Ellis Gibson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover SunnySlope High School for AZPreps365.com.

In a thrilling matchup between The Sunnyslope Vikings taking on the Campo Verde Coyotes in a homecoming faceoff, it was a 5A San Tan Region game that will not be forgotten for a while. 
    With at least 1,000 people in attendance, the phenomenal homecoming atmosphere from Sunnyslope's stands made it clear that this game was a big deal.

  Campo Verde pulled out the 23-20 win with a touchdown late in game for the win.

The loss dropped Sunnyslope to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in region play, while the Coyotes improve to 4-3 and 2-0.

   While the homecoming defeat was difficult, the play of senior wide receive Mack Kump continues to impress.
     “You know Mack has a lot to offer. He’s quick, he’s got good hands, and if he gets in the right space, he can take it all the way, so we expect some big things from him tonight and really for the rest of the season,” said athletic director of Sunnyslope high school Tim Matteson. 
    This was held true by Kump, who had all three touchdowns for the Vikings versus the Coyotes; strong defense. 
    With the Vikings starting the game with the ball, they tried to go to their run game with running back Aleck Vargas but were quickly shut down by the Coyotes; defensive line. The Coyotes then tried answering with senior running back Bobby Blackburn's strong running. Still, a challenging defensive effort from the Vikings defense halted their momentum, turning it over on downs.
    The Vikings received the ball back and started a promising drive with sophomore starting quarterback Royce Vanacore finding his go-to target, Kump, for a couple of first-down gains. The Coyotes then took advantage of a turnover from the Vikings, allowing them to march downfield with runs from running backs Blackburn and Drake Bradley, setting them up for a 12-yard touchdown pass to receiver Jacob Coleman with 2:29 left in the first quarter, putting the Coyotes ahead 7-0. 
    The Vikings then answered with a strong drive down the field, ending with Ryan Vanacore finding Kump in the back of the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown on a goalline fade, tying the game at 7. With three minutes left in the half, the Coyotes responded with a drive that got their quarterback Karsten Lee in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown run, scoring 14-7 at the half. 
    “We’ve got to come out like it’s 0-0; we've got to come with the same intensity that we had in the first half and keep making plays.” Campo Verde coach Ryan Freeman said when asked how he was going to maintain the lead to get the win. 
    That was shown at the beginning of the second half in how the defense was all over the Vikings. That soon changed as the Vikings; offense found life after a 30-yard run from Aleck Vargas and a 28-yard strike down the field for a touchdown to Kump, making the game 14-13 with a missed extra-point attempt from their kicker. 
    A late field goal by the Coyotes gave them a 17-13 lead, but Kump returned the following kickoff for a touchdown, putting the Vikings up 20-17 with under four minutes left in the game.
   Lee kept the Coyotes' final drive alive with massive runs, which got them crucial first downs. After two plays with time winding down,  Lee found receiver Wyatt Rauch on a tremendous 12-yard comeback route for a game-sealing touchdown, putting the Coyotes up for the win 23-17
    With a win at their fingertips, the Vikings still feel optimistic about their playoff chances, as they have two strong opponents coming up for power points.

“The focus is the playoffs start this week,” said Sunnyslop coach Sam Jacobs, and he is ready to prepare his team to finish this season strong.