It was Dane Wertz’s first day as a varsity football player on Friday, and if it’s his last, he will have a doozy of a story.

Wertz, the kicker for Mesquite who was playing in the first game of his life, snatched victory from the hands of disaster, as his 15-yard return of a blocked field goal gave the Wildcats a wild 27-21 overtime win over host Mesa Desert Ridge in the season opener for both teams.

“It feels good (to be a football star),” said Wertz, who wore a Gilbert Arsenal Soccer Club shirt under his shoulder pads.

Wertz, a midfielder on the Wildcats’ varsity soccer team last winter, was just filling in at kicker for his injured friend Devin Foy, who also doubles as the goalkeeper.

Wertz’ football career didn’t start well, as his first extra-point attempt was blocked. It looked as though his night might end badly when what would have been a game-winning 25-yard field goal in overtime was blocked by Desert Ridge’s Ryan Hathcock. But somehow, the ball bounced back toward Wertz, who scooped it up, ran left and outran the Desert Ridge safety to the end zone.

“Natural instincts told me to pick it up and run, so I ran for the corner,” said Wertz. “I saw one guy coming, so I ran as fast as I could and got there.”

Desert Ridge forced overtime by driving 76 yards in the final five minutes of regulation, getting a 5-yard run from Kevin Pantastico with 46 seconds left. A Pantastico pass to Zack Finch for the 2-point conversion tied the score at 21.

The first overtime possession went to Desert Ridge, which had a third-and-goal at the 1. However, two false-start penalties moved the ball back to the 11 and Tyler Chatwin’s field-goal attempt was blocked, setting up Mesquite’s final possession.

Mesquite opened the game with an impressive 12-play, 70-yard drive that was capped off by a 3-yard touchdown run from Fine Itaaehau.

The Wildcats defense then had its turn, sacking Pantastico for an 11-yard loss on the Jaguars’ first play and then forcing Desert Ridge to punt from it’s own end zone. The Wildcats blocked that punt and needed just one play, a 4-yard run from Maka Taufa, to go ahead 13-0.

But from that point on, the Mesquite offense sputtered and Desert Ridge’s spread offense got rolling. For the game, the Jaguars threw for 334 yards, while Mesquite was held to just 175 total yards.

“We’re darn lucky to get out of here, but we’ll take it,” Mesquite coach Mike Reardon said. “We made some errors, but tonight I liked our tackling. Fundamentally, we played good defense, and we needed to.”

Mesquite’s Charles Robinson led the offense with 78 yards on 15 carries. His biggest carry came on the final play of the first half, as he tracked down a bad pitch from quarterback Steven Hansen and weaved his way through the Desert Ridge defense for a 7-yard score that put Mesquite up 21-6 going into the break.

LIVE IN-GAME UPDATES

Mesquite opens the scoring with a 3-yard TD from Fine Itaaehau. Kick blocked. 6-0 Mesquite. The opening drive consisted of all running plays.

After blocking a Desert Ridge punt and taking over at the Jaguars' 4-yard line, Mesquite has scored again on a Mauka Taufa TD run. Mesquite up 13-0 with 4:52 left in first quarter.

Ryan McCann has come in at quarterback while Kevin Pantastico has moved to receiver, and a 20-yard TD pass from McCann to Sam Papa gets Desert Ridge on the board. Extra point good. 13-7 Mesquite.

A big play by Mesquite's Charles Robinson as the half expires gives Mesquite a 21-7 lead. A pitch from the QB went over his head, but he ran back, picked it up and weaved his way into the end zone. It goes into the books as a 7-yard TD. 21-7 Mesquite at the half. Robinson has 61 rushing yards.

Pantastico is back at QB for Desert Ridge in the third quarter. Mesquite still holds a 21-7 lead.

Desert Ridge scores on 4-yard TD run by Pantastico. Receiver Paris Clark had a nice catch and run to set up the first-and-goal. It's now 21-13 Mesquite.

Desert Ridge gets a huge touchdown with just 46 seconds left, and Pantastico threads the needle on the 2-point conversion to tie it up. Headed to overtime.

On the first possession in overtime, Desert Ridge has its field-goal attempt blocked. Mesquite can win with any kind of score.

It's over. Desert Ridge blocks Mesquite's field-goal attempt, but kicker Dane Wertz scoops it up, races around the left side of the line and scores the game-winning touchdown. Mesquite wins 27-21. Unbelievable finish.

PREVIEW

Mesquite (0-0) at Desert Ridge (0-0)

Time: 7 p.m.

Address: 10045 E. Madero Ave., Mesa

Key matchup: Mesquite likes its ability to run the football after three weeks of practice. Using a running game that will rotate as many as four backs and what coach Mike Reardon believes will be a hearty defense, the Wildcats will try to use that to offset the passing expertise of veteran Kevin Pantastico or New York newcomer Ryan McCann.

Key stat: Pantastico passed for 2,830 yards last year with 30 TDs and 17 interceptions.

The intrigue: Desert Ridge climbs back into 5A-I. Sister school Mesquite offers a reasonable first test in that return. Wildcats trying to snap four-game losing streak.