By Riley Barlow

Volleyball Enters State Playoffs on a 21 Win Streak

The volleyball girls gained yet another win, building their current streak to 21. The Eagles placed first in their regional tournament and earned a 5 seed in the 1A state volleyball tournament. El Capitan, who raised the regional banner earlier today, has not lost a volleyball match since September 20. The Eagles enter the state tournament strong, dispatching many talented teams along the way, including wins against two 2A teams—Wilcox and Pinon—when they won 1st place at the Joseph City Tournament. With playoffs coming up, there are several players who have shown up and shown out, some of which includes Region MVP Ashlyn Hammon—who is currently 2nd in state in assists with 593 while also leading the team with 79 aces (8th in State)—and 1st-team all regional standout Sammantha Hammon, who leads the team in kills with 211 (6th in State). The Eagles also benefit from a host of all-region talent, with seniors Allyssa Hammon and Adison Musser joining Ashlyn Hammon and Samantha Hammon on the Region 1st-team and Sarita Timpson and Ruth Timpson earning Region 2nd-team honors. Juniors Aiyana Hammon, Priscilla Black, and upcoming talented sophomore Grace Bradshaw round out a talented team who will look to make a deep run in this week’s state tournament lead by regional co-coaches of the year Daisy Mills and Guinevere Timpson.

To begin the state tournament, the Eagles beat #13 Antelope Union, a talented squad boasting a 13-5 record, in the first round. They will now travel to Coronado High School in Scottsdale to compete in the quarter finals and semifinals on Friday, November 8. The state championship will be held the following day on Saturday, November 9. Cheer on the Eagles as they make school history! 

By Sierra Zitting
On October 28th, El Capitan hosted a Fall Festival. At the festival, there were many
activities such as cupcake walks, costume parades, and contests. Parents, students, and members of the community earned tickets by going to sponsor tables such as the Dream Center and the Creek Valley Health Clinic to learn about their institutions. Ms. Laurie and Cassie Kindt handed out drawing prizes at the end of the festivities, including ear buds, a bluetooth speaker, scooters, gift cards, and more. Those who attended enjoyed activities such as bounce houses, darts, 9 square, and cornhole. The firefighter team also came and put on a performative dance for the guests, adding to the fun of the night. Volunteer students from Ms. Kathleen’s high school culinary class served chili, chips, cookies, and apple cider.

Each class in the district also decorated a pumpkin for a contest. For the high school, the 11th-grade class won best pumpkin with a creative Nightmare Before Christmas theme while the winner at Cottonwood Elementary was Ms. Guinevere’s 5th grade class with a Blue and Purple Galaxy with the El Capitan Eagle on it.

El Capitan would like to thank all the parents and students who attended the event, as well as all of the volunteers who made this event possible—with a special thanks to the Dream Center for providing the bounce houses and games, Ms Kathleen and her Culinary team for all the food and their hard work, to our Fire Department for the fun entertainment, Creek Valley Health Clinic for all the helpful resources and handouts, the El Capitan HOPE Squad, Officer Erb and Becca the K9, Bees for donating the pumpkins for the class contests, the FBLA for offering El Cap merchandise, and the PTSA for donating a gift card. We hope to see the community at future events as well!

By Justin Cooke

The Short Creek Heroes have had a great season so far, staying undefeated (6-0). This is only the second year for the program, and Short Creek Football is quickly growing. They have gone from losing almost every game last season to going undefeated this year.

Having a completely new roster this year, many players have stepped up such as Deagan Williams leading the team at quarterback, first-year player Alma Jessop taking snaps at running back, Kincade Barlow establishing himself as one of the best receivers on the team, Enzign Barlow putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks at defensive end, and Gabriel Cooke stopping the run as middle linebacker.

Against the Falcons, the Short Creek Heroes secured a 40-8 victory over the Falcons. By halftime, the Heroes were leading 24-0. Alma Jessop started the game strong, scoring the first touchdown and adding two more rushing touchdowns throughout the game. Deagan Williams contributed with a rushing touchdown and three two-point conversions. Kincade also scored a receiving touchdown. On defense, Gabriel Cooke stopped plays up the middle effectively, blowing up anything that went up the middle, and Enzign Barlow had 2.5 sacks. Last game, against the Bulldogs, the Heroes blitzed out to a 14-0 lead before eventually winning with a shutout, 28-0. 

Next week, the Heroes will compete in a showdown of undefeated teams as they face the Dixie Flyers for the regular season title.The Dixie Flyers are coming off a 35-0 win vs the Pirates.

Several of the Short Creek players attend El Capitan Jr. High, including Gabriel Cooke, Deagan Williams, Brody Stubbs, Dan and Daniel Jessop (different players), Nick Hammon, and Tyler Carman.  These players will hope to make a big impact on the Eagles football program over the next few years.

By Nathan Hammon

El Capitan recently celebrated its annual homecoming week, and it was a very eventful occasion. Classes competed in the Homecoming Parade last Tuesday by choosing a theme for their parade float. The 6th grade chose a football theme, 7th grade went with a Vegas theme, and the 8th graders were the dinos.The High School grades chose themes such as the Freedom Freshman, Shipwrecked Sophomores, Jammin’ Juniors, and Celebrity Seniors. Voting for the best float is up now on the school instagram page (elcapstuco); be sure to cast your vote!

The school also hosted the annual homecoming dance. Sophomores Justin Cooke and Charish White were voted Homecoming King and Queen. The high school students enjoyed the exceptional music and food during the festivities.

The week was also filled with many sports events. The volleyball girls captured a victory over Williams, winning all 3 sets of the competition. The team is currently ranked #1 in the region and #3 in state. The football team was also victorious over Williams, increasing their record to 6-3. After entering the 4th quarter tied 14-14, the Eagles broke through with two late touchdowns to win the game 28-14.

El Capitan has earned the 6 seed in the 1A football state playoffs and beat Superior in the first round on Saturday, October 26th.  The Eagles will now head to the quarter-finals for a rematch against #3-ranked Mogollon. The Eagles lost to the Mustangs 24-50 earlier this season. This is the fourth consecutive year the Eagles have had a winning season and have made it to the state playoffs. Go Eagles!

No. 3!

By the El Capitan Journalism Class

The El Capitan Varsity Volleyball team continued their impressive season this week and now are on an 8 game win streak. The only roadblock of the season came against 4th-ranked Ash Fork in a tightly contested match on September 20th. The Eagles were able to avenge that loss two hours later, beating Ash Fork 3-2 to split the series. Since then, the Eagles have been on a tear, ripping off wins against Grand Canyon, Bryce Valley, Water Canyon, Dishchii’bikoh,  Rough Rock, Shonto Prep, and Milford. The Eagles now boast an impressive record of 14-2 and were ranked 3rd in state behind Mogollon and St. David in Arizona’s first released state rankings earlier this week on October 1st. 

Several key performers have helped the Eagles succeed this year. Ashlyn Hammon continued her stellar senior campaign, recording 354 assists so far which ranks second in the state. Hammon also has 46 service aces, which is 6th in the state, and she has logged 7 digs. Junior Samantha Hammon has also had a breakout year, coming in 7th in state with 126 kills. Hammon also has 37 service aces, 2 blocks, and 4 digs this season. Additionally, Adison Musser takes the lead in receptions with 149. She's also marked 70 kills, 34 service aces, and 8 digs. Ruth Timpson is currently leading the Eagles in blocks with 3. Timpson has also registered 52 kills. Allyssa Hammon has been a solid force on the back line, recording 129 receptions and 9 digs. Lastly, Sarita Timpson has also put up big numbers, listing 42 kills, 27 service aces, and 48 receptions.

Next the Eagles head to Flagstaff to play Basis High School and then on to Joseph City for a weekend tournament.  They play Fredonia on October 17th and then challenge Williams on our home court on Friday, October 18th.  The Freshman/Sophomore game will start at 4:00 P.M, followed by JV at 5:00 P.M. and then Varsity at 6:00 P.M. Admission prices for the game are $8 for adults and $4 for students and seniors. You must pay by either cash or check as El Capitan is not accepting any electronic payments at this time. Come out and cheer on our team as they continue the second half of their season!

By Jonathan Richter

On Thursday, September 26th, El Capitan hosted its first ever clash of the classes, allowing students in each class to battle with each other in a variety of games. There were seven games designed to test the students in many different ways, ranging from musical knowledge to class coordination to athletic ability. The environment was tense as the whole school piled into the gym, ready to cheer on their respective classes.

The first game was known as “Red Light, Green Light Lay-Ups”. Three students from each grade had to do a basketball lay-up while stopping and going with the music. The first grade to make it through all three students was the winner. The juniors won the event thanks to Tallen Holm, Porter Holm, and Moroni Musser. The second game was a food relay race. Each grade level had to pick five participants that had to eat a donut, multiple saltine crackers, take a bite out of a lime, chug a soda, and eat a packet of baby food. The seniors won this challenge with the help of  Kanyn Nez, Nate Williams, Wyatt Quinton, Nemo Tapoof, and Ray Fischer. In the third game, one student from each grade was chosen to navigate through an obstacle course while balancing a ball on a cone. Junior Tallen Holm, recorded the fastest time, beating the next contender by seven seconds. The fourth game was a volleyball variant called “Pip, Squeak, and Wilbur.” The seniors squeaked out a victory with the stellar performance of Ashlyn Hammon, Ray Fischer, and Allyssa Hammon.

The seniors took the next game, a football toss, thanks to Aryck Hammon and Bryant Hammon. But the juniors struck back in a game of musical chairs thanks to the determination of Ali Bateman. Finally, the classes competed in their last game,” Name that Tune.” The juniors and sophomores tied, correctly guessing five songs each. With all of the points tallied, the juniors came out on top. The classes at El Capitan look forward to competing again, once each quarter, for bragging rights. 

By Jonathan Richter
On Friday, September 20th, on an energy-packed night, the Eagles kicked off their second home game of the season against the Joseph City Wildcats. The Eagles started off electric, scoring over 30 points in the first quarter and finishing up the first half up 54-0. When the final buzzer rang, the Eagles were victorious, defeating the Wildcats 62-0. 
 

On offense, Quite a few players stood out, such as Myron Hammon, Marion Hammon, Avery Hammon, Moroni Musser, Eaen Dockstader, and Treyton Timpson. To start the game, Avery connected on two touchdowns, both to standout receiver Eaen Dockstader. The ground game played a big part as well, with Marion Hammon, Myron Hammon, Moroni Musser, and Treyton Timpson each scoring on long touchdown runs.
 

The defense came to play as well, denying the Wildcats a single score leading to the second shutout of the season. “We’ve got a lot of high character guys out there that play with a lot of energy,” said Coach Cole said about the defensive effort after the game. “They’re not super vocal guys, but they show up and they play hard and they know how to lead by example. I’m very proud of our defense.” Among those high character guys were Tallen Holm, Chris Hammon, and Brayden Hammon, each with an interception. Marion Hammon continued his breakout season at outside linebacker. He now comes in at second in the state in sacks. Myron Hammon also had an outstanding game in special teams, running two long punts back for touchdowns.
 

This game was the perfect boost of confidence for the Eagles as they prepare for what comes next—Mogollon. This game will have major implications for each team's ranking going forward in both state and region. Both teams come into this game with a tied record of 4-1. Mogollon has always been a contender in the playoffs and state championship. Last year was the first year the Eagles beat Mogollon, and the team will look to replicate that success this year. If the Eagles take the victory against Mogollon, they will be in the runner's seat to win the region and will likely make the playoffs. The game against Mogollon will kickoff Friday, September 27th, at 7:00 PM in Heber, AZ (8:00 PM MDT). The game will also be streamed on NFHS.

By Riley Barlow

Friday night, the Eagles hosted the Bagdad Sultans for their first home game of the season. The matchup was highly anticipated as both the Eagles and the Sultans made deep playoff runs last season. Bagdad came out with a commanding 28-0 first-half lead. The Eagles were able to add 8 points in the second half with a safety and a touchdown, but it proved to be too late as the Sultans secured a 42-8 victory.  

Even though the Eagles lost, there were several players who had stellar performances. Marion and Chris Hammon especially excelled on the defensive end of the ball. Chris always seems to have a nose for the ball as he logged an interception for the second consecutive week. Marion led the team with 4.5 sacks, making his season total a team high 7.5. His relentless pressure in the backfield secured a safety in the third quarter, getting the Eagles on the board for the first time. The Eagles were more successful through the air than on the ground Friday night as Avery Hammon threw for 134 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. Myron and Brayden Hammon were two of Avery’s favorite targets of the night as Myron recorded 45 receiving yards and Brayden held in an incredible 35 yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles their only touchdown.
Next, Bagdad plays defending state champion Hayden this Friday. The game will have major state implications as both teams look to make another push to a state championship. In the meantime, the Eagles will need to regroup as they travel to face Eureka (NV) next Thursday. Eureka went undefeated and won the Nevada state championship last season. This will be the first time the two teams meet. The Eagles will be looking forward to suiting up stand-out linebacker/running Eaen Dockstader and linemen Alvin Timpson for the first time this season. Kickoff begins at 8 pm (7 pm Pacific Daylight Time).

By Justin Cooke

The Eagles varsity volleyball team made their name known, starting off their season 2-0. The Eagles beat each team 3-0, their closest set being 25-12. Addison Musser, Sarita Timpson and Samantha Hammon led the team to victory against Greyhills with Musser leading with 8 kills, Hammon following close behind with 7 kills and Timpson with 5 kills. Ashlyn Hammon was extremely proficient as a setter with 28 assists. Right out of the gate, the Eagles started off strong with a 25-5 blowout against Greyhills. In their ensuing sets, they held Greyhills to 12 and 11 points, securing the victory.

Last Thursday, the Eagles had a chance to rack up another win against Water Canyon, a crosstown rival. In the game, Samantha led the team with 15 kills while Ruth Timpson and Addison Musser logged 5 kills each. “They’re hitting harder and they’re passing better,” said first-year coach Daisy Mills. During their rivalry game against Water Canyon, the Eagles held the Wildcats to 32 total points. Samantha and Ashlyn Hammon have started the year off strong with a combined 20 kills and 76 serving aces. Ashlynn has also recorded an astonishing 53 assists to begin her senior season.

Next, the varsity girls take on Milford this Friday at home. Milford has started the season with a strong 7-2 overall record. The Frosh team will play first at 3 pm, followed by the JV at 5 pm and the varsity at 7 pm. All games will be played in the El Capitan gymnasium on September 6.

By Jonathan Richter and Nathan Hammon

After a long summer's wait, Friday night was finally time for the El Capitan Eagles to hit the field. The Eagles started the season strong with a 36-6 victory over cross-town rival Water Canyon. “There was a ton of pressure going into this game because it is the rivalry,” first-year head coach Cole White said after the win. “The town is so invested in it.”

It took the Eagles time to shake off their nerves, with a first quarter riddled with penalties and turnovers. The Wildcats took advantage with an early 6-0 lead. But the Eagles gained momentum after Chris Hammon, who only joined the team a couple weeks ago, ran an interception back for a touchdown early in the 2nd quarter. “It completely shifted our energy and I was locked in after that,” said the sophomore linebacker of the play. Chris’ heroics seemed to settle the entire team down. The Eagles never lost the lead again, capping off the half with a long, efficient scoring drive with only 10 seconds left. The Eagles carried the momentum into the second half, outsourcing the Wildcats 24-0 the rest of the way. Emotions were strong, and the team was ecstatic. “I’m just proud of my team,” said Coach Cole. “I credit them, the work they put in—learning the plays, the conditioning—all that had work is paying off and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The Eagles were especially proficient on the ground, rushing for 212 yards on 43 carries. Leading the way on the ground were Chris Hammon, who ran for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Treyton Timpson, who ran for 63 yards. Marion Hammon was also dangerous in the rushing and passing game as he tallied a rushing touchdown on top of a combined 104 all purpose yards. 

In the air, new starting quarterback Avery Hammon threw for 140 yards, a touchdown, and an interception while Treyton Timpson added 69 passing yards, all to standout receiver Myron Hammon. Tallen Holm added two receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown. 

On defense, the Eagles forced 6 turnovers and 3 sacks. Marion Hammon was especially disruptive, logging 9 total tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Chris Hammon also had a big day on defense, recording 7 total tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception, and a touchdown. Other notable defenders were Tallen Holm with 9 tackles and a forced fumble, Myron Hammon with 8 tackles and a touchdown, and Treyton Timpson with 7 tackles and a touchdown. Senior Kanyn Nez also recorded 3 tackles and a sack.

Next, the Eagles take on the Bagdad Sultans tonight at home. Both the Eagles and the Sultans made runs to the State Semifinals last season, and this will be one of the most anticipated games of the year. The game kicks off at 7 pm.