Already having the best start in school history, No. 2 Desert View added to its historical season with its 70-35 victory over No. 19 Cienega in Vail.
“We’re coming,” sophomore running back Jaylee Abraham said after Desert View clinched the 5A Southern region, its first region title since 1987.
The Jaguars, 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the 5A Southern, achieved a school record with the 70 points scored against Cienega.
The matchup with the Bobcats was a tale of two halves, the first being a shootout.
Desert View’s defense made its presence known early, with junior defensive lineman Cliffe Nsabarah getting in the backfield for an early sack. A play later, senior quarterback Julian Hainley found senior wide receiver Ayden Billings on a 55-yard touchdown pass to put Cienega (5-4, 3-2) on the board first. The point after attempt was no good.
Desert View drove the ball downfield with runs and short passes. They drove to Cienega’s 1-yard line, where Abraham ran it in for the score, starting his monstrous night and giving Desert View the 7-6 lead after the first quarter.
A roller coaster of a second quarter began with Cienega scoring again on a keeper from Hainley to regain the lead. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful. Desert View responded with a 19-yard run by Abraham to regain the lead. The first play after Cienega got the ball back, Hainley saw his senior wide receiver, Jaden Rodgers, behind the defense, connecting with him for an 86-yard touchdown pass. The second two-point attempt was unsuccessful.
Julian Hainley finds Jaden Rodgers for an 86-yard touchdown pass.
Cienega would get those two points back, however, by getting a safety.
Desert View was unfazed by the safety, marching the ball downfield, and ending their drive with another score. This time, senior quarterback Ryan Vasavilbaso hit freshman wide receiver Anthony Rodarte for a 19-yard touchdown pass.
Desert View’s defense got in on the scoring as well. Junior defensive back Desomond Dowayee intercepted an overthrown ball, returning it 35 yards for the score.
Desmond Dowayee with a pick 6 to extend Desert View’s lead.
With enough time left on the clock to respond, Cienega scored again with Hainley connecting to Rodgers for a second time on the night, this time from 41 yards out. The two-point attempt was successful. However, too much time was left for Desert View to respond.
Vasavilbaso hit Abraham on a screen pass. With his speed and strength, Abraham willed his way into Cienega territory on that play alone. Before the quarter’s end, Vasavilbaso hit junior wide receiver Eric Barcelo from 11 yards for another score. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, giving Desert View the 34-28 lead at halftime.
“That first half, we didn’t play to our standards. My message at the half was to try and get them riled up as a team because when we talk and communicate, we do a lot better,” Abraham said.
The second half ended up being all Desert View.
Their offense picked up right where they left off to start the second half. Abraham was able to get behind the defense for a 50-yard receiving touchdown. The two-point attempt was successful.
Jaylee Abraham’s big plays from Desert View’s win.
Cienega looked to keep up with Desert View in the second half, responding with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Hainley to Billings for the second time on the night.
Cienega’s defense had the Desert View offense behind the chains on a third and long, only for Vasavilbaso to Abraham again on a 31-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead.
The game turned in Desert View’s favor when Abraham stripped the ball on what would’ve been a huge play for Cienega to set them up in Desert View territory to end the third quarter.
Desert View capitalized on the turnover with Vasavilbaso’s passing touchdown this time to sophomore running back Keanu Romero from 32 yards. On the kickoff, Cienega would bobble the recovery, leading to Desert View recovering the ball deep in Cienega territory.
Abraham ran it in from two yards for his fifth touchdown on the night to give Desert View the 63-35 lead.
“Just trusting my team as well as taking one play and drive at a time is what makes me be great,” Abraham said when talking about why he shines under the bright lights.
Desert View went on to score one more time before the end of the game on a 13-yard run by Dowayee, making the final score 70-35.
Desert View will look to continue its historic season and go 10-0 as it hosts Flowing Wells.
Cienega will look to hold on to a playoff spot, hitting the road to play Maricopa in the final week of the regular season.
Both games take place on Friday at 7 p.m.
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