Verrado Football maintains perfect record through 6 games

Squares off against district rival Desert Edge Friday

  This coming Friday is the game for which the Verrado football program has been waiting for years.

 

  The Vipers (6-0) will face district and section foe Desert Edge in a game that will likely have a great bearing on who gets the automatic section bid to the 2014 state football tournament.

  As of this printing Verrado leads Division III, Section 7 with a 3-0 section record and an undefeated overall record. Desert Edge sits second in the section with a 2-0 section record and a 5-1 overall record.

  A win by the Vipers over the Scorpions could put the Vipers in the proverbial catbird seat with no losses and remaining games against Section 7 teams Sierra Linda and Shadow Ridge and a non-conference game against Kellis, all of which have struggled on the field this year.

  A win by the Scorpions gives Desert Edge the advantage in head-to-head play. Verrado would have win its remaining two section games, and rely on Buckeye and Agua Fria to defeat the Scorpions to win the section outright.

  Verrado Head Coach Derek Wahlstrom said his team will approach the Desert Edge game just like it has each game this season.

“Everything for us is 1-0.” Wahlstrom said. “Everything is about what's coming up.

“I told Desert Edge coach [Rich] Wellbrock and that staff over there I appreciated them setting the bar so high that we were trying to get up to. They've kind of been the model program here on the west side and in our district.”

  Waiting the wings is Buckeye, who at 2-1 in the section and 5-1 overall could play the role of spoiler if the Hawks could pull off an upset over the Scorpions when they play on Oct. 24.

Bottom line is it’s potentially a wide-open race to win the section 7 title and it’s feasible that there could be a two or three team tie-breaker in effect.

  For each school there is possibility of getting one of nine at-large bids to the tournament based on power point rankings if the team does not win the section outright; however, there are 48 teams in the section vying for the 16 playoff spots.

Verrado dominates Agua Fria

Click here to view the Agua Fria vs. Verrado photo gallery.

  Verrado reached its current 6-0 record following a 51-6 victory over Agua Fria in a game played at Verrado on Oct. 3. The Vipers came out fast, scoring its first touchdown just over a minute into the game when Verrado Junior quarterback Lathon Lax hit Ross Dietz on a 27-yard scoring pass. With three minutes to go in the first quarter Lax hit Nathan Roehl on a 27-yard pass for the teams second touchdown of the night. On Agua Fria’s next possession the Owls were forced to punt. An errant snap by center sailed over the punter’s head and Verrado was granted a safety making the score 16-0.

Verrado quarterback Lathon Lax (16) has been pressed into service most of this season following an injury suffered by Senior starter Eric Ruiz during Verrado first game. 

  The Vipers added one more score in the quarter when Dietz scored on a 41-yard play, making the score 23-0 at the end of the quarter.

  Verrado added two more scores during the second quarter—a 10-yard pass from Lax to Chris Slaughter and a one-yard run by Dietz.

Verrado’s Ross Dietz (with ball) leads the team in rushing and receiving yards. He has scored 9 touchdowns on the ground and 6 through the air.

  The score at halftime was 37-0.

  During the third quarter Verrado’s Sophomore quarterback Maverick Gamez took the helm and led the Vipers on a drive that culminated with a 4-yard run by Sophomore Donte Richardson.

  Gamez wrapped up the Viper scoring in the game hitting Freshman receiver Ja’Tai Jenkins on a 14-yard pass.

  Agua Fria managed a score late in the game when Tristan Rainey found a seam and sprinted 74 yard for the score.

Following the game Wahlstrom was beaming with pride.

“I’m really proud of our student athletes and proud of our student body,” Wahlstrom said.

  He added, “It's just a pleasure to be in this program. You get such great support from our administration and I'm very happy to tell [Principal Tom] Huffman he's got a winning football program here at Verrado."

  The win by Verrado brought more firsts in the Vipers’ breakout season.

  Verrado’s 6-0 record is the first time the team has won six in a row.

  The win gives Verrado a record which ensures the team’s first-ever winning regular season record.

  The game was the Vipers’ first victory over Agua Fria.

  Verrado's contest against Desert Edge is at Desert Edge High School. Game time Friday is 7:00 p.m. on Oct. 10.

Verrado’s defense, led by captain Darby Neal (99), has held opponents to an average of 16 points per game this season. Eric Cabello (not pictured) leads the team in tackles.