Shadow Ridge uses defense to dominate Desert Pines

Shadow Ridge’s offense sputtered on Friday night against Desert Pines, but the Mustangs’ defense turned in a dominant performance to secure a 25‑7 homecoming victory. Linebacker Blake Holmstrom recorded an interception, a forced fumble and a sack, sparking a defensive effort that held the Jaguars to only two first downs and 24 total yards of offense on 37 snaps. “Blake Holmstrom did a large job,” Shadow Ridge head coach Ethan Lewis said. “He’s a elder that is an eventual shot kid. He understands football, helium understands what’s going on.” Lewis added, “He’s a sponge successful the classroom, he’s doing precisely what he’s expected to do. And contiguous was a cleanable illustration of his mentation and his opportunities.” Holmstrom explained the approach: “Man, we conscionable bash what we bash each the clip and conscionable fastener them down.” The Mustangs struck first when Holmstrom intercepted a Desert Pines pass on the Jaguars’ third offensive play. He returned the ball 10 yards to the Desert Pines 23‑yard line. Two plays later, Mujahid Gilliard took a handoff and raced 18 yards for a touchdown, putting Shadow Ridge ahead 6‑0. Desert Pines answered late in the opening quarter. Kal-El Bibera recovered a botched punt at the Shadow Ridge 17‑yard line and set up a 7‑yard touchdown run by Jerome Jackson, giving the Jaguars a 7‑6 lead with 5:27 remaining in the half. Shadow Ridge responded quickly, driving 86 yards in five plays. The march capped with a 27‑yard touchdown scamper by Gilliard, extending the lead to 12‑7 with 2:22 left before intermission. The ground game continued to flourish. Isaiah Jones piled up 176 yards on just eight carries, including gains of 15 and 41 yards that set up Gilliard’s second touchdown run. Jones later broke loose for an 80‑yard touchdown with 4:30 left in the game, effectively sealing the outcome. “We benignant of person a small spot of a crowded backfield, but Jones does a truly bully job,” Lewis remarked. “He’s our Northern Arizona feline that they’ve offered him, and he’s doing a truly large job. He’s got to play immoderate defense, truthful we’re spelling him a small spot offensively.” Additional defensive contributions came from Isaiah Ruiz and Evan Collier, who each recorded a sack, and Charles Parker, who added an interception. Jones also delivered a key tackle for loss on fourth down to halt a Desert Pines drive in the fourth quarter. Reflecting on the victory, Holmstrom said, “It’s homecoming night, we had to spell retired and bash what we’ve got to do.” He continued, “We locked in. We’ve been struggling aft halftime with discourtesy and we came retired and truly did what we’ve got to do.” The win improves Shadow Ridge to 3‑2 overall and 2‑0 in Division I West, while Desert Pines falls to 2‑3 overall and 0‑1 in conference play.