Desert Edge JV Holds Off ALA Gilbert 36-27, Leaning on Candler, Taylor, and Two Goal-Line Stands

September 17

Desert Edge's JV squad picked up a 36-27 win over ALA Gilbert Thursday night, powered by a strong two-back rushing attack and a defense that came up big when it mattered most.

Kobi Candler

Running backs Kobi Candler and Isaiah Taylor did the heavy lifting on offense, each turning in strong performances on the ground that kept ALA Gilbert's defense off balance for most of the game. Between the two of them, Desert Edge had answers every time.

Isaiah Taylor

The real story of the game was the defense. Desert Edge came up with two separate fourth-down stops at the goal line — the kind of play that doesn't show up as a single game-changing highlight but instead as the difference between a comfortable win and a nail-biter. Stopping a team twice inside the five on fourth down means getting the call right and executing it twice, and Desert Edge did just that.

A 36-27 final means this one was never fully out of reach for ALA Gilbert, which makes those goal-line stands matter even more — each one took points directly off the board in a game that stayed within a possession's reach most of the way.

Final: Desert Edge 36, ALA Gilbert 27