Coming off of a game that coach Bob Young called his team’s worst effort of the season and going against one of the top teams on its schedule, the Friday, Oct. 11 game against Veritas Prep looked like quite a stiff challenge for the Sedona Red Rock High School football team.

The Scorpions did give the home fans plenty to cheer about on home¬coming night in forcing three early turnovers. But they couldn’t get any separation on the scoreboard, leading only 6-0 after one quarter. When the visiting Falcons got the lead, they didn’t relinquish it. When it was over, SRRHS fell 45-14.

 
“We were just getting tired, getting worn out,” Sedona running back Xavier Stimple said. “We need to just stay in shape. Also, they started to learn what we were doing and weren’t throwing it up high for us to pick anymore.”

In contrast to Sedona, Veritas Prep quickly padded its lead when it finally went ahead. In a period of less than two game minutes, the Scorpions went from a 6-0 lead to a 14-6 deficit.

 
Up 6-0, the Scorpions appeared to force a punt when a Falcons pass fell incomplete on third-and- 17. Unfortunately for SRRHS, Veritas was given a clean set of downs with a roughing the passer penalty. It took the Falcons only one play to take advantage when Gage Lentz and Zachary Jackson connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass.

Things went from bad to worse for the Scorpions on the ensuing PAT. Not only did Veritas Prep convert the kick to go up 7-6, but the Scorpions were penalized for roughing the kicker. The 15-yard penalty allowed the Falcons to try a relatively risk-free onside kick, which they recovered. Veritas Prep was in the end zone again five plays later for a 14-6 lead. One more second quarter touchdown gave the Falcons a 21-6 lead at halftime.

 
“It’s hard for us to overcome that,” Young said. “We’re not to a point where we can overcome stuff like that.”

 
While the Scorpions led 6-0 after one, the game had an inauspicious start for them. Veritas Prep kicked the ball off but immediately gained possession by recovering a surprise onside kick. The Falcons got as far as the 10-yard line, but Christian Welch intercepted a pass to halt that drive. The second Veritas possession also got to the red zone, but Stimple recovered a fumble to end that drive.

SRRHS got on the board on its ensuing possession thanks largely to more heroics from Welch and Stimple. Facing a third-and-10, Welch not only recovered a bad snap but stayed on his feet and ran for 15 yards to pick up the first down. Later in the drive, the Scorpions not only converted a third-and-15 but scored on it when Welch and Stimple connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Welch also scored in the third quarter on a three-yard touchdown run, bowling over a Veritas Prep defender in the process. The ensuing two-point conversion pass from Welch to Eli Jennings cut the deficit to 27-14, but the Falcons quickly regained control with a touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter and two more in the fourth quarter to put the game away.

“I think our offense was really good,” Stimple said. “A lot of us played hard. Our offensive line struggled a little bit. I think our defense is what we need to work on the most, though. We need to work on breaking down, getting low and not letting them get past us.”

Despite the 31-point loss, Young found optimism in the performance of his team, noting the respect he had for the opponent.

“We played better,” he said. “They’re a good team. I think them or Scottsdale Prep will be regional champs when they play each other. They’ve got some good weapons.”

The loss dropped Sedona to 1-6 overall and 0-2 in 2A Salt Section play. SRRHS will be in action again on Friday, Oct. 18 for a road game against North Pointe Prep. The Falcons are 4-3 overall with a 1-1 mark in section play and are coming off of a 35-0 loss to Scottsdale Prep. Sedona will be on the road on Friday, Oct. 25 as well for a game against Valley Lutheran [3-3, 0-2].

The Scorpions will return home for the final game of the season on Friday, Nov. 1 against Antelope [4-3, 1-1]. All remaining games start at 7 p.m.