Jorden Hampton  is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover  Valley Vista High School  for AZPreps365.com

Casteel junior quarterback Paul Palmer threw for 304 yards and five touchdowns as the Casteel Colts defeated the Valley Vista Monsoon, 52-15, Thursday night. 

Casteel’s victory was extra sweet because the Colts (4-1, 2-0) were celebrating homecoming. 

Valley Vista remains winless after five games. 

Casteel’s first points came after recovering a Valley Vista fumble. With 10:35 left in the first quarter senior running back Kyle Harper scored a two-yard touchdown making the score 7-0. 

Casteel’s offense picked up steam in the second quarter and scored 27 points. In the second quarter Palmer threw 19-yard and 20-yard TD passes to wide receiver Braden Green. Junior wide receiver Elijah Beamon also scored on a 71-yard pass play.

Palmer completed 14 of 23 passes. 

After Casteel kicked a field goal in the middle of the second quarter, Valley Vista had one scoring drive at the end of the second quarter. Sophomore running back Jaahad Paris scored on an 8-yard run. Valley Vista was successful on a 2-point conversion, making the halftime score 31-8. 

The Colts attacked the middle of the Monsoon’s defense during the game and Valley Vista’s defense had no answer for Palmer. 

“Some of their safeties were playing a little off,” Palmer said. “We were able to attack the seams and move the ball through the air.” 

Casteel’s offense was in rhythm all night long and Valley Vista had no answer for it. 

“They won up front and we couldn’t adjust to what they were doing offensively,” Valley Vista Coach Derek Wahlstrom said. 

Casteel’s offense kept firing in the second half. Junior wide receiver Landon Patch caught a 6-yard touchdown pass with 9:42 left in the third quarter. Junior tight end Merrik Kubacki scored a 9-yard touchdown on Casteel’s next drive as the Colts took a 45-8 lead into the fourth quarter.

Palmer was focused during the game and made good decisions. 

“Our quarterback threw the ball well and went through his reads well,” Casteel Coach Bobby Newcome said. 

Casteel’s defense did a good job slowing down the Monsoon’s rushing attack as the Monsoon’s running backs were stuffed at the line of scrimmage. 

“Defensively,  I thought we did a good job with slowing down their running game,” Newcome said. “We were able to limit the run game by shooting the gaps and tackling well.” 

The Monsoon could not get quarterback Miles Pringle in rhythm. Pringle, who missed the past couple of games with a shoulder injury, was sacked three times and completed 6 of 14 passes for 68 yards.

“We have to do a better job protecting him and catching the ball when we get our opportunities,”  Wahlstrom said. 

The Colts’ offense went on a six-minute scoring drive to open the fourth quarter. The drive ended with sophomore running back Mason Lewis scoring a 6-yard touchdown. Lewis also recorded five tackles and intercepted Pringle in the third quarter. 

The Monsoon’s offense went down the field and scored with 52 seconds left as Pringle scored on a 5-yard run.  

Valley Vista will travel to Surprise to face the  Willow Canyon Wildcats(1-3,1-3) next Friday at 7 p.m. Casteel will travel to Chandler to face the No. 1 Wolves (4-0, 3-0,)  at 7 p.m. Friday.