Tempe Prep continued its best-ever start in football by trouncing Fort Thomas 46-8 and improving to 5-0 on the season Friday at Arizona Lutheran Academy in Phoenix.
The Knights’ offensive line was a yard-generating machine. It helped the backfield rack up 390 rushing yards and six touchdowns against a big, physical Fort Thomas team. Tempe Prep five runs of 25 yards or longer, including a 93-yard touchdown run by sophomore Tom McDonald in the third quarter.
“The line is looking really strong,” McDonald said. “They’re pushing open a lot of holes.”
McDonald rushed for more than 100 yards in the game.
Senior David DeJeu had a career day, averaging 13.3 yards per carry on his way to two touchdowns.
“Everyone’s doing their job on the offensive line,” DeJeu said.
DeJeu was filling in for Knights captain Matt Rines, who was out with a knee injury.
“He sees the field well and he is so fast,” said Tempe Prep coach Tom Brittain, who called DeJeu his team’s wild card.
The Knights capitalized on two Apache fumbles and a turnover on downs to build an early lead.
“A lot of credit has to go to our offensive staff,” Brittain said. “There is no weak link in the offense.”
Tempe Prep’s defense was effective, too. The Apaches were limited to just 22 yards of total offense in the first half.
Brandon Boni was Fort Thomas’ workhorse in the second half. In the last two quarters he rushed 20 times for 92 yards and scored the only Apache points.
The Knights have three games left. So far they have outscored their opponents 226-50. However, the real test according to Brittain will come in the team’s final game against Pima, a team Brittain and the Knights have never beaten.
