For the first time in this 2007 football campaign the Sedona Red Rock High Scorpions football team raised their helmets in victorious fashion as they beat Tuba City High on Friday, Oct. 12, 28-20.

For the first time in this 2007 football campaign the Sedona Red Rock High Scorpions football team raised their helmets in victorious fashion as they beat Tuba City High on Friday, Oct. 12, 28-20.

“Sammy! Take a knee, it’s over,” Sedona head coach Brian Batty yelled to his starting quarterback with 15 ticks remaining on the clock.

Victory formation is something Sedona hasn’t seen all season, but none of that matters to anyone at this point.

As far as the Sedona football players are concerned, they’re 1-0.

Hundreds of students and parents rushed the field after the game was over to celebrate their team’s amazing comeback victory.

“This is unbelievable. This was the best game of my life,” senior wide-out Curtis Saczulski said.

Unbelievable it was.

Saczulski had two catches for 26 yards and two touchdowns, but more importantly, he gave Sedona its first lead of the season at the 2:36 mark in the third quarter, 21-14.

“Our entire team played well. Everyone pitched in and it was a total team effort,” Saczulski said.

The Scorpions actually trailed 14-0 in the first quarter where the Scorpions had the ball a total of 11 seconds.

A fumble by tailback Tyler Horchak on Sedona’s first play of the game after Tuba City had already taken a 7-0 lead made everyone feel the “here we go again” symptoms.

Tuba City scored on the ensuing drive and it was 14-0 just like that.

“It wasn’t the greatest start in the world, but we kept our heads in the game,” Batty said.

In the second quarter a pretty touchdown pass to a wide open Saczulski would bring the Scorpions closer at 14-7 going into the locker room.

That turnover by Horchak would be the only turnover all night for the Scorpions as the second half was completely dominated by Sedona.

The offense had no trouble moving the ball as they ran 41 times for 236 yards.

Horchak made up for the first- quarter fumble by having an excellent game, carrying the ball 23 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns.

His last score came at the 8:44 mark in the fourth quarter to put Sedona ahead for good, 28-20.

“I couldn’t have done anything without my blockers. This team came together tonight,” Horchak said.

The defense for Sedona picked a good time to have its best game all year.

After allowing 14 points in the first quarter, the defense stepped up and only allowed one score in three quarters by Tuba City.

“I challenged the defense in the locker room at half time. We knew we could move the ball, but the key was getting a stop,” Batty said.

As for junior quarterback Sammy Holeyfield, he had one of the better games of his career as well.

Managing the game is important at the quarterback position.

Holeyfield made the throws when he had to as he completed four of eight passes for 41 yards and two touchdowns.

More importantly, zero interceptions.

“I did what I had to do. Our defense stepped up and won the game for us,” Holeyfield said.

This was the second week in a row Holeyfield did not throw a pick.

The win improves Sedona’s record to 1-7 [0-4] on the season.

Next up, the Scorpions will travel south to Wickenburg High and play the undefeated Wranglers on Friday, Oct. 19.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 131, or e-mail to bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com