Finally, it was their turn.

Two would-be Valley Vista touchdowns were called back because of penalties in the fourth quarter. But the third wasn't, and it was enough to seal the Monsoon's first win in five tries against Surprise rival Willow Canyon.

Senior tailback C.J. Palmer followed junior left guard Mario Rodarte for a four-yard score with 2:36 remaining to increase the home team's lead to 20-7. Valley Vista (2-0) held on for the biggest win in the young program's history.

"We made things difficult, but we kept fighting. Adversity hit us and we could have dragged our head, used excuses and what not. But our kids stayed focused," Valley Vista coach Jason Wilke said.

The whole squad had reason to celebrate, and many of the players had a hand in the win. Valley Vista lacked a 100-yard rusher, or a 100-yard passer for that matter. No individual defensive player stood out like 2011 graduate Mark Grant did in last year's game.

But the Monsoon broke through with a three-pronged rushing attack, some timely pass completions and a swarming team defense that gave up one big play, but limited the Wildcats to 166 yards on their other 55 plays.

"Defensively, they played fast and physical tonight," Wilke said. "We've got role players. We don't have a superstar, we've just got guys doing what they're coached to and making plays."

While it's hard to narrow down a player of the game, the play of the game is clear. It came in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, with Valley Vista clinging to a 14-7 lead.

On first and goal from the Valley Vista 8, Willow Canyon senior quarterback looked for his top target, senior wide receiver Diandre Harding. And why not, Harding finished the night with 10 catches for 135 yards.

This time, though, sophomore cornerback Terry Juniel was ready. He jumped the corner route, picked off the pass at the 5 and raced 95 yards down the sideline.

His touchdown was called back because of an illegal block in the back, but the interception tilted the momentum, and the field, Valley Vista's way.

"We were in man press coverage. I knew the play was coming because they tried the same thing in passing league with Diandre. I just jumped the route and the ball was right there," Juniel said. "That helped us win the game, so that felt real good."

Starting at their 36 after the penalty, Valley Vista went aerial for the first time all night. Junior quarterback Dalvin Richardson completed seven passes all night. Five were on this drive, including three important first down tosses.

The first came on a 27-yard, third-down completion to senior Gio Pascascio. On another third-and-long play, Richardson scrambled and found junior Jacob Bukowiecki for 12 yards.

"I just had to relax. I couldn't let it get to me because this came is 48 minutes and eventually, it would come back," Richardson said.

A 10-yard strike to senior tight end Travis Grover set up the Monsoon at the one. And Richardson scored from a yard out on the next play.

But the touchdown was nullified because a teammate pushed him into the end zone. Valley Vista could not score and senior kicker Justin Tabor missed a 21-yard field goal.

Three plays later, Willow Canyon (0-2) fumbled and the Monsoon took over at the Wildcats 35 with 4:16 left.

Palmer, the game's leading rusher with 77 yards on 15 carries, took over, breaking three tackles on a 13-yard run before his touchdown.

Valley Vista was as opportunistic after its other fumble recovery, which came on the opening kickoff. Starting at the Wildcat 32, the home team took advantage of a defensive holding penalty and a key fourth-down conversion by senior tailback Darnell Coleman.

The Monsoon never trailed, as fullback Brandon Bendele plunged in from the 1.

With its usually robust ground game stymied, Willow Canyon turned to its money passing combination.

Early in the second quarter, Nezdoba dialed up a post to Harding, who broke a tackle, spun and galloped 81 yards to tie the game.

It appeared the game would stay deadlocked at halftime. Valley Vista started its last drive of the second quarter at the Willow Canyon 32, but a sack and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty pushed the Monsoon back 17 yards.

Quickly, Richardson scrambled for 15 and Coleman burst outside for 10 more. Then, on fourth and 2 from the 24, Coleman picked up three.

Thirty seconds before halftime, Richardson completed his first pass of the night - a 20-yard touchdown to Pascascio on a curl pattern.

Valley Vista carried this momentum into the second half and posted a landmark victory. Now, the trick is to make sure the euphoria from this win doesn't cause a loss in focus, like the pain of last year's 8-7 loss to Willow Canyon did.

"That's what we just got done telling the team - that this is two weeks of a long season. In the past we got hung up with this game," Wilke said. "Last year, to be honest, we got stagnant for three weeks after it because we were on the other side of it."

Valley Vista plays its third straight home game next week against an 0-2 Phoenix South Mountain team. Win that, and the Monsoon play the newest Dysart school, Shadow Ridge.

The next four opponents are Mountain Ridge, Alhambra, Tolleson and Kingman. So the Monsoon have an opportunity for a big splash.

"These kids are focused with the fortitude to go farther," Wilke said. "This is going to springboard us. I don't fear a letdown at all."