SCOTTSDALE- If you knew a high school football game would feature two onside kick recoveries, five turnovers, 13 touchdowns and no field goals, there would be no question any reasonable sports fan would clamor at the opportunity to attend. Those who were able to watch Chaparral versus Casteel Friday night experienced a whirlwind of emotions, where it felt like each team had to score every possession to win the game.

This classic offensive shootout ended with the final score 53-36 in favor of Chaparral.

The first possession for Casteel concluded with a 20-yard touchdown run by running back Jayce Knutsen. Chaparral returned the favor the next possession with a 10-yard back-shoulder, juggling touchdown catch by wide receiver Max Minor.

Here’s where fans knew they were in for a treat. Chap kicked off a short pooch kick, not intended to be an onside. It bounced once, and before the Colts were able to secure it, the ball was surprisingly covered up by the Firebirds. Chap capitalized on the extra possession, drove down the field and punched in a 1-yard touchdown run by standout senior running back Jared Williams. This was just one of his four touchdowns of the night.

After a Casteel punt the next possession, Chap again marched down the field and converted a 10-yard screen pass to receiver Capri Hamilton, to make the score 20-7. On the ensuing kickoff, Chap tried an actual onside kick and recovered. After the onside, Firebird quarterback Brayten Silbor threw the third of his four touchdowns passes, to his tight end Lukas Garvey. The score was now 27-7.

Down big early in the game, Casteel desperately needed a big play, and got one on the next possession. The Colts' Knutsen took it right up the middle, untouched, 70 yards for a touchdown. Chap then responded by driving down the field and punching in another 1-yard score by running back Jared Williams. Get used to seeing his name in here: remember when I said he had four TD’s?

On the next possession for the Colts, quarterback Dane Christensen tucked and ran the ball up the middle untouched, 80-yards to the house, almost like he was trying to top his teammate's previous run. The score was now 34-21, with 7:32 left in the 2nd quarter. Yes, you heard me, the second quarter.

Then came the turnovers. The next possession for the Firebirds resulted in a fumble, with the Colts returning the favor the very next play with a fumble of their own. The very next play after the back-to-back fumbles, Casteel intercepted the ball. They drive down the field and scored with 45 seconds left in the first half, with a short pass to wide receiver Desmon Holton. The score at half: 34-28, with Chap ahead.

Williams started off the second half with what he was doing all night, scoring a five-yard TD run. Casteel responded the following possession with a fumble, which they got back the very next play via interception. After another rare Casteel punt, the Firebirds turned their possession into another Williams short touchdown run (his fourth), making the score 47-28 at the beginning of the 4th quarter.

The stadium exploded again, later in the quarter when wide receiver Cooper Nemeth connected on a deep 50-yard bomb from Brayten Silbor (his fourth touchdown pass). The final touchdown of the game came on a 1-yard sneak from Casteel's Christensen, whose stellar performance was overshadowed by the Firebirds' offensive eruption. Chaparral Head Coach Brent Barnes told his team after the game he was happy with the way they played, even though it wasn’t perfect, he was content with the win.