Havasu defense steps up, offense struggles in loss

The Knights defense did its job Friday, limiting powerhouse Goodyear Millennium to 24 points and just seven in the second half.

Unfortunately Havasu’s offense wasn’t able to capitalize and the visiting Tigers were able to down the Knights 24-6.

“I’m proud of the defensive effort. They played really hard. We put them in terrible positions over and over again and they rose to the occasion, stopping them on a couple of fourth downs and forcing turnovers,” Knights head coach Kris Garry said.

Millennium showed why the team has earned the No. 8 ranking in state 4A-1 play, scoring on its second possession of the game. But Havasu countered, running time off the clock by mixing plays well and using standout running back Brent Michaels primarily as a decoy.

However, Havasu wasn’t able to convert that play into points until the opening moments of the second quarter. After Havasu forced a three-and-out, Millennium shanked the punt giving the Knights great field position on the Tigers’ 34-yard-line.

On the first play from scrimmage, Havasu lined up in a three-back set of Michaels and Trey Athay at running back and quarterback Eric Prater. Prater went in motion and the snap went to Athay who ran left 34 yards for the touchdown.

The Tigers countered with a field goal and then shutdown the Havasu offense. Twice punter Doug Greene was forced to kick out of his own end zone, the second time resulting in another Tigers score.

“Offensively we were abysmal. But I put that on me, I’m an offensive coach. We have to find ways to run and get the ball in the end zone,” Garry said.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with neither defense relenting. Millennium scored its only points in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter and then the turnovers started.

While the Tigers were penalized for over 100 yards, neither offense had turnedover the ball until Havasu’s Craig Smith picked off a pass with about six minutes left. Then Havasu fumbled the ball away on the next pay, the snap bobbled by Prater.

Millennium went to the ground game to take time off the clock but two plays later they put the ball on the ground to be recovered by Havasu’s Max Delia. Havasu’s Prater, forced to gamble with time ticking away, tossed one up into the wind that hung just a second too long and was picked off.

But just like before, on the next set of downs, Millennium fumbled away the ball to be recovered by Cameron Lundin.

With just over one minute left, Prater again tried to make something happen but the result was two incompletes and a coverage sack to end the game.

The loss drops the Knights to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in conference.

“Our solution is we have to keep going to work every day. We need all three phases to play well enough to win games,” Garry said.

Havasu travels to Desert Edge next week then returns for homecoming against Glendale Cactus Oct. 24.

You may contact the reporter at dbell@havasunews.com.