After playing a talented Scottsdale Christian Academy at home Oct. 8, the game against Greyhills Academy High School on Friday, Oct. 15, was tough to get up for according to Head Coach Luke Steege.
“When you see, prepare and then play against the type of talent we did last week, it’s tough to get up for a game against a much weaker opponent, but we got our act together and did what we needed to do,” Steege said.
The first quarter showed little as to how much better the Cowboys were against a visiting Greyhills team that had 13 players suited up on the sideline.
Three turnovers in the quarter and a desperate fourth down and 18-to-go heave into the end zone by quarterback Deshon Tripp gave the Cowboys an ugly 6-0 lead.
After the bad start, Camp Verde figured things out in the second quarter and took a 32-0 lead into halftime, eventually beating the Fighting Knights, 52-0.
It could have been much worse according to Steege, who began having his players run out of bounds after a certain number of yards gained, and even kicked two 30-plus yard field goals.
“We never kick field goals and Collin Clawson made two 37-yard field goals late in the game,” Steege said laughing.
In the end, Tripp passed for over 150 yards and two touchdowns while running in one of his own. Wideout Gavin Collins caught two of those touchdowns while tailback Kody Rayburn had a touchdown as well.
With the victory, Camp Verde improves to 4-4 [1-2, 2A Central] overall this season.
The Cowboys are ranked No. 13 in the Arizona Interscholastic Association power point polls, which were released Monday, Oct. 18.
Camp Verde will play host to No. 6 Valley Christian High School on Friday, Oct. 22.
Valley Christian is the 2A conference defending state champion and at 5-2, will be looking to add another notch to its belt.
“We’re going to have to play really well if we’re going to stand a chance,” Steege said.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
After Valley Christian, the Cowboys will wrap up the regular season with a trip to Tempe Preparatory Academy on Friday, Oct. 29.
The 2A state playoffs are scheduled to get under way Friday, Nov. 5.
