Football Recap: Dynamic Duo of Jace Wright and Decker Haskins-Smith Lead Notre Dame Prep to Victory

Notre Dame Prep won against Horizon last Friday with 42 points and they decided to stick to that point total again on Monday. The Saints strolled past the Chaparral Firebirds with points to spare, taking the game 42-24. That result was just more of the same for these two, as the Saints also won the last time the pair played back in September of 2017.

Notre Dame Prep's receiving core played a big role in the win, headlined by Decker Haskins-Smith and Jace Wright. Haskins-Smith rushed for 167 yards and one score while picking up 8.0 yards per carry while Wright picked up 84 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. Wright really caught the secondary sleeping when he pulled down a catch that went for 80 yards. Matthew Higby made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.

Notre Dame Prep didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Chaparral to a completion percentage of just 37.9%. That dominant aerial defense primarily came from six players: Haskins-Smith, Peyton Patrassi, Nate Jones, Luca Amoroso, Higby, and Mason Pavone, who each logged one passes deflected. Notre Dame Prep hasn't an opponent to post a completion percentage of 0.13 or higher in nine consecutive contests dating back to last season.

Landon Stych

Rushing Yards

09/19/25 vs Gilbert	114
10/13/25 vs Chaparral	112
09/05/25 @ Sunnyslope	93
10/03/25 @ Horizon	90
08/29/25 vs Yuma Catholic	29
+ 2 more games

Notre Dame Prep didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Higby, Patrassi, and Landon Stych picked up one apiece. Stych also rushed for 112 rushing yards, which is notable because Notre Dame Prep is 3-1 when he posts at least 80 rushing yards, but 1-2 otherwise. Higby got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

Notre Dame Prep now has a winning record of 4-3. As for Chaparral, they now have a losing record of 3-4.

Notre Dame Prep wasted no time getting back out on the field and has already played their next game, a 56-27 loss against Cactus Shadows on the 17th. As for Chaparral, they have also already played their next matchup, a 16-6 defeat against Desert Mountain on the 17th.