By Mark Heller
East Valley Tribune
Batten down the hatches. Send the dog outside. Find a babysitter. Order the pizza early. Power down the phones.
This weekend’s high school football should be off the hook.
Last week's first round featured a smattering of nail-biters (Desert Vista-Basha, Brophy-Chandler), some expected blowouts (Desert Ridge, Red Mountain, Marcos de Niza, Chaparral, Queen Creek) and a few games in between (Desert Mountain-Mountain View, Hamilton-Highland, Williams Field-Campo Verde, even Tempe Prep-Round Valley).
Tucson Sabino falling to Nogales in Division III was unquestionably the biggest upset of the first-round games, but that was it for shock value (Pinnacle falling to Westview wasn’t a shock, though how it happened was a mild surprise).
Now, however, comes a surreal slab of sweetness.
Let’s start in Division I.
Pick your pleasure: No. 1 Mountain Pointe has allowed eight points in the past four games combined but hasn’t seen an offense like that of No. 9 Desert Mountain (especially when the Wolves can run the ball) since playing Brophy in late September. Two years ago, the Wolves were 0-10, and a win would produce their second semifinal appearance in four years. Desert Mountain’s Mark Andrews vs. Mountain Pointe’s Jalen Brown? Yes, please.
No. 4 Brophy won another shootout against Chandler last week, but the Broncos are a bit hobbled physically and defensively, and Red Mountain can score. They did it in Week 3, a 33-31 win for the Mountain Lioins over the Broncos.
Hamilton and Desert Vista again? Why not. The Huskies have said since spring ball that the only real compensation for what the Thunder did to them in the 2011 state championship game would be to beat D.V. in the playoffs. Hamilton is healthy and rolling lately. Desert Vista has come up big against top competition the past couple weeks, a down-to-the-wire toll that’s hobbled the Thunder physically but reinforced their mental toughness.
No. 2 Desert Ridge gets No. 10 Westview in a game that likely will be determined by who can run the ball better. This one could be 40-34 and still only take two hours. The Jaguars overcame themselves in a big way (penalties) to beat Valley Vista, but that won’t happen against Westview, which steamrolled Pinnacle with its running game.
Want more? How about in Division II? Marcos de Niza and Chaparral went down to (literally) the final play of the game in Week 2. The Padres have rolled through their schedule (including the first-round playoff win), while the Firebirds have won seven consecutive games on the strength of maturity and defense. Jake Roh. Priest Willis. Josh Eckley (MDN) and Brad Schencker (Chaparral) at quarterback for their respective teams. Yeah, that’ll be a game.
More? How about No. 9 Saguaro and No. 1 Desert Edge in Division III? The Sabercats high-flying offense throttled a solid Glendale Cactus team for the fourth time in two years. Desert Edge handled Phoenix Thunderbird, Peoria Liberty and Buckeye this year with Sawyer Lung at quarterback hitting Elijah Marks (1,061 yards receiving, 15 touchdowns) and Kyle Woolard rushing for 1,300 yards.
More? OK. Liberty-Williams Field and Thunderbird-Queen Creek in Division III. Queen Creek will get a bigger challenge than even Williams Field gave the undefeated Bulldogs in the last week of the regular season. Williams Field’s running game has been solid and its passing game improved, but unlike in most games this season, turnovers would be the Black Hawks’ demise in this one should they surface again. And we'll will find out how good West Valley schools Liberty and Desert Edge really are.
Still more? No. 3 Seton Catholic will get a tough test against No. 6 Mingus next Saturday in Division IV. Seton has returned to health (to an extent), but that high-powered offense will meet a Mingus defense that will offer more resistance than what Seton has seen in the past month, maybe all season. Mingus beat Coolidge and gave No. 1 Lakeside Blue Ridge its toughest game of the season in the opener, a 16-14 Blue Ridge win.
There’s more. How about No. 5 Yuma Catholic and No. 4 Scottsdale Christian tangling in Division V next Saturday in a matchup of top-five teams? Tempe Prep beat No. 1 Phoenix Northwest Christian two weeks ago, then got past a good Round Valley team in Friday’s playoff opener, and the relentless path continues with No. 6 Thatcher next Saturday.
Far and wide, from Queen Creek to Peoria, this week could be the best collection of interesting, close-call football games in this state in a long, long time.
