Ending the 2025 season 1-9 did not sit well with the Ironwood Ridge coaches and players. Determined to not have another season like the last, the Nighthawks worked tirelessly in the off season to make improvements.
Those improvements were on full display as Ironwood Ridge, a 5A program, defeated Catalina Foothills, a 4A school, 58-7 on Friday night at Nighthawk Stadium.
“It sure feels a lot better than a year ago,” Ironwood Ridge head coach Dale Stott said on the season-opening win.
“The kids worked hard. It’s been a long off season and they’ve waited for this. They had this circled on the calendar for a long time so it feels great.”
Stott had high praise for all sides of the ball but was very impressed with the changes in the offensive line from a year ago.
Offensive line coach Trevor Stott credits the improvement to the offseason work from his front line.
“We trained them really hard in the off season, worked on assignments,” Trevor Stott said. “It was an analytical first kind of thing, figure out where we are goin, diagnose the defense, I think it paid off.”
Ironwood Ridge went 1-9 last season so a week one 58-7 win over Catalina Foothills was a major boost to the team morale.
Coach Dale Stott was impressed with his team in all aspects of the game and gave praise to Kole Harvey who joined the team with little football experience… pic.twitter.com/qyihxhwRkj
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 29, 2026
Ironwood Ridge implemented a two-quarterback rotation this season.
Junior quarterback Maximus Harder earned the starting position last year and remains the main man behind center with Kole Harvey rotating in depending on the offensive scheme needed in a game.
Harvey plays running back and receiver as well.
“It’s interesting because Kole Harvey didn’t play last year and he came and was just going to long snap for us,” Dale Stott said. “He’s such a good passer. Turns out he played quarterback in junior high so we made him as our backup quarterback and he’s such a talented kid. He’s a good receiver, a good long snapper. We just decided to use him interchangeably at quarterback.
“He’s like a Swiss Army knife”
Harder threw for four touchdowns and ran for one while Harvey threw one touchdown and ran for another.
Ironwood Ridge went 1-9 last season so a week one 58-7 win over Catalina Foothills was a major boost to the team morale.
Coach Dale Stott was impressed with his team in all aspects of the game and gave praise to Kole Harvey who joined the team with little football experience… pic.twitter.com/qyihxhwRkj
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 29, 2026
Kole Harvey keeps it, sheds tackles and finds the end zone.
IRHS – 52
Catalina Foothills – 7End of the third quarter. @AllSportsTucson @irhsfbbooster pic.twitter.com/t3LuBEa5YT
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 29, 2026
A favorite target for Harder and Harvey was senior wide receiver Zarin Robbins who ended the night with three touchdowns.
Another Max Harder to Zarin Robbins connection resulting in a Nighthawks touchdown.
The Nighthawks lead the Falcons 21-7 with 10:59 to go in the first half.
Someone needs to give the vid taker some lessons 😜.. got the beginning and ending of the play. @AllSportsTucson… pic.twitter.com/Mu9D3Y17f4
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 29, 2026
Max Harder to Zarin Robbins for six.
With 2:28 remaining in the first quarter, IRHS leads Catalina Foothills 14-7.@AllSportsTucson @irhsfbbooster pic.twitter.com/S2aXxQkwEt
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 29, 2026
“We had a 1-9 season last year so seeing us come back and beat a team, it’s really good to see,” Robbins said.
Ironwood Ridge senior wide receiver Zarin Robbins had a big three touchdown night. Robbins talks about starting the season off with a win.@AllSportsTucson @irhsfbbooster pic.twitter.com/emQq2x6f0p
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) August 29, 2026
Catalina Foothills got off to a hot start with a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage when quarterback Drew Kumar found wide receiver Gavin Laxdal, who outran the Nighthawks’ defense for the score.
Ironwood Ridge next hosts Campo Verde on Friday.
“Campo Verde is a really good team, we are going to enjoy this victory tonight then we are going to get to work on Campo Verde,” Dale Stott said.
“Looking to prove everyone wrong and get our us our second win of the season,” Robbins said about meeting Campo Verde. Friday.
Catalina Foothills will travel to Phoenix North Canyon on Friday.
The games will start at 7 p.m.
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