Vindication stood in the south end zone at Tempe McClintock Friday night, in the form of a 6-foot-3, 180-pound wide receiver cradling a football and getting mobbed by his teammates.

SLIDESHOW: Tempe McClintock vs Higley

SLIDESHOW: Friday night high school football

One year after playing on the junior varsity as an upperclassman and just months after quitting the team, Mychael Morales found out exactly why his mother pushed him to go back.

The senior had six catches for 76 yards and three touchdowns in his home debut with the varsity as McClintock beat Gilbert Higley 23-14 in 4A non-conference action.

For two or three weeks this summer, Morales stopped showing up to offseason weight training.

“I told myself I was going to quit,’ he said.

But a gentle nudge from teammates, family, and most importantly, Mom, brought him back.

“My mom got on my butt,” Morales said. “She told me she knew what I could do. Now here we are.”

The third touchdown connection between Morales and quarterback Eric Urry was the most important.

Gilbert Higley scored on a six-yard touchdown run by Jace Smith to cut a nine point McClintock lead to 16-14 with 4:11 left in the third quarter.

Just as they did after Knights scored in the second quarter, the Chargers (2-0) bounced right back.

After driving into Higley territory, Urry rolled to his left and lofted a pass into the end zone from 31 yards out, and Morales had to turn his entire body around to make a diving catch.

“He’s really grown up,” McClintock coach Mike Gibbons said. “I’m very proud of him. We made Mychael earn everything that he’s gotten. He wasn’t given anything. He’s given a full commitment, and now he’s reaping the benefits.”

The conversion came on third down, when McClintock assistants were already talking into Gibbons’ ear about a field goal attempt.

The Knights wouldn’t seriously threaten the rest of the game.

“That was obviously the difference the game,” Gibbons said. “To respond with that touchdown, it was really deflating, I think, for them.”

The McClintock defense held the Knights (0-2) to just 168 total yards and forced three turnovers, including an interception by Anthony Shivers with under a minute of play to seal the outcome.

The Chargers will go into next week’s game against rival Tempe with a good chance to go 3-0, another crucial early game as the schedule toughens dramatically as it moves along.

Last season McClintock had to clinch a playoff spot in the last game of the season.

Now Morales, who didn’t even attend last year’s loss to Higley after playing the day before, is ready to take the team to new heights.

“Last year, I wasn’t committed to football like I am now,” Morales said. “I’m here now, giving it my all, trying to take this team as far as I can.”