Deer Valley was able to overcome a shaky start last Friday to handily defeat the visiting Rodriguez Mustangs by a score of 42-14.

The Wolverines went three and out in their opening possession, then allowed Rodriguez’s Anthony Riggins to score a 64-yard touchdown run on the Mustangs’ opening play.

But from that point, Deer Valley was able to take control of the game, scoring its first touchdown on the ensuing drive capped off by a 20-yard touchdown run by Damon Collins. Brierly Lindberg converted on his first of six successful extra-point attempts to tie the game at seven.

Deer Valley scored again on its next possession with a 36-yard touchdown scamper by Sean Combs, providing a lead the Wolverines would not relinquish.

Deer Valley pulled away with three touchdowns in the final five minutes of the half. The first came when Combs sprinted in from 10 yards out. After a Rodriguez fumble, Deer Valley quarterback Kristoff Williams scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak.

Another Rodriguez fumble was recovered on the Mustang 40 by Deer Valley’s Darvaughn Young. One play later Deer Valley’s backup quarterback Mike Behr connected with Tim Jefferies for a touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in the half, providing Deer Valley with a 35-7 lead and effectively putting the game out of reach.

After an uneventful third quarter, the two teams swapped fourth quarter touchdowns. Phillip Farmer plowed into the end zone to give the Wolverines a 42-7 lead. Rodriguez scored on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Myles King to Jordan Morrow.

Deer Valley Coach Rich Woods was happy with the victory but dissatisfied with the shaky start, although he acknowledged that Rodriguez has several good athletes. The 4-0 Wolverines will try to keep their perfect season going Friday, Oct. 9, as they host Vallejo in the final game before BVAL play begins next week.