Planning for an athletic quarterback can be difficult, but Higley High School came up with a plan, and it worked.

The Higley Knights finished on top, 36-7, over the Millennium Tigers Friday night in Goodyear. Controlling the line of scrimmage was an emphasis for Higley against a quality quarterback, Jalan Early, who coach Eddy Zubey says is the most athletic quarterback his team will face all season.

“Defensively, keeping the quarterback in the pocket was important,” he said. “And the defense stopped Millennium from getting the run game going, which leads to other things they do well. The two defensive tackles did a great job of keeping their pass lanes, and Jason Harris is a big advantage as and edge-rusher. Millennium had to use two guys to block him and created opportunities for other guys to get stops.”

Harris finished the game with four sacks, followed by Jackson Solomon with two and Mason Moskowitz with one.

Harris said technique helped him beat two guys and being disciplined and watching film were difference makers as well.

“A lot of great players are disciplined, and I want to be great and stand out and that means making sacrifices,” Harris said. “The line has positive energy and chemistry and getting assignments executed gives me chances to get sacks.”

Higley running back Isaiah Eastman, one of the state’s leading rushers, scored three touchdowns and finished with 23 carries for 181 yards.

He makes it look effortless while making guys miss, but he admits it’s been a lot of work.

“I have been working so hard this off season to get stronger and faster and smarter, and my lineman really had great blocking tonight,” he said. “They left me in one-on-one battles in the hole to do my thing and that’s all I can ask for.”

Zubey said over the summer they realized there was a need on the team and moved Eastman from slot receiver to running back.

Eastman said his defense executed and allowing just seven points gave the offense opportunities to be back out on the field quickly and develop a rhythm.

Millennium knew the blitz was coming and prepared all week. With Early extending plays with his feet, head coach Lamar Early said his team knew that Higley wanted to take that threat away.

“But we shot ourselves in the foot so many times, putting us in 3rd and long positions and penalties, and when you don’t execute over and over again it’s tough to beat a good team like Higley,” Lamar said.

Millennium has a front-loaded schedule, and the team knew it would be challenged. Lamar said he was disappointed in how his team responded to adversity but added his team will fix that.

Early, Lamar’s son, scored the only touchdown for Millennium late in the 1st quarter on a 5-yard run, but Higley answered back with a big pass play from quarterback Kai Millner to Truitt Robinson on the first play from scrimmage. Higley’s defense forced a safety on Millennium late in the 4th with pressure, causing the snap to sail over Early, who was punting out of the end zone.