Top 10 prep football games for Week 10

Richard Obert

It’s make or break time in the Arizona high school football season with so many pivotal games slated this week.

Can Scottsdale Saguaro clinch Open spot?

Can Queen Creek be the team that finally breaks through against Chandler?

Is Chandler Basha ready for the big time?

Here’s a look at 10 must-see Week 10 games:

1. Proving ground

an

Queen Creek (6-0)

(6-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

It’s what now? Forty-two games in a row Chandler has won. The streak began in 2018 following a season-opening loss at Corona (California) Centennial with a 49-21 win over Queen Creek. The last time the Wolves lost to an in-state team was Sept. 8, 2017, a 24-21 setback to Phoenix Mountain Pointe. Since then, the Wolves have owned Arizona. But Queen Creek keeps proving the naysayers wrong under coach Travis Schureman. What gives?

2. Gut check

Phoenix Horizon (6-0) at Scottsdale Saguaro (5-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

Horizon is for real, and the Huskies have Saguaro’s respect. But the Sabercats gained confidence after their 24-7 win over Chatsworth (California) Sierra Canyon last week with a big defensive statement. It’s uncertain how bad the injuries were to RB Zaccheus Cooper and WR Deric English. But if the defense keeps playing this way, it’s going to be tough for teams to score. Horizon has a capable QB in Skyler Partridge and a defense that hopes to slow down the Cats in a game between Open Division bubble teams. Horizon is at No.8 in the AIA Open rankings this week with Saguaro at No. 9. The top eight go to the Open playoffs.

3. Big statement

This is the toughest matchup for both teams on their schedules so far. If Basha wins this, then the Bears will finish 10-0. They don’t have to face Chandler and Hamilton, so they’ll get a good seed going into the Open. Highland still has to face Chandler and Hamilton after this. Will the schedule hurt Basha more than Highland in the playoffs?

Chandler Valley Christian (8-0) at American Leadership Gilbert North (7-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

Valley Christian is ranked No. 1 and ALA GN No. 2 in the AIA’s latest 3A playoff rankings. This very well could be a preview of the state championship game. Valley Christian has maybe the best defense in 3A, led by LB Christian Bell and his nine tackles for losses. ALA GN has perhaps the best offense, led by QB Adam Damante. ALA GN’s only loss was by a touchdown against ALA Queen Creek, which is ranked among the top eight in the Open by the AIA.

5. Clean up

at Chandler

Chandler Basha (7-0) at Highland (6-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

4. Championship preview?

Gilbert

Peoria Liberty (4-2) at Scottsdale Chaparral (4-3), Friday, 7 p.m.

It’s hard to figure out Chaparral. The Firebirds did not look good in a seasonopening loss to Queen Creek. They looked great in a one-point win over Saguaro. And took a big step backwards last week in a one-point loss to Brophy Prep. QB Brayten Silbor and WR Grady Hickey have had to carry the Birds, who need to get help on defense and be able to stop some people to show they can make another 6A title run. Liberty could wind up with the top seed in the 6A playoffs, but the Lions will have to clean things up. They were penalized 20 times in a game they let slip away last week against Queen Creek.

6. Battle tested

Snowflake (7-1) at Eagar Round Valley (8-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

This feels like a 3A semifinal matchup. Don’t be surprise if both teams get there. They’ve got explosive offenses and suffocating defenses. Round Valley is led by RB Seth Wilbank (14 rushing TDs, five receiving TDs). Snowflake relies on the arm and wheels of QB Caden Cantrell (21 passing TDs, five rushing TDs). This is as good as it gets in the White Mountains, which might have the most parity it has had since maybe the 1980s. Show Low, Blue Ridge and Winslow are capable of making long 3A playoff runs.

7. Resiliency

Phoenix Pinnacle (3-3) vs. Phoenix Brophy Prep (4-2), Friday, at Phoenix Central, 7 p.m.

Pinnacle benefited greatly from the hard early schedule, losing three of its first four games to Horizon, Highland and Chandler. QB Zach Wren knows how to find his two talented playmakers, Duce Robinson and Myles Libman. Brophy is showing no quit, winning its last three games behind QB Elijah Warner, after falling to Mountain Pointe and Basha in back-to-back weeks. Both teams will be in the 6A playoffs, but high seeds are on the line.

8. Finishing games

Buckeye Verrado (5-1) at Goodyear Millennium (3-3), Friday, 7 p.m.

Millennium needs to find a way to finish. Its three losses have been by a total of 10 points and against playoffbound teams, Peoria Centennial, Horizon and Peoria Sunrise Mountain. Zeus Pindernation, the dazzling sophomore running back, will be on a mission for Millennium. He has run for more than 100 yards in every game and has close to 1,000 already with nine TDs. Verrado, under first-year coach Dustin Johnson, could end up with a top two seed in the 5A playoffs, if QB Erik Santiago keeps making big plays. He has thrown at least two TD passes in every game.

9. Bubbling over

Lake Havasu (3-2) at Glendale Deer Valley (5-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

If two teams from 4A go to the Open, Deer Valley can get off the 4A playoff bubble. Otherwise, this is a must game for the Skyhawks. They’ll need another one of those 300-yard passing games from QB Rudy Gonzales. He was limited to 254 yards last week by Buckeye in the Skyhawks’ first loss, 49-28. Defense will need to show up against a Lake Havasu team that has won three in row, including a 34-19 win over Buckeye. RB/LB Isaac Stopke is the catalyst for the Knights with 829 yards and 10 TDs rushing.

10. Back attack

Willcox (7-0) at Morenci (6-2), Friday, 7 p.m.

COVID-19 scrapped the Pima game from the schedule. But Willcox has bounced back, showing it still is the top-ranked team in 2A, pounding Bisbee 46-7. The Cowboys ran for 462 yards in that game with Ayden Fuentes rushing for 268 yards and four TDs and Cristian Pando going for 148 yards and two scores. Morenci, coming off a 42-7 loss to preseason favorite Benson, will have to slow down those two backs to have a chance. It allowed 369 rushing yards last week.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.