Desert View tackle football is off to a fast start, and its young players are shining despite opening on the road.
On Friday, the Jaguars (2-0) beat Sahuaro (1-1) 45-7, a week after defeating Peoria’s Sunrise Mountain (1-1) 38-15.
The two victories get Desert View close to its total win record of 3-7 last year and in 2023.
“The game went good, we played that good as a team, we finally came together,” said DV sophomore running back/free safety Jaylee Abraham after the Sahuaro game. “Last week we had a few mistakes, we still won though, but this week came together and balled up.”
Desert View’s Jaylee Abraham (5) runs through the arm tackle attempt from Sahuaro’s Lamar Howell (78) on his way to a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of their game, Sept. 5, 2025, in Tucson.
Sophomore lineman Tommy Corella said a lot of the freshman team from last year are doing well, and the 2-0 start feels good.
“We wanted to prove something to everyone,” Corella said.
The Jaguars’ losing seasons were their first since going 3-7 in 2018. In 2022, they were 6-3, in 2021 10-2 and 6-4 in 2019.
“Feels good to have a start because a lot of people doubted us last year and I’m a sophomore,” Abraham said. “Most of us are young, a lot of people doubt us, but we’re gonna make it for ourselves and we’re gonna win it.”
Desert View head coach Robert Bonillas said they are fortunate to have a good sophomore class.
Last year, Desert View’s freshman team went 9-0, including a 46-0 win at Salpointe Catholic, an 80-7 win versus Canyon del Oro, a 61-7 win over Cienega, a 69-0 win over Marana and a 70-6 win at Sunnyside.
Bonillas, who played at the UA in the ’90s, said the young Jaguars then helped them close out the regular season with a 29-28 win over Sunnyside.
Abraham scored three touchdowns in the second half of that game after having to sit out the first half because he played the night before in the freshman game vs. Sunnyside.
Their triumph over the Blue Devils snapped a four-game losing streak, though those losses — 34-19 to Cienega, 70-0 to Sierra Vista Buena, 63-34 to Casa Grande and 54-12 to Marana — were all to teams that made the playoffs.
Five of the Jaguars’ seven losses last year came to teams that made the postseason.
The win over their Sunnyside Unified District rival was Desert View’s first since 2021.
On Friday, the sophomore class made an impact.
Senior Ryan Vasavilbaso and sophomore Andrew Godoy split time at quarterback against the Cougars. Both threw a touchdown pass while Vasavilbaso went 4 for 7 for 64 yards, Godoy was 6 for 9 for 82 yards and neither threw an interception.
Desert View’s Ryan Vasavilbaso (12) fends off Sahuaro’s Bryan Williams (99) and buys time to make a throw and avoid the sack in the third quarter on Sept. 5, 2025.
Abraham rushed nine times for 160 yards, 17.8 yards per carry.
Abraham had 206 all-purpose yards as he also had a 35-yard kickoff return.
“The game went good for me personally, I had one of my top career games in high school,” Abraham said.
He scored four rushing touchdowns, including a 65-yard score and also caught an 11-yard touchdown pass.
“I trust my line, my line does everything for me, without them I wouldn’t do nothing, I wouldn’t be J. Abraham,” Abraham said. “With my line, I have them, I love them but the (65-yard) run felt amazing, broke a lot of tackles, felt amazing.”
Five Jaguars caught passes, led by senior receiver/defensive back Fernando Soto, who had five catches for 111 yards.
There were 17 Jags that made tackles, led by free safety/receiver senior Junior Garnett and sophomore linebacker/receiver Robert Medrano, who each had five.
Sophomore defensive back/running back Keanu Romero made an interception that he returned 58 yards.
In the Sunrise Mountain game, Abraham had a game-high 68 yards on 12 carries. The Jaguars are averaging 41.5 points per game.
Abraham is second in the 5A Southern in rushing, behind Flowing Wells senior Jayden Simmons.
Corella said he isn’t surprised to see his fellow sophomores doing well because they are talented and put in a lot of work in the summer.
“Our offense is doing good, our offensive line is doing good, too,” Corella said. “Jaylee is doing a good job finding holes.”
Desert View plays its first home game of the season on Friday against Phoenix Camelback (0-2) at 7 p.m.
Abraham, who visited UA for its Weber State game, said the start to his varsity career feels good.
“I have a goal in my life and my life goes to the NFL, take care of my family,” Abraham said. “And to start like this is perfect because a lot of people doubted.”
It takes a pile of Sahuaro players to finally bring down Desert View’s Jaylee Abraham (5) during the fourth quarter, Sept. 5, 2025.
Photos: Desert View stays undefeated with a 45-7 win at Sahuaro, high school football
Desert View’s Jaylee Abraham (5) runs through the arm tackle attempt from Sahuaro’s Lamar Howell (78) on his way to a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter of their game, Sept. 5, 2025, in Tucson.
Desert View's Keanu Romero (19) upends Sahuaro's punter David Gutierrez (12) short of the sticks after a bad snap forced him to scramble on fourth down in the first quarter, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Desert View's Anakin Rivera (28) drags down Sahuaro's Trevor Eagerton (25) for a sack in the first quarter of their game, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro’s Keegan Hunt (7) bounces off Desert View’s Robert Medrano (4), left, and Jaylee Abraham (5) after hauling a catch to get the Cougars into the red zone in the second quarter, Sept. 5, 2025.
Desert View's Junior Garnett (3) hops aboard Sahuaro's Jayden Jansen (4) to bring him down on a kick off return, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Desert View's Fernando Soto (88) swims past Sahuaro's Mariano Blackwell (1) on his way to the end zone after making a catch over the middle during the third quarter of their game, Sept. 5, 2025, in Tucson.
Desert View's Ryan Vasavilbaso (12) fends off Sahuaro's Bryan Williams (99) and buys time to make a throw and avoid the sack in the third quarter, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro's Lekie Sika (2) spins his way of the hands of Desert View's Junior Garnett (3) but not Keanu Romero (19) making an end run in the third quarter of their game, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Desert View's Junior Garnett (3) slams into Sahuaro's Julian Perez (24) after his catch in the third quarter of their game, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
It takes a pile of Sahuaro players to finally bring down Desert View’s Jaylee Abraham (5) during the fourth quarter, Sept. 5, 2025.
Desert View's Fernando Soto (88) hops out of the hands of Sahuaro's Nicholas Bojorquez (15) and pick up a few more yards after making a catch in their game, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro's Elisha Rodgers (5) looks for room to run, picking his way past several Sahuaro players on his way to a score, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro's Jayden Winton (17) ties up Desert View's Fernando Soto (88) enough to keep him from a catch late in the game, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro's Lekie Sika (2) gets spun by Desert View's Anakin Rivera (28), left, and Anthony Saavedra (84) on his run up the middle in the fourth quarter, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro's Alexnder Loya (50) drags down Desert View's Andrew Garza (18) for a loss in the in their game, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro players get limbered up during their pre-game stretch, preparing to face Desert View, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Desert View team manager Allisson Robles attaches a pad to the gear of lineman Esteban Ortiz before the Jaguar’s game against Sahuaro's, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Sahuaro's Xavier Shelton (11), left and Elisha Rodgers (5) take a knee together in the final minutes before kickoff vs. Desert View, Sept. 5, 2025.
Sahuaro's coach Algodfrey Alexander gets the low down on a penalty call during the early going against Desert View, September 5, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Desert View’s head coach Robert Bonillas signals to an assistant as the Jaguars get ready to defend a play from Sahuaro, Sept. 5, 2025, in Tucson.
