Friday Night Lights: Week 3

Several teams stay perfect, others opening season with a bang

YUMA Ariz., (KYMA, KECY) - Week three of high school football brought some new teams into the conversation, steering the new season into full blast.

Calexico, Imperial and Vincent Memorial all roughed up their opponents to continue a perfect start to 2022. Meanwhile, the Shamrocks of Yuma Catholic and the Gila Ridge Hawks made statements in their openers.

And the Criminals fought out of their chains, earning their first win in blowout fashion across the Telegraph Pass in Antelope.

IMPERIAL - 43 CIBOLA - 0

In an anticipated cross-state matchup, it was the Tigers on the road that came with a bigger bite on Friday night.

The Tigers defense put out another phenomenal performance with the shutout, now only allowing three points total through two games - all while putting 43 on the scoreboard in Cibola.

YUMA - 48 ANTELOPE - 0

Another shutout in Antelope.

This time, it was the opposite side of the spectrum for the Rams.

The Rams entered the night with a big shutout win of their own in week two, looking to keep the Criminals chained up and start 2-0 for the first time since 2018 - but all for not.

The Crims unloaded for a 48-point win on the road for their first win of 2022.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN - 8 YUMA CATHOLIC - 42

The Shamrocks picked up 2022 where they left it in the 2021 regular season - by scoring points.

Although falling in the state title game, scoring only three back in November, the Rocks averaged 43 points per game in 2021.

Friday night, they were right on par with 42 big ones to pick up the first win of the year and begin their new chapter.

GILA RIDGE - 41 SOUTHWEST - 7

The Battle of the Birds wasn't so much of a battle for the Hawks of Gila Ridge who soared into the 2022 season in dominant fashion.

With the big win on the road, the Hawks kick off the year 1-0 under coach Jessica Slaughter as they aim to rewrite their program after a rough go of it just a year ago.

PALO VERDE - 54 KOFA - 6

It's been a wild year for Kofa who lost their new head coach just weeks before the season began - and it didn't get any better after a season opening loss at home to Palo Verde.

The Yellow Jackets prolific rush attack was too much to handle for the Kings.

Kofa now still searching for their first win since 2017.

CETY'S MEXICALI - 6 CALEXICO - 31

A team out of Mexico was no problem for the Bulldogs on Friday night - giving the home fans their first taste of Calexico football in 2022, and it did not disappoint.

The Dogs unleash for another 30 point game to improve to 3-0 on the season - after surviving that thrilling two-part game against Palo Verde in week one, only scoring 14.

VINCENT MEMORIAL - 35 EL CAJON - 21

It could be the year for the City of Calexico in 2022 - as the Scots, just down the street from the Bulldogs - also get off running to a 3-0 start.

This time on the road, Jacobo Elias and the offense put up another 30 points - just enough to hold off El Cajon and give them a perfect start before a meeting with Castle Park next week.

PALM DESERT - 28 CENTRAL - 26 (OT)

One game had to go the distance and then some to be settled.

In El Centro, the Spartans also were on the verge of a 3-0 start, welcoming in the Aztecs from Palm Desert.

After crawling back from an early deficit, the Spartans forced a tie game into overtime but could not pull off the victory in front of their home faithful at Cal Jones Field.

The overtime loss handing Central its first loss in 2022 to fall to 2-1.

UNIVERSITY CITY - 55 BRAWLEY - 27

This game had fireworks thanks to the star-studded athletes on hand, under the lights on Thursday at Warne Field.

But for the Wildcats, it was too much for their defense to keep up with in the second half.

After battling back from an early hole, Brawley kept things interesting in a back-and-forth first half battle - going into the half down 27-20.

Then the wheels fell off as University City pulled off several big plays to open up the scoring and seal it with a fourth touchdown in the second half, handing the Wildcats a second straight home loss to fall to 1-2.

ARMY-NAVY - 57 CALIPATRIA - 0

Despite a hard fought battle on the defensive side of the ball for the Hornets, they too could not keep up with the talent of Army-Navy for four quarters.

A young, upstart group playing under new head coach Benny Carter-Martin are dealing with their blows early on, falling to 0-2 on the year.

They'll get back at in search of a win next week at Veteran's Field.