Aiden Honeywood was overcome with emotion in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s season opener for Desert Edge.
The junior wideout had just scored his first touchdown of the season, a 35-yard reception from quarterback Blake Roskopf that sealed the 27-19 win for the Scorpions over Cactus Shadows. But that catch meant more than simply crossing the goal line.
Aiden dropped to one knee, prayed and pointed to the sky. The touchdown was for his dad.
“It hurts to know my pops is up there watching me and not down here with me on this field. But I know he’s watching over me, keeping me strong and pushing me through everything,” Aiden said with tears in his eyes.
“I’ve got God and I’ve got him. It felt great to score that touchdown for me.”
Warren Honeywood, Aiden’s father, was the victim of gun violence last December. He was 45 years old when he passed in his Buckeye home.
Warren was everything to Aiden. A father, a role model and his biggest fan on the football field. He was also his son’s No. 1 fan, who encouraged him to work tirelessly to chase his NFL dream.
“He meant everything to me,” Aiden said. “He taught me how to be a man. He put me in football when I was 5 and I’ve been grinding since. I’ve been waiting for this day, waiting for this season to come out and be ready to ball.”
The loss of his father nearly broke Aiden, but he triumphed in the end. He knew his dad would want to see him succeed in life, on the field and off. So Aiden has set out to make Warren proud.
He believes he did that and more Thursday night, as he hauled in multiple passes for nearly 100 yards — many of which to extend drives — and help spark the Desert Edge offense on a night where miscues were common.
“First play when I caught the ball and they tackled me I got hurt, but I couldn’t let that be it,” Aiden said, adding that the talent around him makes Desert Edge hard to contain. “It was exciting and fun to see all of my teammates ball out here. We didn’t play our best but it’s the first game.”
The Standouts
Desert Edge WR Aiden Honeywood
With his father on his mind, Aiden Honeywood came up clutch for Desert Edge on several occasions Thursday night. The 6-foot-1 junior wideout was the most consistent pass catcher on the field, getting open during key moments to extend drives and put the Scorpions in scoring position. He also had the game-sealing touchdown.
Desert Edge RB Byron Brandon
Expectations were high for Byron Brandon entering his sophomore season. He saw time on varsity last year but was handed the reigns this season as the team’s workhorse back. From juke moves to swing routes, he delivered Thursday night against Cactus Shadows, getting extra yards with his shiftiness and finding the end zone on a check down pass that helped the Scorpions maintain their lead.
Desert Edge DE Kye Wells
Kye Wells doesn’t quite get as much attention as the Scorpions’ standout ends in Yahzeen Zion and Jalanie George, but the outside linebacker hybrid showed why he is right in the mix of the highly coveted 2028 class for the Scorpions. The sophomore had nine total tackles Thursday night against Cactus Shadows, including a team-high three sacks.
Cactus Shadows QB Donivan Dixon
One of the best athletes in the state, Dixon had some Desert Edge coaches claiming Northern Arizona “got a steal” for the plays he was making Thursday night. Dixon finds ways to make the Cactus Shadows offense go. He extends plays with his legs, picks up yards with his legs and can throw on a rope to find wideouts downfield. He also plays defense at times and isn’t afraid to come downhill from the safety position, as he showed against the Scorpions.
Cactus Shadows ATH Alex Dafnis
Listed as a tight end, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Alex Dafnis earned the right to be called an athlete Thursday night. He lined up at running back most of the time, carrying the ball and lowering his shoulder into Desert Edge defenders. He was key during Cactus Shadows’ touchdown drive early and was pivotal during the Falcons’ comeback effort late in the game.
Key Plays
- Already trailing by a touchdown, Desert Edge’s defense needed to dig their heels in the ground and stop Cactus Shadows on a drive that started on the Scorpion 25-yard line following a fumble. Momentum was in favor of the Falcons, but defensive back Mikyal Davis came up with an interception in the end zone to end the drive.
- Desert Edge needed a spark and Blake Roskopf delivered with a strike to Aiden Honeywood late in the first half for a 35-yard gain. The connection helped put the Scorpions in scoring position just before the half.
- Honeywood came up clutch again in the second half, catching a pass from Roskopf and maneuvering his way through defenders for a 50-plus yard gain that later led to a Desert Edge touchdown.
#WestValleyPreps Roskopf finds the breakout player of tonight, junior WR @Aiden_Honeywood catches a short one and jets 46 yards. Another screen to Brandon for 13. @roskopf_blake delay draw 1 TD. 21-7 @DEdgeFootball 1:46 left in the third and that’s our score after 3. pic.twitter.com/3nyikrwXvm
— Richard Smith (@RsmithYWV) August 29, 2025
- Donivan Dixon didn’t go down without a fight. Needing an answer, he scrambled up the middle in the fourth quarter for a big gain that set up Cactus Shadows just outside the red zone. A few plays later, the Falcons pulled within two points.
#WestValleyPreps #ScottsdalePreps
— Richard Smith (@RsmithYWV) August 29, 2025
5A football
Final @DEdgeFootball 27@CSFalconsFB 19
Dixon breaks off a 24-yard run and gets the Falcons into striking range. A low snaps gets CS behind the chains with 2nd and 19. On 4th and 19 , sophomore LB Kye Wells gets the sack to win pic.twitter.com/SrixkgJjQe
- Up by eight points with just over a minute to play, the Desert Edge defense was put in a precarious situation needing to slow down Dixon and co. to seal the game. On fourth and short, Kye Wells came up big with his third sack to effectively end the game.
Sound Off
Desert Edge head coach Henri MacArthur on his team’s miscues: “I thought we persevered and rose up through the face of adversity. I thought our execution wasn’t there and our discipline wasn’t there but our effort was there from the start.”
MacArthur on his young team: “We have a lot of sophomores out there and a lot of juniors. We’re young. We have guys who have to learn how to play in a way that doesn’t cost ourselves. We did that a lot tonight. But I’m proud of the guys. This wasn’t our best game but we came out with the win and stuck together.”
MacArthur on Aiden Honeywood: “Aiden has had some big time adversity to overcome personally. I knew his father for years and years … it’s hard for me to talk about. I’m happy for him.”
Box Score
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
| Cactus Shadows | 7 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 19 |
| Desert Edge | 0 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
First Quarter
CS – QB Donivan Dixon 14-yard pass to WR Kalen Conley (Torrey kick), 5:59
Second Quarter
DE – QB Blake Roskopf 19-yard pass to WR Marshawn Coleman (Rogers kick), 7:50
DE – QB Blake Roskopf 25-yard pass to RB Byron Brandon (Rogers kick), 7:27
Third Quarter
DE – QB Blake Roskopf 1-yard run (Rogers kick), 1:46
Fourth Quarter
CS – RB Alex Dafnis 2-yard run (XP no good), 9:43
CS – QB Donivan Dixon 1-yard run (2-point try no good), 7:40
DE – QB Blake Roskopf 38-yard pass to WR Aiden Honeywood (XP no good), 4:17
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