MERLIN — The 1-2 running punch of Quinton Walker and Kyle Giron proved to be effective for Phoenix Friday night.
The defense wasn't half bad either.
Walker and Giron both eclipsed 100 yards and the Pirates allowed just 213 total yards en route to a 20-12 victory over North Valley in Skyline Conference football.
Phoenix has now won four straight since an 0-3 start and improved to a conference-best 3-0. North Valley has dropped two straight since losing starting quarterback Nate Ellis and is 1-2 in Skyline action.
Ellis had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. He missed last Friday's 24-0 loss to Henley and his status for next week's game with Hidden Valley is still up in the air.
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"We thought they might come out with some new wrinkles with this new kid," said Phoenix coach Gordy Crowston of Sleight's second varsity start. "They tried to do some different formation stuff to throw us off but I thought our defense did a nice job staying in position. I think our defense stepped up and won the game for us."
Two second-half turnovers also doomed the Knights, with the final one coming on North Valley's last possession.
The Knights (4-3 overall) recovered a Phoenix fumble with 2:33 to play, setting up a last-gasp drive at their own 6-yard line.
North Valley, however, could only manage to cross the 15-yard line and Sleight was dinged up on a sack by Adam Machado that set up a third-and-22 play. Backup freshman quarterback Ryan Anderson entered and his first pass was picked off by Josh Dungannon to seal the Phoenix win.
"We don't have that big play capability right now," said North Valley coach Todd Willaman. "I think Jake played well for the amount of snaps he's had. It's just our mistakes ... we can't make enough of them right now."
Early on, it was the Pirates' turn to shoot themselves in the foot.
Neil Emerson was intercepted by Derekk Vandehey on Phoenix's first play from scrimmage, giving North Valley possession at the Pirate 43.
Four plays later, Vandehey fumbled at the 3-yard line but offensive lineman Paul Gutzman was there to pounce on the ball in the end zone for a North Valley touchdown.
The point-after attempt failed and Phoenix went to work on offense.
Emerson directed the Pirates 44 yards to the Knights' 23, with Walker capping the game-tying scoring drive by jitterbugging his way past a pair of defenders at the line and racing untouched to pay dirt.
Phoenix's extra point was also botched and the teams headed to the half tied at 6.
"We made about every mistake possible in the first half," said Crowston of his team's three turnovers and several costly penalties. "At halftime we went in and just told them to relax."
Walker responded with three straight carries for 36 yards to open the third quarter and he had an 18-yard reception on a swing pass that moved Phoenix to the North Valley 14.
Giron did the rest with a 14-yard TD scamper as the Pirates took the lead for good.
"The line moved well and was blowing open holes in the second half," said Giron, who finished with 109 yards on 19 carries.
The shifty Walker amassed 119 yards on 16 totes, with most of his carries coming in the first half.
"We both have a lot of trust in each other," said Giron of Walker. "He's a little faster but we play off each other well."
North Valley managed to close within 13-12 on a 5-yard scoring strike from Sleight to Matthew Malinoff-Ford but a two-point conversion attempt failed.
Phoenix countered with a 6-yard scoring burst from Giron, which was set up after Malinoff-Ford fumbled a fair-catch punt attempt.
The defense did the rest by coming up with a late sack from senior linebacker Joe Reyes and the key tackle for loss by Machado on North Valley's final drive.
"We stepped up big," said Reyes. "We played with a lot of heart and proved a point to the rest of the Skyline Conference tonight.
"As a unit, we're all on the same page right now."
Emerson overcame the rough start to complete 9 of 16 passes for 127 yards, with Walker hauling in two catches for 29 yards.
Brady Brummett led North Valley on the ground with 66 yards on 15 carries, while Keith Suits added 54 yards on 11 attempts.
Phoenix 6 0 14 0 --20
North Valley 6 0 6 0 --12
NV — Gutzman fumble recovery in end zone (kick failed)
P — Walker 23 run (kick failed)
P — Giron 14 run (Machado kick)
NV — Malinoff-Ford 5 pass from Sleight (pass failed)
P — Giron 6 run (Machado kick)
Reach reporter Kevin Goff at 776-4483, or e-mail kgoff@mailtribune.com
