Bret David is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover St. Mary's High School for AZPreps365.com.

The high school football season has just started but a Week Two game is just as important as any of the other.

St. Mary’s High School will have the Vista Grande Knights visiting to battle it out. The Knights come into the game off a Week One win against Shadow Mountain High School. Meanwhile, St. Mary’s is coming into the week with a loss to American Leadership Academy.

The St. Mary’s Knights come into the game after a tough 37-13 loss. The score does not completely represent how the game went. After three quarters, the Knights were down 21-13.

“They were a very quality opponent last week, but we played a strong three quarters and then fell apart in the fourth," Head Coach Jose Lucero said. "This week we have to play a full game and have no mental mistakes.”

The Knights offense in Week One was relatively one-sided as running backs James Atkinson and Liam Phelan combined for 232 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, quarterback Nick Martinez was 5-of-6 for 18 yards.

When asked about whether this run-heavy style would be the team's identity this year, Lucero said that the team "(wants) to be a run-heavy team with the identity of a tough nosed team. If the defense shows us that we can pass the ball we will take the opportunity, but overall we are going to run the ball team.”

While on the defensive side of the ball, the Knights had three total sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. The Knights won the turnover battle two to one, and yet still lost the game. 

“I was very happy with our defensive performance for three quarters and then in the fourth we had to many players trying to make a play to put us back in the game," Lucero said. "We need to play together and rely on each other to do their jobs.”

They were led by linebackers Liam Phelan who had nine tackles and Ben Sanford who had two sacks.

Last week, Vista Grande High School was led in their game by the senior quarterback Donald Altaffer. Altaffer had 152 passing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 69 rush yards and another touchdown. The St. Mary’s defensive will have their hands full this week considering Altaffer is a true dual-threat quarterback.

“He is a really talented quarterback who can beat you on the ground or through the air. As a defense we need to be disciplined and commit to doing our jobs,” Lucero said. 

Senior linebacker and captain Liam Phelan added that “Our biggest thing is focusing on what we have been coached, the reads and keys, playing as a team and rallying to the ball. We played a mobile quarterback last week, so we know what it’s like. We will be ready for him.”

This is a big game and season for both teams who last year were a combined 4-10. This is a game that either team could win and is a really important match up for both sides early in the season.

When asked about what getting the first win on the season means, Phelan said “We are not taking it [this season] for granted, we have seen so many seniors before us and want to make them proud this season and finish it off right. We want to hang a banner. We have a new coach and a new team we want to leave our mark. We like the challenge and want to make it special and something to remember.”

Senior wide receiver and captain Jack Burch felt the same way. “We are so grateful and blessed to be able to play. After having to go all summer during workouts not knowing if we were gonna be able to play this year," he said. "We are incredibly lucky and thank god every day for this opportunity.”