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The Tigers remain unbeaten under first-year head coach Phillip Steward, a former standout linebacker for the University of Houston.

After beating Mountain View 13-12 in the season opener, the Tigers have beaten their last two opponents by a combined 109-7.

“It was a good win for us,� Steward said. “After scoring a lot early on last week, one thing we wanted to do this week was start fast, and if we start fast, it gives these guys confidence throughout the game.�

Marana junior quarterback Elijah Joplin, who was named a Star Top 22 player entering this season, led the way for the Tigers with 304 passing yards and four touchdowns. Marana running back Matthew Jensen, who Steward referred to as a “motor horse,� also scored four all-purpose touchdowns — two receiving, two rushing — in the win.

“He just goes, even at practice,� Steward said of Jensen. “He just goes and goes and goes. He was like, ‘Get me a touchdown,’ so we handed it to him and just let him go to work. He was like, ‘Coach, I want another one,’ so we gave it to him again.’ As long as he’s running like that, we’re going to keep giving him the ball.�

Joplin set the tone early in the game with a 12-yard run on fourth-and-long, and followed it up with a 28-yard touchdown to junior wide receiver Sam Brown to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

Just before the end of the first quarter, Joplin connected with Jensen on a screen pass for a 13-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. On the following drive, Charles Ebunoha took a pass from Joplin 36 yards for a touchdown.

After Marana leapt to a 21-0 lead, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ High briefly got a defensive spark, when linebacker Dezmond Benitez intercepted a pass from Joplin and returned it for a touchdown, but an unnecessary roughness penalty nixed the score. Two plays later, Marana defensive back Jalen Collins intercepted a pass to halt the Badgers’ momentum just before halftime.

Jensen tacked on his first rushing touchdown with just over a minute until halftime, and Marana’s Alonzo Loree returned an interception for a touchdown to take a 34-0 lead after two quarters.

The Tigers produced 309 yards of total offense in the first half compared to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ High’s 90.

“Our offense was clicking in the first half,� Joplin said. “The (offensive) line was doing their thing, receivers were catching balls, Matt was doing his thing and I think everyone was just on the same page.�

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ High scored its first points of the game, when running back Prince Mugisha rushed for a 6-yard touchdown. That would be the only scoring from the Badgers.

Up next, Marana will take on Flowing Wells on the road next Friday, while ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ High (0-3) will host Phoenix South Mountain.