Week 11 Game Recap: Desert Vista vs Mountain Pointe

<p>One of the most underrated rivalries in Arizona high school football sits right behind South Mountain in suburban Ahwatukee. In a Thursday night showdown, the Desert Vista Thunder faced their cross-town rival, the Mountain Pointe Pride. We will recap the Desert Vista vs Mountain Pointe Week 11 game in this article and highlight some of the standout performances in what these two schools call "The Tukee Bowl."</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game Summary:</h2>   <p>Mountain Pointe would strike first late in the 1st quarter as RB [player_tooltip player_id='716834' first='Jamarlon' last='Otis'] rushed it in from about 5 yards out for the touchdown, then extended it with another Otis touchdown from 3 yards out in the 2nd quarter, making it 14-0 at halftime. In the second half, it would be the Pride's K Francisco Orduno hitting a short field goal to continue adding to their lead 17-0. After a stalled drive for Desert Vista, it would be once again RB [player_tooltip player_id='716834' first='Jamarlon' last='Otis'] who would not be denied taking it from 40 yards out for the rushing touchdown for a significant lead in the 3rd quarter, making it 24-0. Desert Vista would finally find a big play opportunity as QB [player_tooltip player_id='1543755' first='Seth' last='Hanson'] would hit WR DJ Williams for a 80 yard receiving TD to get on the board 24-7. Mountain Pointe would once again respond with the ground game, this time it would be freshman RB Jamier McKinney from 23 yards out for the rushing touchdown, score now 31-7. In the 4th Quarter, QB [player_tooltip player_id='954374' first='Robert' last='Knorr'] would find WR RJ Washington from 36 yards for the receiving touchdown to continue adding to their dominating lead of 38-7. Desert Vista would rally for a late game drive and give it to their big man DL Offisong Okon from about 4 yards out for his first touchdown of the season. Desert Vista would go for two points as QB [player_tooltip player_id='1543755' first='Seth' last='Hanson'] found WR [player_tooltip player_id='1353892' first='Aeneas' last='Redmond'] for the conversion, making it 38-15. Mountain Pointe would hold on and run out the game to take the Tukee Bowl victory. Final Score: Mountain Pointe 38, Desert Vista 15</p>   <p>The game was quite chippy and heated, all things you come to expect from a rivalry game, reminding you of the stakes of the game. However, Mountain Pointe was just too much for the Thunder to handle as they go up on the all-time series 15 wins to 13 wins. Now, we will share some of the stand-out performances from Thursday's Game.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offensive Standouts:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2025 Running Back [player_tooltip player_id='716834' first='Jamarlon' last='Otis'] once again had an unbelievable game last night for the Pride. His ability to put his foot in the ground and get downhill was unstoppable as he got behind his pads and powered his way through the defense for a three rushing touchdown performance. He also got it done through the air with a few catches to have around 100 scrimmage yards in the game, showing that he is a multi-dimensional back threat. Otis's terrific game will help spark some momentum, as he will need to be the central focus for the Pride offense to have postseason success.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/12pJbgky_rE </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">2025 Wide Receiver RJ Washington was an electric weapon for the Mountain Point Pride. He had over 80 yards of scrimmage, including a 36-yard receiving TD late in the fourth quarter. Washington showcases his speed and acceleration in the open field, as he can be gone in a flash at any moment. He also has some nice elusive ability, able to get nimble and work his way around defenders. The Mountain Point offense will look forward to using Washington more for their upcoming playoff run.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">2026 Offensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1682194' first='Cole' last='Graber'] was a major component of Desert Vista's offense last night. Standing at a remarkable frame, Garber was a massive anchor on the offensive line at the right tackle position. He was able to get sizable push at the point of attack, most notably in zone blocking, to allow the ball carrier to have a cutback lane if needed. He also held up well in pass pro with good footwork and hand usage to give his QB time to get the ball downfield. Garber is a bright spot for this Desert Vista team heading into next season and a player to look out for to see how he progresses from his junior year campaign.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Standouts:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">2025 Defensive Lineman Offisong Okon was a special talent in this game who was an absolute force to stop on the interior. With a readjusted Pride offensive line, he took full advantage of this reshuffled look by splitting double teams and pushing linemen in the backfield. Once he did this, he quickly disengaged with ease and found the ball carrier, bringing him down to the ground to have well over five tackles in the game. Though he had no sacks on the night, he constantly hurried the quarterback, making him uncomfortable in the pocket and scrambling. Additionally, he also got a rushing touchdown that truly rewarded the game he played last night. Okon was fantastic and had a remarkably underrated season for the Thunder. </p>      <p class="text-gray-700">In an already talented Mountain Point Pride secondary, it was 2025 Defensive Back [player_tooltip player_id='719918' first='Jacob' last='Carter'] who shined last night the most in this unit. Playing mainly out of the slot, he had a couple of tackles for loss on some screenplays as well as an interception downfield, dealing major contract by the offense on the play. He was able to concentrate, track down, and snag the ball out of the air for the turnover, showcasing spectacular agility in the open field along with great ball skills. This Pride defense will continue to need Carter to be a playmaker heading into the postseason.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">2027 Defensive Lineman Marleigh Fely was a notable second-half player who showed some promise in a dominant victory. Fely had the only sack of the game for the Pride as he was able to show his quick, versatile pass rushing skills at the defensive end position. His close on the quarterback was excellent, with great cornering ability and even better form to force the Desert Vista offense to stall. Fely could see a more substantial role in the defense as the postseason comes if he plays like he did Thursday night.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">2026 Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1262813' first='Andrew' last='Hoyt'] was a machine for this Desert Vista defense. Playing mainly at the middle linebacker position, he finished with more than five tackles on the night. His constant motor and pursuit allowed him to be in on almost every play, scraping over the top of the Mountain Pointe offensive lineman and finding the ball carrier with sound instincts and good reactive athleticism. Though it was a tough night for his team, Hoyt demonstrated that he can be a difference maker and true leader for his defense.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Notable Players:</h2>   <p>DJ Williams WR Desert Vista - Another weapon Desert Vista used in their spread offense was Williams. He was the leading receiver on the night and made a big play when it mattered most, snagging that 80-yard receiving touchdown in a contest window with outstanding concentration and balance to break a tackle to take it to the house. In his last senior game, Williams made a memorable play he will never forget.</p>   <p>Jamier McKinney RB Mountain Pointe - The freshman running back McKinney saw action late in the game and took advantage of his opportunity. He had multiple carries in the game but really showed his true second gear on his first varsity touchdown. Mountain Pointe has a history of talented running backs, and McKinney could undoubtedly be next in line.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Season Overviews:</h2>   <p>After a commanding win, Mountain Pointe will finish the regular season with a 6-4 record. Looking ahead to the post-season, they are gearing up to go face Pinnacle (7-3) on their path to a 6A title.</p>   <p>Desert Vista's season will end disappointingly as this loss will move them to 1-9. Despite their record, there were some positives to take away from this season that will be key building blocks as they head into the off-season.</p>

One of the most underrated rivalries in Arizona high school football sits right behind South Mountain in suburban Ahwatukee. In a Thursday night showdown, the Desert Vista Thunder faced their cross-town rival, the Mountain Pointe Pride. We will recap the Desert Vista vs Mountain Pointe Week 11 game in this article and highlight some of the standout performances in what these two schools call "The Tukee Bowl."