Going into the 2008 season, Phoenix Pinnacle junior Andrew Hurley was penciled in as a backup linebacker. Because of an injury, Hurley was forced into duty as a defensive end.

SLIDESHOW: Friday night prep football action

And in his first-ever varsity start, the accidental lineman recorded four second half sacks and recovered a fumble in the end zone in host Pinnacle’s 10-6, 5A-II nonregion game against Tucson Ironwood Ridge (0-1).

“Andrew earned a spot on this defense,” Pinnacle coach Dana Zupke said. “He’s a heck of a football player.”

Trailing 6-0 in the third quarter, Night Hawk quarterback Chris Harris fumbled a hand off. Hurley recovered the ball giving the Pioneers (1-0) a 7-6 lead.

“I saw it and thought I had to get it,” Hurley said.

In victory, Pinnacle was dominated in most aspects of the game. The Night Hawk defense held Pinnacle to 54 total yards on offense.

“We wasted a fantastic defensive effort,” Ironwood Ridge coach Gary Minor said. “Our defense was spectacular.”

As spectacular as the Night Hawk defense was, the offense was equally adept at turning the ball over. Three lost fumbles and an interception doomed any chance of capitalizing on their statistical dominance.

“We killed ourselves,” Minor said.

The Night Hawks did manage an impressive march to close out the game. With 33 seconds left, the Pioneers opted to not to attempt a field goal, giving Ironwood Ridge possession on its 11-yard-line.

Harris connected on a 39-yard bomb to Scott Campbell. After downing the ball to stop the clock, Harris connected on passes of 18, 12 and 13 yards.

With two seconds left, the Night Hawks had moved to Pinnacle’s 7-yard-line. Harris’ final pass fell incomplete giving the Pioneers an unlikely victory.

“I’ve been on the bad side of games like this,” Zupke said. “I suppose it’s karma.”