Big plays allow Jaguars to pull away from Rattlers

Long fourth-quarter touchdown runs by Isaiah Morris and Trevor Nofoa and a pair of punt returns for touchdowns allowed No. 3 Desert Pines to pull away for a 41-6 road victory over Mojave on Friday.

After Nick Kline's touchdown run cut the Desert Pines lead to 14-6 near the end of the third quarter, Morris took the first play from scrimmage in the fourth 65 yards for a score. The Rattlers' (1-1) punt on the ensuing drive appeared to strike a player, partially blocking it and leading to Vasaifanua Hansell returning the punt 25 yards for a score.

Nofoa took the first play of the next drive 90 yards for a touchdown for Desert Pines (2-0). Amir Calvillo-Tatum wrapped up the scoring with 67-yard punt return after the next Rattlers drive stalled.

Both defenses flexed their muscles in the first half, as neither team scored. The Jaguars' second drive of the third quarter yielded the game's first points, as Marckell Grayson hit Morris on a 49-yard pass play on a third-and-long play, setting up a 19-yard pass to Randal Grimes for the touchdown.

The short kickoff that went uncovered by the Rattlers set up the Jaguars deep in the Mojave end, with Grayson finishing the drive with a 2-yard run on fourth and goal.

The Jaguars held the Rattlers to 122 yards of offense for the game.