On February 5, 2020, the Desert Edge football program announced Mark and Marcus Carter as the team’s new co-head coaches. Just over one month after the announcement, high schools shut down in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, including sports and their practices. All coaches had to adjust themselves, their philosophies, and their strategies to succeed under the strenuous circumstances brought along.
Even in a delayed and shortened season, the newly promoted 5A Conference program immediately proved themselves as powerhouse contenders in Arizona high school football. The Scorpions earned an 8-0 record in the AIA’s shortened regular season and qualified as the final seed in the Open Division Playoffs, where they were shut out by eventual state champions, Chandler.
In the Carter brother’s second season as DEHS head coaches, the squad went 8-2, this time earning a third-place ranking in the 5A Conference tournament. Plenty is new this year with the Scorpions, particularly, in their lethality on both sides of the ball and in a dual-threat offense. After being ranked as one of the top eight teams in the state in 2020, Desert Edge was only able to play in a single postseason match. Now, they eye the opportunity of four straight wins and the 5A Conference crown, beginning with their 43-7 victory over #14 Canyon View on Friday night.
Desert Edge will play at home for their second-round matchup against #6 Desert View, Friday at 7:00 p.m.
Devon Henry
