Queen Creek demonstrated early its resolve to prevail in its 5A San Tan Region opener on Friday night with Mesquite.

An opening drive for a touchdown, a takeaway by the its defense on Mesquite's first possession and the Bulldogs put up two quick TDs on the way to a 23-9 victory to spoil the Wildcats' homecoming.

"We came out strong and made a statement and that's important in big games like this one," Queen Creek coach Travis Schureman said. "The kids played well early on. We're happy with the result."

Queen Creek (6-1, 1-0 in region) relied primarily on the run with senior running back Jace Koester collecting 163 yards on a 29 rushes and one touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Devin Larsen wasn't always spot on, but made a couple big throws that produced two TDs to wide out Armon McGuire. Larsen was 10 of 23 for 159 yards and one interception.

Queen Creek's defense did its share forcing three turnovers and negating Mesquite's ground game for much of the night. If not for a 51-yard run by leading rusher Joseph Eubanks in the final minute of the third period, the Wildcats would have been looking at 10 yards rushing through three quarters. 

Queen Creek's first possession was a 10-play, 61-yard march ending with Koester's 2-yard TD run. Larsen was 3-of-6 for 43 yards on the drive with a screen-pass completion to Koester for 14 yards on third down setting up  the score at the 9:21 mark.

Mesquite's first possession appeared to have life on a third-down pass completion with enough yardage for a first down, but a fumble turned it over to Queen Creek at the Mesquite 31.

Not waiting to grind out yardage for Koester behind massive left-side linemen Michael Young and Tyson Gardner, Larsen connected on the first play to a wide open McGuire on a post pattern. That made it 13-0 with only five minutes elapsed.

McGuire caught just three passes, but they were good for 86 yards. The last connection between Larsen and McGuire was a nicely thrown, 43-yard, catch and run TD with just under three minutes left in the third period making it 23-0.

Mesquite (5-2, 0-1) surrendered just 10 points over the final 43 minutes as its defense gradually began to hold its own and did a better job containing Koester, especially in the second half.. The Wildcats' offense never really clicked until Eubanks big run late in the third period set the Wildcats up at the QC 1.

It took Mesquite four tries from the 1 to score, but the Wildcats finally tailied on Preston Smith's plunge with 11:14 left. 

Eubanks busted off a 21-yard gain with about nine minutes left that opened an early, final-period drive ending in a field goal to cut the deficit to 23-9. Eubanks finished wih 85 yards on 11 carries, most on of it an two carries.

Mesquite made a final bid to make it a one-score game driving to Queen Creek's 15 wth a little more than two minutes left. An interception by Queen Creek's Sam Oram ended that. Queen Creek picked up two first downs and ran out the clock.