The Scottsdale Firebirds shut out the Desert Highland Wolfpack 30-0in the first round of the Phoenix AYF Junior Midget playoffs Saturday at Chapparral High School.

The third-seeded Firebirds scored all 30 points in the first half while shutting down the 14th-seed Wolfpack.

A 40-yard touchdown run by Brandon Matonis put the Firebirds on the board after only three plays from scrimmage. A good point-after kick put the ‘Birds up 8-0.

The Wolfpack answered with a 25-yard drive into the red zone, including a 15-yard pass completion from Gunther Johnson to Colin Beckham, but the drive stalled when Kody Scott intercepted a pass near the Firebird 15.

The interception set up the Firebirds second touchdown, a 65-yard run from Robert Kleifield down the right side of the field. Another PAT put the Firebirds up 16-0.

Scottsdale recovered an onside kick after a midfield scrum that led to a 3-yard touchdown run by Kurtis Shughart. The score was set up by a 20-yard pass over the middle from Dalton Sneed to Samuel Zillwood. The PAT kick added another eight points at the end of the first quarter.

Colin Erhard recovered a second onside kick for the Firebirds, who then marched 40 yards down the field, only to be stalled by an interception by Kalani Inez at the goal line.

After the Firebirds were able to force a punt, Brandon Newman forced a 7-yard loss with a sack for the Pack. Scottsdale drove 44 yards in 10 plays, however, for their final touchdown. With 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter, a 36-yard play-action pass from Sneed to Christian Skeptaris.