Mateo Arenas is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Pinnacle High School for AZPreps365.com

On fourth-and-8 at the Horizon Huskies’ 31-yardline, Pinnacle head coach Dana Zupke had a big decision to make. 

After scoring a field goal on their opening drive, then recovering a fumble near midfield on Horizon’s opening drive, could the visiting Pioneers capitalize so early in Thursday night’s rivalry game?

The offense stayed on the field, and within seconds, Pinnacle wide receiver Josh Pinder was celebrating in the end zone after catching a looping touchdown pass from junior quarterback Wyatt Horton. The Pioneers took an early 10-0 lead. One drive later, Pinnacle faced another key fourth down:  fourth-and-7 on the Horizon 29-yard line soon turned into a first down after Horton zipped a 22-yard strike to wide receiver Mac Richards. Horton capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run on a muffed snap, and Pinnacle never looked back. 

The Pioneers seized the 27-7 victory in the much-anticipated matchup between two of the top teams in the state, both of which came into the game with 3-0 records.  

"[Trust in the offense] starts with my trust in my coaches,” Zupke said. “My offensive coordinator, Matt Hanshaw, and our pass game coordinator Trace Carroll. They've worked really hard, and they know our kids and what they're capable of. Then you get it in Wyatt's hands. I think you've got this group of receivers that are a little unsung compared to what we had last year, but people will know their names soon enough because they're pretty talented.”

Horton took home Fiesta Bowl Super Star of the Game honors for 154 passing yards, a rushing touchdown, and a passing touchdown in the game. 

The Fiesta Bowl “Friday Night Showdown” on Thursday night brought out a raucous crowd for both sides, including former Pinnacle star wide receiver and current USC Trojan Duce Robinson, who was on the Pioneers’ sideline. 

Horton said Robinson's presence spoke to the strength of Pinnacle’s football program.

“This is one of the best quarterbacks schools in the country when you just look at the history,” Horton sald. “Brian Lewerke in the NFL, and Spencer Rattler, J.D. Johnson, there's so many great guys that you think of when you think of Pinnacle. Obviously, Duce Robinson. Last year I got to throw it to my big No. 2, and he's killing it over there at USC. It was great to see him, but the school is definitely doing something right. When kids think about coming to this program, it definitely should be a good option for them.”

Horizon gained some momentum in the fourth quarter, after a 13-play drive was topped off by Anthony Segura's touchdown run to cut the Pioneers’ lead to 13. After forcing Pinnacle to punt on the next drive, the Huskies couldn’t take advantage, turning the ball over on downs after junior quarterback Jase Ashley threw three consecutive  incompletions. Pinnacle got the ball back, and running back Mason Hughes iced the victory,  scoring on a 3-yard run with 1:18 remaining in the game. 

The Pioneers will look to remain undefeated next week, as they face  American Leadership Academy.. While Pinnacle will move past week 4 with a rivalry game checked off, the Pioneers have their sights set on much more this season.

“We're gonna be better as a team and we're building stronger,” junior wide receiver Jace Pina said. “We're going to keep working, and after this win, we feel secure at 4-0. I just feel like we're gonna be more confident coming into [the matchup against American Leadership Academy], a team that we have not faced. We're just gonna study, watch film, keep doing our thing, and just hope for the best.”