth, catching a 79-yard touchdown pass, and then he set up another touchdown five minutes later with a 53-yard reception that put Desert Edge at the goal line.
Over just over 10 minutes of play, the Scorpions had cut the deficit from 29 to a one-possession game.
They got a chance to tie or win with the clock ticking down. Desert Edge drove the ball 90 yards downfield and rushed the ball in, setting up a two-point conversion attempt.
“We didn’t come here to tie,” Scorpions co-head coach Mark Carter told the Arizona Republic after the game.
The first one looked good, with Deshawn Warner getting to his left and into the end zone, but a holding flag brought the ball back and shut down the Scorpions’ celebration.
Crazier than September merry go round. Warner 2 point try to win it with no time left called back by holding. Will try tie pic.twitter.com/IBhL4zHTTy
— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) December 2, 2023
Peter Clark with 5 Star Sports Media posted a video he shot from behind the end zone, showing the lineman (No. 62 in the white jersey) who was called for the hold:
My view of the “hold” on #62 for DE from tonight, looks to me as if #10 for Higley pushes #62 into #44.
Don’t see how that constitutes as a hold when his momentum pushed him into him, no jersey grab just into the ground. That is what i call a BLOCK. 🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/BSrfvwOiEf— Peter Clark (@5StarPete) December 2, 2023
Breen tweeted a few photos he took from an angle behind the corner of the end zone.
Here is my view of the game deciding hold in Desert Edge v Higley 5A championship.
Let me know what you think? pic.twitter.com/TecLgR0eFF
— Patrick Breen 🌵 (@pjbreenphoto) December 2, 2023
Backed up 10 yards, Desert Edge went for the two-point conversion once again — as Carter said, the Scorpions didn’t come to tie.
This time, it was a pass attempt, which was broken up.
They try for 2 again. Pass broken up. Higley wins 42-41 pic.twitter.com/9UT6kAG0Cn
— Richard Obert (@azc_obert) December 2, 2023
Higley stormed the field with arms in the air, celebrating what may be the wildest championship game we’ll see this weekend.
Knights quarterback Gunner Fagrell finished with a line of 28-for-42 with 365 passing yards and two touchdowns, according to the East Valley Tribune. Running back Daxen Hall had 332 total yards — 219 rushing, 113 receiving on seven receptions — and punched in a pair of touchdowns.
On Desert Edge’s side, Millender went 16-for-20 with 326 yards, while Dia-Johnson finished with six receptions for 211 yards. The Scorpions finished the season 11-3.
Higley finished 12-2, and one of the only losses they experienced was to Desert Edge in another exciting contest, a 38-32 game.
The Knights got revenge on Friday night, aggressively attacking on offense through three quarters and then hanging on at the end to win their second championship in a row.
After going 2-9 only two seasons ago, Higley got on top in 2022 and has not relinquished the trophy since.
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