For the first time in five years Friday, Sept. 9, the Scorpions earned a victory before the calendar turned to October, defeating visiting Tuba City High School, 55-23.

Oct. 29, 2010; Oct. 30, 2009; Oct. 10, 2008; Oct. 12, 2007 — these dates mark the first victory for the Sedona Red Rock High School football team in the last four seasons. They can now add Sept. 9, 2011, to the list.

“This was every bit of a team effort,” second-year Sedona Head Coach Rick Walsworth said. “It’s definitely nice to get a win early. We had the toughest schedule in Division V after the first two games, but the boys gave so much effort it’s nice to see it pay off.”

With the victory over the Warriors, Sedona is 1-2 overall this season and ranked No. 18 in the Arizona Interscholastic Association power point polls, which were released Monday, Sept. 12.

It’s been a long road, but the Scorpions looked like they could do no wrong Friday in front of a solid homecoming crowd.

A year ago, Sedona cancelled its homecoming due to not having enough players eligible to play. On Friday night, the Scorpions had 34 players suited up to play against the visiting Warriors.

Sedona won the coin toss and elected to kick. After forcing a three-and-out by Tuba City, the Scorpions needed only six plays to see senior quarterback Jack Johnson hurl his way into the end zone, making it 7-0 with 7:27 to go in the first quarter.

A few minutes later, after another below-average possession by Tuba City, senior Bradley Cox ran 12 yards for a touchdown to put Sedona up 13-0 with 4:35 to go in the first period.

From then on, Sedona couldn’t be stopped. The Scorpions led 19-0 by the end of the first quarter, but were up 32-0 in the blink of an eye, then took a 46-0 lead at halftime.

Johnson completed four of six passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns while running eight times for 53 yards and two scores.

Cox was unbelievable Friday night, rushing seven times for 102 yards and three touchdowns out of Walsworth’s triple option offense. Cox had two catches for 49 yards and two touchdowns as well.

“This was a team effort. Bradley [Cox] was just a recipient of how well we executed against Tuba City,” Walsworth said.

After missing Sedona’s second game against Northwest Christian High School on Sept. 2 with a bruised hip bone, junior Keenan Crans returned Friday, getting three carries for 67 yards and a touchdown.

The Scorpions totaled 361 yards of total offense against Tuba City on Friday, an early season high for Sedona. The Scorpion offense had 295 yards against Winslow High School the first week of the season.

In 2006, Sedona won its first game on Sept. 29, and in 2004, the Scorpions won on Sept. 10.

In the last eight seasons for Sedona, the earliest victory came against Camp Verde High School on Aug. 26, 2005. The Scorpions beat the Cowboys in their first game of the season, 33-19.

The Scorpions have a good chance to continue their winning ways Friday, Sept. 16, when they travel to Greyhills Academy High School.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Sedona will return home Friday, Sept. 23, when it plays host to Camp Verde High School. Kickoff against the rival Cowboys is set for 7 p.m.