HS playoffs: 2A first-round predictions
Benson, Morenci, Willcox and Pima are all from the Pedro Region, all gaining home field in the first round among the top eight seeds in the 2A Conference playoffs.
There’s a chance there could be an allPedro Region final four.
It’s time to break down the first round of the 2A football playoffs that will be played Friday night at 7 p.m.
No. 16 Red Mesa (4-2) at No. 1 Parker (9-0)
Red Mesa barely qualified for the playoffs with the minimum six games, capturing the San Juan title. But this is an early exit with a seasoned Parker team that wants to get as many home games in now as possible after spending most of the season moving home games to the road. But Parker as a No. 1 seed might be a stretch. Time will tell against tougher opponents how fitting that seeding was.
Prediction: Parker 51, Red Mesa 6 No. 9 Holbrook (7-2) at No. 8 Willcox (7-2)
This might be the most competitive first-round game. Willcox, at one point this season, was ranked No. 1 in 2A by The Republic, after beating Bisbee. But since then has lost to Morenci (27-10) and Benson (35-0). Holbrook QB Marcus Oberriter bounced back from a lost 2020 season due to injury with 1,471 yards and 19 TDs passing, making the Roadrunners a serious threat. But Willcox’s brutal schedule should have it ready.
Prediction: Willcox 21, Holbrook 20 No. 12 Scottsdale Christian (5-3) at No. 5 Gilbert Christian (8-2)
Don’t count out Scottsdale Christian,
after its 21-20 win over previously unbeaten Scottsdale Prep. Gilbert Christian moved back down to 2A after making the 3A playoffs last year. Coach Danny Norris does a tremendous job and he’ll have the Knights ready after winning their last two games by a combined score of 110-0. Since starting the season 1-2, they’ve won seven in a row.
Prediction: Gilbert Christian 35, Scottsdale Christian 12
No. 13 Whiteriver Alchesay (5-2) at No. 4 Morenci (8-2)
Alchesay is one of those feel-good stories from the reservation, not having a season last year due to COVID, only to crash through the playoffs with a 38-35 win over St. Johns. Alchesay coach Brandon Newcomb was told it was the
first time the Fort Apache reservation school beat the Easter Arizona power in 50 years. But Morenci, led by RB Michael Casillas, is playing at another level, one of those tough Pedro team that has gone through the gauntlet. Prediction: Morenci 36, Alchesay 8 No. 14 Maricopa Sequoia Pathway (7-3) at No. 3 Benson (7-2)
Benson was the preseason favorite in 2A by The Republic after returning much of last year’s team that lost to Santa Cruz in the final. But it suffered a 14-7 loss to Pima. It’s been playing catch up ever since, winning four in a row in dominant fashion, including a 42-7 win over Morenci and 35-0 over Willcox. Sequoia Pathway has been coming on strong late. So this is a team that is ready for anything.
Prediction: Benson 42, Sequoia Pathway 15
No. 11 St. Johns (6-4) at No. 6 Camp Verde (8-2)
Camp Verde has the better seed but has it played a harder schedule? Only losses are to Holbrook and Parker. St. Johns’ schedule in the first half of the season was brutal, taking losses to 3A playoff teams Show Low and Round Valley, and falling to 2A playoff team Morenci. The shocker came in the loss last week that punched Alchesay’s playoff ticket. Will that be the wake-up call?
Prediction: St. Johns 29, Camp Verde 18
No. 10 Scottsdale Prep (8-1) at No. 7 Pima (6-3)
Pima was ranked No. 1 earlier in the season after beating Benson 14-7. That is as quality a win as you can find in 2A. The Roughriders believe they’re better than a seven seed and will try to prove it against a team that lost by a point to Scottsdale Christian last week.
Prediction: Pima 34, Scottsdale Prep
No. 15 Goodyear Trivium Prep (5-4) at No. 2 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (9-1)
Arizona Lutheran wasted no time showing it was a playoff team with a season-opening 33-18 win over Scottsdale Christian. The Coyotes’ only loss was to top-seed Parker 40-18 on Oct. 1. Trivium Prep got into the playoffs by winning the Hassayampa Region with a 45-6 win over Wellton Antelope, against whom Luke Willingham and Dylan Spencer both ran for more than 200 yards. That won’t happen against a ballcontrol Arizona Lutheran team that runs misdirection in a double Wing T.
Prediction: Arizona Lutheran 33, Trivium Prep 15