Between the tears, the troika that led Desert Ridge on another amazing run had faith that this would be the year.

The Desert Ridge football team's offense is usually high-octane.

It’s a formula that worked during Desert Ridge’s run to the state championship game a year ago; it’s a formula that certainly worked again in a dominant 54-7 home win over Skyline Friday night.

A lot of people will tell you if something isn’t broke, don’t try to fix it.

Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock will listen to college signal callers say all the right things during a quarterback competition, but knows deep down they are lying through their teeth.

If Desert Ridge was going to improve its playoff standing and win its first region title, it was going to have to do it without regular quarterback Parker Rasmussen. If Perry was going to secure a home game for the first round of the playoffs, it figured it would have to stop Rasmussen’s passing game.

Given how hard Desert Ridge quarterback Jordan Becerra ran – to the tune of 239 yards on 25 carries, it would be understandable if the Desert Vista defense doubled – even tripled – up on Becerra with hopes of slowing down the Jaguar offense Friday night.

Until he went down with an injury, Parker Rasmussen made sure Desert Ridge took a serious step toward the postseason on Friday.

Desert Ridge running back Joey Counts will be a game-time decision on Friday against Gilbert because of a shoulder injury that has kept him out since mid-June, coach Jeremy Hathcock said.

5A-I CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

OFFENSE

GILBERT - Desert Vista was in its normal comeback mode.

GILBERT - Desert Vista was in its normal comeback mode.

GILBERT - Desert Vista was in its normal comeback mode.