Andrew Lwowski is a Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Desert Vista High School for AZPreps365.com

PHOENIX — The Desert Vista Thunder (4-5) steamrolled the Cesar Chavez Champions (5-3) 45-7 in Laveen. The Thunder’s pre-game shirts read “All Gas No Breaks” on the front and that mantra matched their mentality Friday night

The Thunder offense ran through sophomore quarterback Braxton Thomas. On Desert Vista's opening drive, Thomas streaked down the sideline for a 47-yard run. Soon after classmate running back Christian Clark found the end zone after receiving an option pass from eight yards out.

The Desert Vista defense completely shut down the Champion offense while the Thunder offense continued to dismantle the Champion defense with long, methodical drives. Thomas and Clark racked up chunks of yards on option passes, for which the Champion defense could not find an answer.

“We thought we could bully them across the line of scrimmage,” Thomas said. “Just with our matchups, our guards against their two defensive tackles, we thought we could open up some holes for me and Clark."

Thomas noticed when the defensive tackles lined up to the 1-technique, outside of the center, it translated to big plays for the Thunder run game. “I talked with Wis [coach Ty Wisdom] after the first drive," said Thomas, "and I told him I liked it and we just went with it.”

The high football IQ of Thomas aided in both his and Clark's success.

“The run was working so we stuck to it,” Clark said. “Linemen blocked great tonight, they opened holes for me and I was able to capitalize in the second level after I passed the line.”

Thomas and Clark continued to find success on the ground as they traded touchdown runs. Thomas compiled 169 rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns off 16 carries. His two rushing scores were from eight and 25 yards, respectively, along with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Clark. Clark finished the game with 136 yards rushing and two touchdowns of 18 and 66 yards, as well as the aforementioned touchdown catch.

The Thunder held a 14-0 lead after the first quarter and added 24 points in the second. Desert Vista built an insurmountable 38-0 lead by halftime, essentially putting the game out of reach for Cesar Chavez.

The Thunder held its foot on the pedal in the third quarter as running back Isaac Acedo, who took over for Clark, found the end zone from five yards out to put the Thunder ahead 45-0. Those were the last points scored until the Champions struck on a six-yard touchdown pass with 2:44 remaining in the contest.

“We were just taking what the defense was giving us,” Wisdom said. “We needed to play 48 minutes and we needed to execute. We jumped out early and did what we were supposed to do.”

He noted that the Champion's defense on film was the same that they practiced for and it attributed to the 305 total rush yards between his quarterback and running back. “We worked it all week and they didn’t change anything. The kids executed, the linemen did well up front, and I thought they played with some good emotion and some good energy.”

Head coach Ty Wisdom had been preaching “All gas, no breaks” throughout the week leading up to the game, and the Thunder delivered. The Thunder need to carry their momentum and emotion into their final game of the season as they host their rival, the Mountain Pointe Pride, for the final game of the regular season, with a chance to finish at .500.