PRESCOTT VALLEY — It might have taken 20 minutes and 3 seconds of game clock for someone in uniform to finally break the goal line, but Bradshaw Mountain head coach Bob Young said a single defensive effort by his club during a play late in the second quarter “set the tone.”

The play Young referenced happened to be a 70-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Malakai Stephenson, who also scored on a 42-yard touchdown run in a 20-14 victory over cross-town rival Prescott in the 31st edition of the “Black and Blue” rivalry Friday night.

“The touchdown where we took the ball [Stephenson play], that set the tone for the whole game. We made plays at the end when we needed to, they had chances to win the game, but our defense stepped up,” Young said.

Prescott came into Friday night’s contest having averaged 49 points per game offensively, outscoring their opponents 294-124 in their first six games.

“That’s been our thing, the last three weeks. Our defense has stepped it up a notch,” Young said.

It is the third straight victory for Bradshaw Mountain (4-3, 2-0 4A Grand Canyon), which retains the Esse Quam Videri Rivalry Cup trophy after a 24-6 win over Prescott clinched a region title a season ago.

The Bears also earn a bit of revenge after Prescott turned around and ended their season in the first round of the state playoffs last fall, 14-6.

Bradshaw Mountain safety Joel Dean (21) attempts to stop Prescott running back Cody Leopold (24) on Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, in Prescott Valley. The Bears won 20-14. (Brian M. Bergner Jr./AzPreps365)

SCORING

Tied 0-0, Prescott running back Cody Leopold fumbled the ball and Stephenson was right there to scoop it up at the 30-yard line and sprinted down the field for a touchdown to give his Bears a 7-0 lead with 3:47 to go in the first half.

“He rarely came off the field. … He’s that way. Earlier in this year, he hurt his ankle. … This is the first week really, he’s been full strength and you can see it,” Young said about Stephenson.

Stephenson said he was just doing his job on the play.

“We just came out knowing that we must do our job. It’s a great feeling knowing everyone was doing their best. Pedal to the metal the whole game, it’s such a great feeling,” Stephenson said.

Prescott quickly answered after Leopold scored on an 8-yard run to tie the game, 7-7, but Stephenson would give the Bears the lead right back after a 42-yard run with 57 seconds to go in the first half, 14-7.

In the third quarter, Badger quarterback Uriah Tenette found wideout Jake Hilton on the sideline, who made a defender miss after the catch and sprinted for a 49-yard touchdown throw, tying the game at 14-14 at the 6:39 mark of the third quarter.

With 10:52 to go in the fourth, Bears quarterback Grady Rose sprinted right and put his shoulder down to get past a Prescott defender and over the goal line with a 6-yard touchdown run, making it 20-14.

Later in the fourth, Joel Dean stepped in front of a Tennett pass for an interception, sealing the deal with 3:10 to go in the game and a 20-14 Bears win.

“I saw it coming from the back side, because No. 4 (Jake Hilton), he was getting the ball all game. He’s a stud of a player, I give shout outs for sure. But I knew their quarterback was in a messed-up play, he was scrambling, he was nervous. I saw it coming from the whole way back,” Dean said.

Bradshaw Mountain wide receiver Joel Dean tries to run with the football Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, in Prescott Valley. The Bears won 20-14. (Brian M. Bergner Jr./AzPreps365)

UP NEXT

Bradshaw Mountain is scheduled to host Coconino (3-4, 1-1 4A Grand Canyon) in Week 9 action Friday, Oct. 28. The Panthers beat up on Mingus 46-8 on Friday night.

Prescott welcomes Lee Williams (5-2, 2-0 4A Grand Canyon) to town Friday, Oct. 28. The Volunteers dismantled Flagstaff 63-19 on Friday night.

Kickoff for both games is set for 7 p.m.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.