Jaxson Webster is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover American Leadership Academy - Ironwood for AZPreps365.com

QUEEN CREEK-- It had been three years, nine games, and 1,099 days since American Leadership Academy - Ironwood won a home football game.

That all changed when the Warriors demolished the Catalina Trojans by a final score of 65-0 on Friday.

“This week we focused on us and the little things,” coach Travis Epperson said. “You do the little things right and the scoreboard will take care of itself.”

The little things and believing, Epperson's season motto, showed up in a big way early. On the first drive of the game Trojan quarterback Connor Murphy was picked off by Warrior safety Devon Elliott. It was the start of something big for ALA-Ironwood, as Ryan Hammer punched in his fourth touchdown of the year to put the Warriors ahead 7-0.

On their second possession the Warriors faced a third-and-20, but a 40-yard pass from Connor Mault to Travis Mbuya kept the drive alive. Caleb Gaston would then score on a nine-yard rushing touchdown with 2:57 left in the first quarter.

ALA-Ironwood wasn’t finished there, though. Elliott intercepted Murphy for the second time in the quarter and the table was set for Hammer, who blasted through the Trojan defense from 13 yards out to take a commanding 21-0 lead.

“Once I got the pick," Elliott said, "I saw my teammates coming out to block for me as I was looking for the endzone on the other side."

The second quarter provided no relief for Catalina, as Murphy was picked off for the third time in the first half by Anthony Romano. It was only a matter of time before the Warriors found the end zone again. This time Mault found Ashton Williams on a pass from nine yards out.

Catalina would once again turn the ball over on its next possession, as this time Murphy fumbled the ball on a snap. Three minutes later Mault would drive the Warriors down the field and sneak in for a touchdown of his own to make it 35-0.

Mault would wind up throwing for another touchdown to Zander Kelly and Ayden Williams would score one of his two touchdowns on the night before the first half ended with the Warriors on top 48-0.

“It felt good," Mault said. "I’m glad to be back and it was really fun to get our first home win."

In the second half ALA-Ironwood would add two more touchdowns by Jake Vinoya and Ayden Williams. Murphy would also be picked off for the fourth time in the game by freshman Hudson Graves. Caleb Gatson would tack on a 27-yard field goal in the fourth before the Warriors would celebrate a 65-0 victory.

Overall, the Warriors scored on every possession they had in the game with the exception of one late in the fourth quarter. They went 10 for 11 with nine touchdowns, a missed extra point, and a field goal. 

“We had a big crowd, it was packed and the cheerleaders were loud," Elliott said. "We really did well."

Next week ALA-Ironwood will head up to Tuba City in the battle of the Warriors. But for now, ALA-Ironwood will celebrate its second win of the season.

“I’m just thankful for the players, the kids at the school, and the parents who get to enjoy it,” Epperson said. “This is one of the fun parts of football and that’s the best part of it for me.”