Sam Aguirre is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Mesquite High School for AZPreps365.com

The Combs Coyotes bounced back from their first loss of the season, beating Mesquite, 50-14, Friday night in San Tan Valley.

It was an important win for Combs, having lost to the Wildcats in their last four meetings.

However, Coyotes coach Levi Hoaglund said his team has bigger goals.

"Mesquite is a really good team,” Hoaglund said. “Coach Vance Miller does a great job with that program. Our goal today was to compete and make sure that we executed our stuff, and I feel like we really did that.”

Senior running back Izaak Jeffcoat got off to a quick start, rushing for three first-half touchdowns, which gave the Coyotes a 21-0 halftime lead.

“I credit that to my big men,” Jeffcoat said. “Huge improvement from last year. They've been working, firing off the ball, making holes, making it easier for me."

After halftime, the Mesquite defense recovered a fumble off a botched snap. The Wildcats capitalized with a 2-yard rushing touchdown from junior running back Parker Kaczmarek with 6:06 remaining in the third quarter, to make it 21-7.

Mesquite coach Vance Miller said his team is growing and learning.

"We can't get over the hump," Miller said. “We were sustaining great drives. We had things going for us.

“That's kind of how we're measuring it right now. It's how much better we're going to be. Tonight there were only 14 points on the board for us but it was probably the best offensive game we've played all year."

The Coyotes started to pull away late in the third quarter. With 5:12 left, sophomore quarterback Kannin Hale ran for a 20-yard touchdown. Two minutes later, he threw a 41-yard TD pass to sophomore receiver Skyler Lawrence to put Combs up 43-14.

Hale credited the offense as a whole.

“First my O-line, keeping me safe and protecting me,” Hale said. “Both of my passing touchdowns were short passes that my receivers made great plays on.”

Hoaglund said there’s always stuff to work on.

“We just wanted to focus on us and our all-in mentality that we have here,” Hoaglund said. “I think the players did a great job of displaying that from our run game, to our pass game, to our defense.”

To finish the scoring, junior wide receiver and free safety Jordan Villanueva returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown with 2:06 left in the fourth quarter.

“We just have to keep on winning,” Jeffcoat said. “We got to take on these big opponents we got. Hard games are coming up.”

Combs (4-1,1-0) will have a bye week and then travel to Arizona College Preparatory (5-1,1-0) on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.

Mesquite (1-5,0-1) will also have a bye week and then continue regional play on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in a home game against Arcadia (6-0,1-0).