Parker Porrill is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Saint Mary's High School for AZPreps365.com.

Saint Mary’s continued its red hot start in their 20-0 win at home over Seton Catholic on Thursday. They not only improved to 4-0 but also etched its first home win in school history. 

Before the kickoff, the Knights' assistant athletic director Brian Watts momentarily reflected on how the team was only an idea one year ago.

Watts said the student body last year pleaded with him to start a flag football program. Many of those students who asked for a team now are getting to suit up in the green and white. 

“Before the season, we had a great turnout at the first interest meeting,” Watt said. “I think every face from that meeting is out on the field for the home opener.”

The highly anticipated home opener lived up to the expectations both on the field and in the stands.

“It was beautiful,” wide receiver and defensive back Bella Soroko said. “It was all the energy, this was the first home game ever and we were all so excited to be out there.”

Saint Mary’s head coach Chris Horn said the intimate environment of having family and the fans so close to the sideline made the team nervous but also inspired them. 

“You could see the girls had energy and they were excited,” Horn said. “You could not only hear the fans but you could see them because most of the time they are 15 feet away.”

The Knights started the game off with their safety Ava Sierras intercepting Sentinels quarterback Ava Pongratz’s pass. 

On St. Mary’s ensuing possession, the Knights moved just 57 yards in just two plays to score the first touchdown of the game.

St. Mary's senior quarterback Giahni Ruiz went 4-for-5 with two passing touchdowns by the end of the first quarter.

“I try to lay the ball out as best I can for my teammates,” Ruiz said. “My teammates help me out by receiving my passes and I am really grateful for them.”

Constantly connecting with Ruiz was Bella Soroko, who finished with three TD catches. Both of Soroko's touchdowns came in the first quarter.

“I trust her as my receiver,” Ruiz said. “I like laying it right in the pocket for her so she’s a perfect first option.”

Adding to the offensive barrage was senior Gwen Carter's 44-yard rush and would cap off the half with a TD reception that lifted the Knights to 20-0 entering the half. 

“We wanted to take the lead earlier and keep the same mentality throughout the game,” Ruiz said. “We kinda went down and that was our fault for not keeping the team up.”

Although the offense may have produced the results on the scoreboard, the Knights walked away from Monterey Park taking immense pride in its defense. 

Sealing the game for the Knights was another senior in Frannie Horn's interception allowed the Saint Mary’s to  run out the clock and clinch the shut-out win. 

“They make defense important,” Horn said. “They care a lot about how they play defense and it shows.”

Two pivotal INTs stalled the Sentinels offense, and the Knights will look to ride their stout defensive into the heart of its schedule.

Up next for St. Mary's is hosting Leading Edge Academy-Gilbert on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m.