By Jakob Nolde
Contributing Writer
The Vipers took on Ironwood and the Eagles on the road Friday night as they continued to showcase why they are atop of the 5A Desert West standings winning 55-7.
Verrado picked up right where it left off last week as it was able to force back-to-back three outs, and the offense scored two touchdown passes as a result of Ironwood punting on the first two drives. There was no blueprint to stop Verrado when they got going and the Vipers recognized that when they were up 14-0 already to end the first quarter.
Quarterbacks Chase Gieszler and Malachi Wilt lead the offense Friday. The two were often swapped every other drive making it challenging for the defenses to recognize anything the Vipers were scheming on offense and having to adapt to each guy.
Receiver Deriece Brown said the scheme is just routine.
In practice, we’re really getting the ball from both of them all the time,” Brown said. “Just reading each other pretty much.”
The two quarterbacks combined for five touchdown passes and unofficially over 300 yards passing. Receivers Caden Gingg and Jordan Hiller lead the way for this big offensive game with Gingg having over 100 yards receiving and Hiller having two touchdowns.
The offense would continue to dominate the first half as they added two more touchdowns to close out the half to lead 28-0 companioned by the defense producing four turnovers as they kept Ironwood out of Verrados’ end zone as Ironwood could not get anything going against the Vipers Defense.
This year, Verrado has gone into the half with a total of 137 points combined in its first four games as getting out to fast starts is something not only the Vipers like to accomplish but for every football team.
Assistant coach Donn Duplain commented on the leads that his team goes into the half.
“It’s nice, what we do is try to keep everybody focused and work on the little things,” Duplain said.
Duplain mentioned the team's success coming off of their week one loss to Desert Mountain stating Verrado knew they were a tough team and just regrouped from that loss and focused on the rest of their long season and ultimately building this three-game win streak dominantly.
“That one is done, it’s the next one, 1-0 each week,” he said.
Verrado came back out at the half with that same message as running back Jack Isidore, came out on the first play with a 62-yard rush, and ultimately set up the walk-in touchdown for Gieszler all occurring in the first 30 seconds of the half. The Vipers were able to pick up right where they left off continuing to dominate Ironwood scoring 21 points in the third quarter to extend the lead to 49-0 heading into the fourth.
The defense also continued to shine for the Vipers from start to finish as they held Ironwood out of inside Verrado's end zone until 8:20 left in the fourth quarter where Ironwood running back, Isaiah Trejos ran in for the only Eagles touchdown of the game to go along with five turnovers and over ten in the past two games alone.
Cornerback, Blake Bliss described the defense as a brotherhood and the reason they have been so dominant as of late.
“Being together makes us really tough,” Bliss stated. “We all know each other very well.”
Verrados defense has not allowed more than 14 points to go along with outscoring their opponents 163 to 33 during their three-game win streak.
The Vipers (3-1) will continue their four-game road trip and begin regional play as they head to Sunrise Mountain (2-3), Friday at 7 p.m. Ironwood (3-2) will hope to bounce back after two blowout losses and host Agua Fria (3-2), Friday at 7 p.m.
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