When No. 1 Paradise Valley dropped down from 4A-I to 4A-II following region realignment, it became an instant contender.

But on Friday night, No. 2 Notre Dame gave a reminder of which team is still the one to beat at the 4A-II level.

The two-time defending champions held down Paradise Valley's high-powered offense and were productive with the football as well in a 31-12 win at Scottsdale Community College.

Notre Dame (3-0) came into the season winners of 23 straight games, but several key departures on both sides of the ball left question marks.

A season-ending injury to BYU-bound center Blair Tushaus before the season began, and a closer-than-expected opening win over Phoenix Shadow Mountain compounded those questions.

But this game held all the answers.

Quarterback Will King was 21-for-31 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints defense gave up just 104 yards on the ground after Paradise Valley rumbled for a 4A-record 592 yards rushing last week.

Paradise Valley quarterback Kevin Spain was 14 of 26 for 173 yards, but 107 of those yards came on two big pass plays.

The Trojans fumbled the opening kickoff, and Notre Dame recovered, eventually scoring on the drive.

"We've got basically a brand new team from last year," Notre Dame coach Scot Bemis said. "We had a bunch of young kids grow up tonight."

Notre Dame led 12-6 late in the first half when King found Joe Versen from 9 yards out with 13.8 seconds left for an 18-6 lead.

Notre Dame received the ball to open the second half and drove the length of the field before Jordan Geitz punched in a 3-yard touchdown for a 24-6 lead.

Spain found Tyree Parker on a 55-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-long to cut the lead to 12 with eight minutes remaining, but the Trojans would get no closer.

Devon Villarreal put an exclamation point on the victory with a 4-yard run with 3:04 left.

Notre Dame has won 26 straight games, although some thought this would be the game to end it.

"What streak?" Bemis said. "I don't talk about the streak. We don't talk about it. I don't let the kids talk about it. We don't talk about winning football games. We can control (only) what we put into it. We put a lot of time into it, and the outcome will take care of itself. Our kids, they work hard."

The Trojans (2-1) lost running back Jake Brown in the first quarter to an ankle injury. Brown rushed for 295 yards and four touchdowns last week in a win over Phoenix Arcadia, but he had only two carries for 10 yards in this one prior to the injury.

Paradise Valley beat Arcadia last week despite a secondary that was exploited by Titans quarterback Colby Kirkegaard, and King continued that trend. He picked apart the Trojans through the air, successfully completing multiple third-down pass plays for first downs.

"If we don't get that shored up, it's going to be one or two (games) and done in the playoffs, I can tell you that," Paradise Valley coach Donnie Yantis said.

LIVE IN-GAME UPDATES

Will King finds Joe Versen from 9 yards out on third-and-8. Notre Dame 6, Paradise Valley 0 with 8:52 remaining in first quarter.

Devon Villarreal's 2-yard plunge gives Notre Dame a 12-0 lead with eight minutes left in second quarter.

Paradise Valley QB Kevin Spain finds Shawn Gleason on a 53-yard touchdown pass. Notre Dame 12, Paradise Valley 6 with 7:41 remaining in second quarter. It was the Trojans' first first down of the game.

Will King finds Joe Versen for the second time in the end zone from 9 yards out. Notre Dame 18, Paradise Valley 6 with 13.8 seconds left in the first half.

Notre Dame 18, PV 6 at halftime.

Jordan Geitz  scores TD from 3  yards out. Notre Dame 24, Paradise Valley 6 with 5:06 left in the third quarter.

Notre Dame 24, Paradise Valley 6 heading into the fourth.

Paradise Valley's QB Spain to Parker for a 55-yard touchdown. Conversion fails. ND 24, PV 12 with 7:58 remaining.

Notre Dame's Devon Villarreal scores from 4 yards out. ND 31, PV 12.

PREVIEW

Paradise Valley faces tough Notre Dame defense