Paradise Valley’s offensive struggles continued for the third straight week while defending home field against division rival Horizon on Friday.

After being shut out 49-0, the Trojans fell to a 5-4 record, including 1-4 against regional teams. 

Paradise Valley did not get off to a good start in the first quarter, trailing 14-0 to the Huskies after the first 12 minutes of the game.

To start the second quarter, the Trojans gained offensive momentum on a drive into Husky territory. The “Red Zone," the student section at Paradise Valley, got louder as the Trojans marched down the field. An encroachment penalty on Horizon set up Paradise Valley's offense at Horizon’s 1-yard line for a 4th-and-goal.

Michael Fitch got stuffed for a two-yard loss and Paradise Valley turned it over on downs. The Trojans didn’t get past Horizon’s 40-yard line for the rest of the game after failing to convert on the play.

The Horizon Huskies had a more efficient offensive game. Horizon forced the running game against a Paradise Valley defense that seemed inept at stopping it. Horizon running back Bryan Bogardus had a total of four rushing touchdowns in the third quarter alone, along with big chunks of yardage on their drives to set the Huskies up for scoring opportunities.

The Horizon scoring opportunities were also set up by its defense forcing turnovers.

One of the touchdowns was set up by a tipped pass thrown by Ben Finley and intercepted by the Horizon defense at Paradise Valley’s 14-yard line. Nearly 30 seconds later, Bogardus punched himself into the end zone for an 8-yard rushing touchdown.

The next possession, Paradise Valley’s Michael Fitch fumbled the ball on a running play that was recovered by Horizon’s defense at the Paradise Valley 6-yard line. Shortly after, Bogardus punched the football in for an 11-yard touchdown even after a delay of game penalty on Horizon.

Paradise Valley head coach Greg Davis voiced his frustration on the offensive woes after the game.

“It’s just a struggle," he said. "I mean, it’s an adverse situation for these guys and they just have to learn a life lesson here. They’ve got to find a way to put the ball into the end zone and we just haven’t been able to do that.”

Davis explained further on what is holding back this offensive unit for Paradise Valley, saying that “key guys” who are injured, like wide receiver Caleb Diaz, are stopping the offense from being able to go vertical with their play calls.

“We have no real answer for them over the top so they don’t really have to respect someone getting vertical on them. Caleb Diaz was that someone,” Davis said.

Diaz said that not being able to be on the field “sucks” and that he’s just trying to help out the team anyway he can.

“There’s nothing I can do at this point, so I’m just going to do as much as I can to help,” Diaz said.

Paradise Valley looks to finish its season with a winning record as it defends home field against Notre Dame Prep next week.

For the seniors, it will be their final game on the Paradise Valley football field.

“I love this school with all my heart," senior quartback Ben Finley said, "but I think it’s going to be a happy moment because I’m going to reflect on all the great times I had here.”

Notre Dame Prep and Paradise Valley kick off at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1.