School Athletics
By Lonnie Stevenson
The Lake Havasu Knights varsity football continues to enjoy being at home the last two weeks, celebrating homecoming Friday night with a convincing 36-6 win over the visiting Kofa Kings and improving their record to 3-2 on the season.
Senior co-captain Luke Johnson continues to be a workhorse on offense helping to lead the Knights with two first-quarter touchdowns. The first one on a bruising 9-yard run and the second from a wildcat formation from 1 yard out helping Havasu jump out to a 16-0 lead in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, senior quarterback Keilor Pizarro first connected with senior wide receiver Kole Cesena from six yards out the late in the quarter with senior wide receiver Koen Taylor from 20-yards out and Havasu would take a commanding 29-0 lead into halftime.
“We started the season with a new quarterback, (starting quarterback Jay Deacon was hurt early in the first game) and struggled a little bit with a new system,” Head Coach Tanner Kelly said after the game. “Keilor is getting more and more comfortable and the offensive line has been tremendous these last couple of weeks.”
Keilor would connect with junior wide receiver Khi Nunno in the third quarter from 19 yards out putting Havasu up 36-0.
Nunno saw some additional playing time after starting wide receiver Carter Devett was injured on the first drive and did not return.
“Khi came in for Carter there and made some big plays for us,” Kelly said. “He had a big touchdown there in the third quarter for us.”
For the second straight week, as good as the offense has been, the defense has been maybe even better. Having held both opponents basically scoreless except a couple of late touchdowns when Havasu was getting some of the younger players in.
“The defense has carried us pretty well these last couple of games,” Kelly continued. “They had done a great job really the whole season.”
Havasu’s defense is going to have a big test next week with the visiting 3-2 Buckeye Union Hawks coming to town. Buckeye has scored 67 points each of the last 2 weeks.
“Buckeye is a great team,” Kelly continued. “They took Gila Ridge down to the wire a couple of weeks ago, (losing 46-48 – Gila Ridge defeated the Knights in week 1, 29-6) “So it should be a good game and test for us.”
This was also Homecoming week with ceremonies at halftime celebrating the 2026 Homecoming Court; Luke Johnson, Addison Murphy, Grant Nelson, Irene Rodriguez, Landen Musselman and Bella Gonzalez. This year’s theme – A Knight in the City that Never Sleeps.
Congratulations to Luke Johnson & Bella Gonzalez, the 2026 Homecoming King & Queen.
Premier Golf Carts provided transportation for the homecoming court.
Note: next week’s game has been moved to Thursday night, Oct. 1, at Lee Barnes Stadium. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
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