By Zach Alvira
Head of Content
The 28th annual Ahwatukee Bowl, a rivalry between Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista high schools, has come and gone with a rare Thursday night matchup.
The Pride, winners of the last two matchups, took home their third straight win, 38-15, over the Thunder.
Mountain Pointe was virtually dominant throughout, holding Desert Vista to just 58 total yards in the first half. A big play by the Thunder, combined with a sustained drive in the fourth, led to the two touchdowns. The Pride, meanwhile, leaned on its run game to secure the victory. That, however, opened up the passing game, too.
Overall, the matchup opened the door for key players to shine in the biggest game of the season for both teams. Here are the top performers from the 28th Ahwatukee Bowl.
Mountain Pointe
Teylor Caldwell, Jr., Defensive End
Caldwell has been a force opposite George Longoria all season for the Pride. Thursday night against Desert Vista, he applied pressure to opposing quarterback Seth Hanson. He and the rest of the defensive line only accounted for one sack on the night — which came in the third quarter from sophomore Marleigh Fely — but held Desert Vista running backs to just 60 yards on the ground.
Chase Shumate, Sr., Athlete
Senior athlete Chase Shumate did a little bit of everything for the Pride. He caught five passes for 68 yards while locking down his side of the field at cornerback on defense. He was also key in the kick return game, nearly flipping the field on one return. He’s been a major part of the Pride’s success all season despite battling nagging injuries.
RJ Washington, Sr., Wide Receiver
The Ahwatukee Bowl was a little more personal for RJ Washington. The senior wideout missed time last year due to an injury, the Tukee Bowl included. He wanted to prove himself to his team’s rival, and he did so by catching four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown from Robert Knorr. He also rushed twice for 30 yards.
Jamarlon “Bobo” Otis, Sr., Running Back
Jamarlon “Bobo” Otis gifted his team a win and him a 100-plus rushing day for his 18th birthday. The transfer from Louisiana left his mark on the Tukee Bowl, scoring three times on the night while carrying the ball 23 times for 112 yards.
Rylon Dillard-Allen, Sr., Defensive Back
The leader of the defense, Rylon Dillard-Allen played like it against his former school. Dillard-Allen flew around the field, lighting up receivers in the backfield, deflecting passes and picking off one. He almost had a second but was ruled out of bounds.
Desert Vista
Seth Hanson, Jr., Quarterback
Heading into the Tukee Bowl, Seth Hanson quietly threw for more than 2,400 yards this season in nine games. It took a bit to get going but he finished the season with a 148-yard performance against Mountain Pointe. Eighty of those came on a touchdown pass to DJ Williams. Hanson also rushed four times for 23 yards.
DJ Williams, Sr., Wide Receiver
DJ Williams was visibly frustrated with his performance against Corona del Sol a week prior to the Tukee Bowl. He made up for it by showcasing his speed and pass-catching ability on an 80-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. He had two catches for 95 yards total on the night.
Isaac Price, Sr., Wide Receiver
It was a quiet night for Isaac Price’s standards. But the senior wideout still accounted for 41 yards through the air. He was a standout all season, and Hanson’s favorite target. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark this season, ending his high school career strong.
Offisong Okon, Sr., Defensive Line
The heart and soul of the Desert Vista defense, Offisong Okon demanded double teams and was relatively disruptive, holding Mountain Pointe to short gains on the ground at times. But where the 6-foot, 300-pounder shined was with the ball in his hands. Known as “Jelly” in the Desert Vista playbook, Okon accomplished every bit man’s dream: The Thick-Six.
Lucas Schiermeyer, Sr., Linebacker/Running Back
Switched from running back to linebacker this season, Lucas Schiermeyer found himself leading the defense along side Andrew Hoyt and Offisong Okon. But on Thursday, Schiermeyer returned to the backfield, leading the way in the second half. He carried the ball six times for 26 yards.
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