Andrew Dirst is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Valley Lutheran High School for AZPreps365.com

In the last game of their 2023 season, the Valley Lutheran Flames fell to the Scottsdale Preparatory Academy Spartans, 38-0.

It was senior night for the Flames, and seniors Hunter Boyajian, Jacob Boyajian, Julian Correa, Elliott Liston, Xavier Espinosa, and Jason Stanfield Sr. were honored with festivities by their fans, friends and families. 

Though it was a close game early, with only a 7-0 Scottsdale Prep lead through the first quarter, the Spartans pulled away following a three-score second quarter. Two of those three were rushing touchdowns by junior quarterback Judah Mizysak, from 20 and 12 yards respectively. 

After this stretch of dominant offense, the Flames just weren’t able to recover. Their offense showed sparks early, with a promising opening drive that ended around midfield following a Spartans sack of Lutheran quarterback Anias Macias. 

Macias wasn’t the usual starter for the flames at QB this season. Head coach Jason Stanfield Sr. said he made the switch to Macias because of, “his speed and his ability to get out of the pocket.”

Valley Lutheran also had another big momentum swing following a 31-yard catch by senior wideout Xavier Espinoza from Macias. But the drive again stalled following a crucial third-down sack by Scottsdale Prep. 

But the dagger to the Flames’ chances happened on a Jason Stanfield Jr. carry from inside their own 20 that resulted in a fumble. The next play, the Spartans scored. 

Stanfield Sr. said that the Spartans’ success is because they’re disciplined in what they do. 

“We noticed it in the game,” he said. “They build discipline, which is what we want to do, too.” 

Scottsdale Prep played a consistent game on both offense and defense, led by quarterback Mizysak. Junior Alex Dobos, who rushed for over 75 yards and a touchdown and also caught a 40-yard touchdown pass, was a key contributor as well. 

The first half ended with Scottsdale Prep up 35-0, but the Flames only allowed 3 points in the second half. 

“Probably the best effort defensively I’ve seen all year,” assistant coach Jalan Pugh said. “They fought better than I thought they would. They came out and played.”

The Flames end the regular season with a 2-8 overall record and a 1-5 record in the 2A Verde conference. 

Scottsdale Prep leaves the Camelback High School field at 7-3 (3-3), and has a solid chance to make the 2A playoffs. MaxPreps had it ranked pregame at No. 15 in the conference, and this decisive victory certainly doesn’t hurt. 

But success on the field has never been what’s solely defined these Valley Lutheran Flames. With their last game being senior night, Valley Lutheran seniors took more from this game than the scoreboard and reflected on their career in the red and gray.

“I felt like I gave it my all,” senior and game-ball recipient Jacob Boyajian said. “I looked up to people every year, and then being the person that’s being looked up to is kind of crazy.”

Both Boyajian and senior running back and offensive leader Stanfield Jr., who was awarded the season’s game ball, gave inspiring postgame speeches to their teammate as the huddle laughed and cried together — celebrating their unity and teamwork despite the result. 

“Every single season I played, I just got better and better,” Stanfield Jr. said. “I’m just happy to see the progression from my freshman year to my senior year. Everybody who is on this team who thinks that they can’t make it or they can’t go to college because they’re in a small school — I just want to give everybody faith that if you put in hard work and effort, you can do anything you put your mind to.”