Heritage Academy Gateway is 0-3 against AZ Compass Prep since October of 2024 but things could change on Thursday. The Heroes will host the Dragons at 4:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
AZ Compass Prep will take on a team with plenty of momentum: Heritage Academy Gateway extended their winning streak to three on Thursday. The Heroes simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Mission Heights Prep 46-0. Given the Heroes' advantage in MaxPreps' Arizona football rankings (they are ranked eighth, while the Phantoms are ranked 129th) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Heritage Academy Gateway's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Stratton Ellsworth led the charge by rushing for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only nine carries. The team also got some help courtesy of Axton Leavitt, who rushed for 102 yards and one score on only nine carries.
Heritage Academy Gateway didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Calan Phillips and Matthew Thomason.
Meanwhile, AZ Compass Prep got themselves on the board against Skyline Prep on Friday, but Skyline Prep never followed suit. They took their matchup with ease, bagging a 66-0 win over the Bengals. The victory continues a trend for the Dragons in their matchups with the Bengals: they've now won three in a row.
Heritage Academy Gateway better keep an eye on Carston 'Diesel' Robinson. He was instrumental in AZ Compass Prep's win, throwing for 135 yards and four TDs while completing 88.9% of his passes, and also rushing for 34 yards. Robinson is on a roll when it comes to passing touchdowns, as he's now passed for three or more in each of the last three games he's played. Tray Parson was another key rusher, gaining 42 total yards and two touchdowns.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: AZ Compass Prep was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 210 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in November of 2024.
On the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to AZ Compass Prep's defense and their three sacks. Leading the way was Keytrin Harris with two.
AZ Compass Prep's win bumped their record up to 7-0. As for Heritage Academy Gateway, their victory bumped their record up to 7-3.
Heritage Academy Gateway was taken down by AZ Compass Prep 63-0 when the teams last played back in September. Will the Heroes have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other football content.
