If Amphitheater鈥檚 Friedli Field was a stage, then the Panthers鈥 42-27 win over Sahuarita on Friday night was the Kiko Trejo Show.
Amphi鈥檚 star two-way player was a do-it-all standout for the Panthers, rushing for 181 yards on nine carries and scoring five total touchdowns.
鈥淭oday was beautiful, man,鈥 said Trejo. 鈥淲e all played hard, worked hard and did our jobs.鈥
Just minutes into the first quarter, Trejo ran 38 yards for Amphi鈥檚 first touchdown of the game to make it 7-0. Trejo also capped off the second offensive possession of the night with a 4-yard touchdown to extend Amphi鈥檚 lead to 14-0, after returning a punt 35 yards inside Sahuarita territory.
鈥淥ur offensive line was picking up every stunt and every blitz they had, and Kiko was running hard,鈥 said Amphi coach Jorge Mendivil.
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The Kiko Show continued on defense, with Trejo intercepting Sahuarita quarterback Alex Valdez for a 45-yard pick-six, giving Amphi a 21-0 lead going into the second quarter.

Sahuarita鈥檚 Joseph Loveall, bottom, gets tackled by Amphi鈥檚 Xzavier Sanchez during the first half Friday night. Amphi improved to 2-0 with the win.
鈥淚 saw the ball was getting overthrown a little bit, then I saw the ball get tipped, I caught it and then I took off,鈥 he said.
Sahuarita briefly had a shift of momentum in the second quarter, when defensive lineman Levi Pannell recovered a fumble on a botched handoff. The Mustangs drew closer with a 27-yard touchdown from Alex Valdez to James Miner, cutting the deficit to 21-7. Valdez finished the contest completing 8 of 19 passes for 242 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Amphi鈥檚 offense momentarily stalled, but was sparked by a 55-yard flea flicker pass from Trejo to Ithzael Carbajal to put the Panthers on Sahuarita鈥檚 5-yard line; freshman fullback Jacob Espinoza punched in a 2-yard run to give Amphi a 28-7 advantage.
Sahuarita garnered an opportunity in the second half following a high punt snap that set up the Mustangs on Amphi鈥檚 26-yard line, but Valdez threw his second interception of the game.
Amphi capitalized on Sahuarita鈥檚 miscue, and Trejo bolted for a 68-yard touchdown. Trejo scored his fifth touchdown of the game to give Amphi a 42-14 lead going into the fourth quarter. Sahuarita scored two late touchdowns, but the fourth-quarter comeback fell short.
鈥淥ur kids got a little complacent once we got up big. 鈥 They throw the ball well, and you gotta communicate against a team that throws the ball,鈥 Mendivil said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little disappointing that our kids need to step up and realize what鈥檚 going on. A lot of them were a little lost out there, for sure.鈥
Up next, Amphi (2-0) will face Phoenix Thunderbird in 蜜柚直播 next Friday, while Sahuarita (0-3) will battle Pusch Ridge Christian.
Photos: Amphitheater defeats Sahuarita, high school football
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Sahuarita's Joseph Loveall, 11, gets tackled by Amphi's Xzavier Sanchez, 31, during the first half their game at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Amphi's Kiko Trejo, 3, shoves Sahuarita's Alex Valdez, 1, out of bounds during their game at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.聽
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Amphi's Itzael Carbajal 6, tries to stiff arm Sahuarita's Diego Ibarra, 6, during their game at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Amphi's Kiko Trejo, 3, runs down the sideline towards the end zone during their game against Sahuarita at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Sahuarita's James Miner, 24, catches a long pass during their game against Amphi at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Sahuarita's James Miner, 24, runs through the end zone following a touchdown during their game against Amphi at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.
Sahuarita at Amphi high school football

Sahuarita #3 gets a hand on the ball during a game against Amphitheater High School on Sept. 10, 2021.
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Amphi coach Jorge Mendivil yells at the line of scrimmage during their game against Sahuarita at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Sahuarita's Head Coach Jake Price talks with Alex Valdez, 1, on the sidelines during their game against Amphi at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.聽
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Sahuarita's Adam Othon, 44, celebrates with fellow teammate Matt Wise, 22, on the sidelines following Othon's touchdown during their game against Amphi at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.聽
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Amphi's Kiko Trejo, 3, flexes while celebrating with fellow teammate Brandon Cardenas, 63, after Trejo's touchdown during their game against Sahuarita at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.聽
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Amphi's celebrates while fellow teammate Itzael Carbajal, 6, runs towards the end zone during their game against Sahuarita at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Amphi's Kiko Trejo, 3, runs into the end zone untouched during their game against Sahuarita at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.聽
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Sahuarita's Aaron Bell, 2, looks over his shoulder for defenders while running into the end zone during their game against Amphi at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.聽
Sahuarita vs Amphi

Sahuarita's Alex Valdez, 1, throws the ball while under pressure from Amphi's Luis Mendoza, 70, during their game at Amphitheater High School in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on Sept. 10th.聽