Myles Aaron Dunson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Verrado High School for AZPreps365.com

BUCKEYE-- The Verrado Vipers switched gears Friday night, using a potent passing game en route to shutting out the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks, 35-0.

The Vipers played a very different game than last week’s run-heavy offense against the Ironwood Eagles, as senior quarterback Malachi Wilt attacked the Shamrocks through the air, throwing for 305 yards and three touchdowns. 

The Vipers (3-1) have won three straight. 

Verrado coach Brett Davis said he adjusts his weekly scheme based on his opponent's playstyle. 

“That’s the thing about the offense,” Davis said. “It’s a run-and-shoot. We can do both. We just see how you play us and we’ll take what you give us.” 

Verrado set the tone of the game during the first two drives. The Vipers defense picked off Shamrocks junior quarterback Scout Reese on the opposing 32-yard line. On the next play, Wilt threw a 32-yard dart to senior wide receiver Wyatt Locke, putting the Vipers up 7-0 with 10:20 left in the first quarter. 

The Vipers and the Shamrocks traded defensive stops with the latter missing a field goal attempt from the 19-yard line with 2:47 left in the first quarter.  

Verrado answered this by going on a five-play, 81-yard drive, which was capped off by a 22-yard TD catch by senior running back Immanuel Perry, making the score 14-0 with 1:50 left in the first. 

The Vipers defense followed the scoring drive with a fumble recovery after a big hit on Shamrocks sophomore receiver Levi Stallworth.

 The offense capitalized on this as Wilt finished another scoring drive with an 18-yard pass to his senior wide receiver Airen Lively, the third Viper receiver to score a TD, putting the Vipers up 21-0 with 7:26 left in the half. 

“I have all the trust in all my receivers and all my linemen,” Wilt said. “They give me the opportunity, honestly, to give them the football and let them do their job.” 

The Vipers defense stopped another offensive drive from the Shamrocks, which allowed their offense to score the final points in the half as junior running back Jesse Abundes ran in a 1-yard TD with 1:54 left, making it 28-0. 

The Vipers and Shamrocks traded defensive stops for most of the third quarter until Yuma Catholic put together its best offensive drive of the game. Starting at their 38-yard line, the Shamrocks ran 10 plays that got them to first-and-goal on the 2-yard line. 

However, the Vipers stood firm and stopped three rushing attempts, leaving the Shamrocks at fourth-and-goal as the third quarter ended. The fourth quarter did not bring any luck to the Shamrocks, as they were still unable to get into the end zone. 

The impressive defensive drive was followed up by an equally impressive 99-yard TD run from Abundes with 11:39 left in the game, making it 35-0. 

First-year Shamrocks coach Vernon Smith said he was proud of his team’s effort, as it is the school’s first year being in the 5A classification. 

“Man, they’re competitors,” Smith said. “They fight. They fight hard. That part is good...I feel like we get a little bit better every game, and I don’t think this game was any different, maybe the second half.” 

Verrado (3-1) will host South Mountain (0-4) next Friday at 7 p.m.

Yuma Catholic (0-4) will play at Fairfax (1-3) next Friday at 7 p.m.