Daniel Eidman
ASU Student Journalist

Brophy bashes Copper Canyon, 42-6

September 8, 2018 by Daniel Eidman, Arizona State University


The Broncos pre-game huddle. (Photo by Daniel Eidman/AZPreps365)

“I feel like tonight wasn’t our best effort,” said Brophy coach Jon Kitna.

That's an uncommon statement from the leader of a team that just won 42-6.

On Friday night, the  Broncos dominated the Copper Canyon Aztecs but did not execute their game plan up to team standards.

“We gotta clean things up,” said Kitna.

Andre Eden led the powerful rushing attack with 12 attempts for 153 yards and a touchdown.

“The past couple of weeks I was off on injury. That was pretty different. It just felt good to come out and play for my dudes,” said Edens after rushing for more yards in one game than he has in the season.

Wide receiver Denzel Burke also had a large impact with one rushing touchdown and two receiving touchdowns. Burke was a menace for defenders. He was nearly untouchable, breaking as many as four tackles on a single play.

The Broncos started ominously. Their first drive ended in an interception.

The defense promptly went to work and ravaged the Aztecs offense. They could not move the ball.

Linebacker Will Broucek made his presence felt with two sacks in the first half and constant pressure on Copper Canyon’s quarterback.

The Broncos failed to score on their second offensive drive but took advantage of a Copper Canyon miscue. The Aztecs return man muffed the punt that was recovered by Burke. Burke eventually rushed for the first touchdown of the game.

The Broncos once again hit pay dirt on their third drive with an 11-yard pass from quarterback Jalen Kitna to Eden.

The defense took over next.

It broke through the offensive line and blocked a punt which was recovered by Bronco Michael Diaz for a touchdown.

With 5:56 minutes left in the first half, the Bronco defense stepped up again, recovering a fumble.

Faced with a second and 29, Eden saved the drive with a 57-yard run to the 11-yard line.

The next play, with the pocket collapsing, Kitna passed the ball to Burke for a TD.

Burke added another TD catch fo a 35-0 lead at the half. The bench took over in the second half.

Brophy (3-1) plays at Mountain View next week.