For once against their new, shiny charter school rivals, Dysart football earned the right to run around the field in giddy celebration

The Demons made crucial stops and scored several touchdowns on big plays in their 50-48 overtime win against Paradise Honors on Thursday, Sept. 12. The home team faced fourth and goal after the Panthers scored to open the extra period.

Senior quarterback Isaiah Roman rolled out on fourth down and raced for the end zone, breaking the plane while tackled to tie the game 48-48. Dysart opted for the two-point conversion, and junior wide receiver Donovan Hinchey scored the winning two points after taking the direct snap to end the game.

“It felt good,” Hinchey said about scoring the winning points, “I was doing it for the team.”

Hinchey simply took over in the second half, starting with a 63-yard touchdown reception from Roman off a play action fake. Hinchey caught five passes after halftime for 166 yards, plus a game-tying two point conversion catch.

Both Dysart and Paradise Honors came into this game with 1-2 records. They played against their first region game in hopes to advance in the 3A Metro West rankings.

Dysart lost to Paradise Honors' best teams during the past two seasons. Paradise Honors won last season’s game 53-21, and the 2022 game 39-6.

“We knew they were going to be tough. Great offense, they’re coached well,” Dysart head coach John Ganados said. “I give them credit, but I knew our time was coming. It was a big win for us.”

Dysart took the first lead of the game 6-0, however Paradise Honors were quick to respond with a touchdown, tying the game 6-6. Both teams failed their two-point conversion attempts.

In the second quarter, Paradise Honors were able to take the lead with two touchdowns. The first was scored by wide receiver Jackson Short on a nine-yard reception, after Paradise’s offense converted a fourth down.

Panthers’ quarterback Nolan Rau ran in the second touchdown to add onto their lead. Paradise Honors scored the extra point, leading the game 19-6.

Dysart’s defense and offense shined in the last five minutes of the half.

Roman made two passes before handing the ball to junior running back/linebacker Jevon Christmas for a 53-yard rushing touchdown and it was  19-13 Panthers.

The defense soon made a stop, forcing incomplete passes from Rau. This would lead to Roman passing to Christmas for another touchdown. After the extra point, Dysart took the lead 20-19.

Roman threw deep to senior wide receiver Avion Bailey. Even though Bailey had  to stop his route and wait for the ball, he was far behind the defense and completed the 89-yard touchdown pass.

Their final drive of the half lasted 30 seconds, and the Demons led 27-19 at halftime.

Dysart’s defense stopped the Panthers’ opening drive in the second half, and Roman connected with Hinchey for the aforementioned touchdown. The Demons added to their lead, 34-19.

“I was more amped up with defense than offense,” Roman said. “Paradise has a power offense, so the defense to stop them and give us the opportunity to come back and win the game was great.”

However, the Panthers were not done yet. Running back Charles Van Dyke scored a four-yard touchdown after a 43-yard drive. The Panthers cut the lead to 34-27 after wide receiver Kaleo Mills caught the two-point conversion.

A punt snap sailed over senior kicker/punter/linebacker Luis Lopez's head and he smartly kicked it out of the end zone for a safety before Paradise Honors could fall on it for a touchdown.

Senior Cougar Holt returned the free kick for more than 50 yards. On the next play, Lopez suffered a neck injury and remained face down on the turf.

An ambulance arrived to transport Lopez on a backboard to Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City West. Later that night, Dysart athletic director Rachel Matakas said Lopez had full movement in his extremities and was released from the hospital Thursday night.

After the game resumed, the Panthers scored again on a five-yard rushing touchdown from running back Aiden Lee and led 35-34. 

“They battled and rallied in the second half. They gave everything and just came up short tonight,” Paradise Honors head coach Josh Goodloe said. 

It was a back-and-forth battle between the defensives until Rau's rushing touchdown added to the lead late in the fourth quarter. With the successful extra point, the Panthers led 42-34.

With five minutes left, Dysart started the ball on its 31-yard line. Christmas and Hinchey led a nearly 70-yard drive. Dysart was on the fourth down when Roman hit Hinchey in the center of the end zone for a touchdown.

The Demons needed a two-point conversion to tie the game. Both crowds were cheering loudly. The Dysart crowd erupted while visitors were stunned as Roman threw a two-point pass to Hinchey, to tie the game 42-42.

Paradise Honors had the ball to start overtime and scoreimmediately with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Rau to junior wide receiver Preston Brown. However, Paradise failed to score on the two, leaving it 48-42.

Dysart fumbled on its first play of overtime, but senior tight end William Stackhouse recovered the ball. On the third down, Roman found an open man in the end zone, but the pass was incomplete.

The crowd began to intensify as both teams lined up for the final down. 

The Panthers came back in the second half, scoring 16 points to take a one-point lead. However, Dysart’s offense and defense worked together to win in overtime.

Dysart’s defense was crucial in stopping their rivals from scoring, despite the number of injuries during the game.

“Our defense stepped up,” Ganados said. “We had two linebackers go down, we had a few linemen go down, and we have eight guys who go both ways. So it was tough, but they dug deep.”

Paradise Honors plays on Friday, Sep. 20 at 7 p.m. at home against Show Low while Dysart plays at home that night against Greenway.