Offense wins games, and Mesa Desert Ridge will attest to that. But if defense wins championships, the Jaguars took a step in the right direction Friday night.

SLIDESHOW: Friday night football action

Phoenix Pinnacle was stuffed time and again by a stout Desert Ridge defense as the host Jaguars advanced to the second round of the 5A-II state playoffs with a 36-7 win.

Desert Ridge caused three turnovers, and save for two big plays by Pioneers running back Taylor Stib, stopped anything Pinnacle had up its sleeve. Pinnacle registered just eight first downs, and one came on a fake punt.

“The defense really stepped up,” wide receiver/cornerback Chris Jamison said.

Two fumble recoveries and an interception in the first half gave Desert Ridge’s offense plenty of time to grab the lead, and a 25-yard pass from Kevin Pantastico to Jamison put the Jaguars ahead 21-0 at the half.

The offense sputtered in the third quarter, and a 40-yard touchdown run by Stib cut the lead to 21-7 with 9:12 remaining in the game.

Desert Ridge went back to old reliable, getting the ball to Jamison on a wide receiver screen and letting him race 66 yards less than a minute later to put the game out of reach. He finished with six catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

It was the Jaguars’ second blowout win against Pinnacle this season, and while this game was closer, the athletic ability on Desert Ridge’s sideline was evident.

“They did a good job stopping us, but we’re just too fast,” Desert Ridge coach Jeremy Hathcock said.

The Jaguars will play No. 1 Peoria Centennial in the second round. The teams met in the season opener, and Desert Ridge lost handily.

“They are the best team in Arizona,” Hathcock said. “We all know that. We lost by this type of score to them. We’re going to have to play the most mistake-free game we’ve ever played to have a chance.”