Andrew Lind is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sandra Day O’Connor High School for AZPreps365.com.

Sandra Day O’Connor scored in every which way on Friday at Cesar Chavez, but its ground game is what powered the Eagles to a 47-24 win. 

Junior and senior running backs Nathan Bayus and Izik Durazo combined for 222 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Durazo said his offensive line should be credited for creating so much space. 

“I just trust my offensive line and I give them props,” Durazo said. “They're a big part of my success and it’s a team sport. I see the hole and I go, and when I see green I hit it full speed.”

For the running back tandem and the rest of the team, it was about punching it in the end zone early and often after being kept out in last week's loss against Saguaro. O’Connor did just that. 

Bayus found a gap and extended what appeared to be a few-yard pickup into a 27-yard rushing touchdown on the Eagles’ second drive.

From there it was Durazo who scored once in the second and once in the third. The senior recorded 20 carries for 147 yards and two touchdowns, giving him six rushing scores this season. 

On the other hand, Bayus capped off scoring plays in the fourth quarter with his second touchdown.

He mentioned that last week’s 47-3 loss was fuel to the fire this week in practice and that every offensive rep ran full speed. 

“We were going hard, so much intensity,” Bayus said of practice this week. “Everybody was on each other. (Tonight)  whenever I got some big hits or a nice strong run it gets the energy up on the sideline. When the whole team is up, we just kept rolling.” 

Despite leading 21-3 at the break, two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown, extended O’Connor’s lead to 35-3 less than two minutes into the third quarter. 

Starting on the Cesar Chavez 20-yard line, senior defensive end Jett Roufus was simply in the right place at the right time corralling the ball and positioning the Eagles on the 4-yard line. For junior cornerback Cole Davies though, it was a coverage that the Champions hadn’t seen before – and it showed. 

“They did a great job of changing up the look on us in that second half,” Cesar Chavez coach William Chipley said. “One (interception) was inexcusable. One they caught us in a look that we weren't expecting there, and you got to move on. You just gotta have a short memory and go.”

Cesar Chavez ultimately put some plays together, highlighted by a 99-yard kick return by junior wide receiver Phillip Braxton and a 23-yard connection from senior quarterback Jorge Beltran to senior receiver Myseth Currie.

Beltran threw for 178 yards on 22-of-37 passing. He completed one passing touchdown and had two interceptions. O’Connor’s Cooper King completed 6 of 8 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. 

“I didn't like the way they moved the ball on us a little bit,” O’Connor coach Brian Cole said on the second-half surge.”

O’Connor (3-1) will host Millenium (3-1) at 7 p.m. next Friday. Cesar Chavez (2-2) will host Buckeye Union (4-0) at 7 p.m. next Friday.