The 15th-ranked Lady Knights of Havasu routed the Sierra Linda Bulldogs 84-0 in a dominant home game Thursday night, improving their 2026 season record to 8-4, as RiverScene Magazine reported. The Havasu team exhibited exceptional offensive prowess and a formidable new defensive scheme, leading to multiple interceptions and touchdowns throughout the contest.
The game's scoring began swiftly in the first quarter, with junior quarterback McKenna Nutt connecting with senior Vivian Velazquez for a 9-yard pass, putting Havasu up 7-0 just over two and a half minutes into the game. Nutt continued her strong start, linking with junior Skye Light for another touchdown, increasing the lead to 14-0. Junior Bryn Farshler also received a touchdown pass from Nutt, making the score 21-0. Nutt then demonstrated her dual-threat capability, scrambling into the endzone for a touchdown after a Velazquez interception, extending Havasu's lead to 28-0. Before the end of the first quarter, Velazquez returned her second interception of the quarter for a touchdown, bringing the score to 35-0.
The Lady Knights maintained their scoring momentum in the second quarter. Nutt threw her second touchdown pass to Farshler. Right before halftime, Nutt connected with Velazquez for a second time, sending Havasu into the break with a commanding 49-0 lead.
The halftime interval did little to slow Havasu’s intensity. Head coach Charlie Stickney revealed after the game that he had installed a couple of new defensive looks this week, which "worked like a charm." These adjustments were evident in the third quarter. An interception by junior Skye Light quickly led to a touchdown by freshman Piper Bently. Moments later, Light secured her second interception of the quarter. A few plays following Light's second pick, another freshman, Carlie Levine, found the endzone, boosting Havasu’s lead to 63-0. Stickney’s new defensive scheme then yielded two more interception returns for touchdowns, first by Levine and then by Velazquez, her second of the night. These scores propelled Havasu into the fourth quarter with a 77-0 advantage.
Coach Stickney specifically commended Vivian Velazquez, highlighting her two pick-sixes, offensive touchdowns, and her versatile play as receiver and center, noting she did an incredible job. He also expressed immense pride in the team’s consistent execution, stating that the girls stayed focused and locked in throughout the game, executing the game plan despite the large lead.
In the final quarter, Havasu rotated players, allowing Light to take snaps at quarterback. She connected with junior Amaiyah Smith for Havasu’s final touchdown, sealing the 84-0 victory. The Lady Knights now look ahead to a challenging road game Tuesday night against Desert Edge High School (2-9) in Goodyear. Coach Stickney cautioned that anything can happen on any given day, stressing the need for preparation. The team will then return home on November 5 for its regular season finale and senior night against Carl Hayden. This game is crucial for Havasu's playoff aspirations, as they are competing for a playoff spot against Carl Hayden, who currently holds a 6-3 record and sits 17th in the state 5A rankings. Carl Hayden is scheduled to play Paradise Valley (3-8) on Monday before facing Havasu. The final rankings and playoff brackets for the top 16 teams are expected to be unveiled on November 6, with first-round playoff games slated for November 10.