Gilbert San Tan Charter had to make a second 35-mile trip to Scottsdale Christian Academy in two days to play its 2A high school football season opener.
All those miles were worth it, as San Tan Charter left Friday night with a 23-6 statement win over the defending 2A champions.
It was the second year in a row that these teams' opener covered two days due to lightning. Last year, at San Tan Charter, they got more than a quarter in, before it was moved to the next night with SCA winning decidedly. This time, after Thursday's game never started due to lightning, the teams agreed to return to Scottsdale Christian on Friday.
No. 4-ranked San Tan Charter utilized the talents of gifted senior wide receiver Uriah Neloms at quarterback, and the Arizona State-bound athlete got the Roadrunners off to a 16-0 start.
Related: Arizona Republic's Top 10 preseason 2A HS football rankings; vote in poll for No. 1
Neloms broke off a 35-yard run on a broken play that set up Benny Sharpe's 12-yard scoring run. Later in the half, Neloms took off for a 56-yard scoring run. In the second half, Neloms hit tight end D.J. Jones for a 26-yard touchdown, and the Roadrunners' defense took over.
"It feels great to come out with a victory," said Jones, who dominated the defensive line at end, stuffing the run and making first-time quarterback Sean Helgeson rush his throws.
Neloms, who led the Roadrunners in receiving last year en route to the playoff semifinals, was given the ball this year after four-year starter Zayden Neill graduated. Neloms played some quarterback in youth football but it wasn't until this year that he had to get reacclimated to a position he doubted he'd play again.
He committed this summer to Arizona State to play wide receiver. But coach Chase Cartwright, a former quarterback, realized for this team to have a chance at a title, he's got to have the ball in his star's hands every play on offense with his tremendous athleticism.
"It's been a process, a development as a quarterback and as a young man," said the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Neloms, who also played the whole game at cornerback. "It's a great experience."
Scottsdale Christian, which came into the season ranked No. 2 by The Arizona Republic, is rebuilding. The Eagles are trying to find different ways to score after graduating quarterback Jack Atkinson, who threw for 43 TDs last year on the way to a championship.
Helgeson went from tight end to quarterback , shedding 20 pounds. He had a couple of nice throws, one that was dropped that would have gone for a touchdown in the first half.
The Eagles put themselves in a quick 2-0 hole after their opening drive saw the snap back to the punter sail out of the end zone for a safety.
San Tan Charter quickly showed this team has a defense that can get it to the state final this year. After Aiden Giannopoulos gave SCA its only score in the second quarter on a short TD run, the Roadrunners held the Eagles to less than 20 yards rushing in the second half.
The Roadrunners played more conservatively in the second half, attacking the middle of the line with run plays to either Sharpe or Christian Munoz.
"I think early on in the season, we have to establish our identity and our culture," Cartwright said. "Hopefully, it's one that is disciplined and has a lot of toughness. We can rely on that run game. We've got a lot of things to clean up. We've got a lot of talented opponents ahead of us. This was just one."
Cartwright and his staff made sure the players understood this was only Week 1 and not to get too carried away with a win over an opponent favored to win.
"That's a great team, a great coach, they're well-disciplined and they were missing a couple of their guys," Cartwright said.
SCA was without its top two linebackers. Caleb Randall, who led the Eagles in tackles last year, is expected to return the third week of the season.
"We're in a growth period right now, and I think we'll see them in November," SCA coach Mike Sheahan said. "We're missing a decent amount of starters right now. But there's no excuse. Our guys battled. Sean, playing his first game at quarterback, he played great.
"I'm excited how we're going to finish this season. This is one of 10. We're going to get everybody's best all year. We're just going to turn up our best."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: San Tan Charter downs Scottsdale Christian in 2A football opener
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