Saguaro loss factor in 2 teams’ playoff fate

American Leadership Queen Creek is eighth and Phoenix Horizon ninth in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s updated Open Division rankings that were posted Tuesday.

This is the final week of the regular season. Both teams are 9-1.

So who’s going to take that eighth and final spot in the gauntlet eightteam state playoffs? Those eight are determined by the AIA computer that takes in strength-of-schedule and a points differential for teams in the three big-school conferences.

ALA QC and Horizon have a common-opponent loss that may determine who goes to the Open or who goes to their conference playoffs: Scottsdale Saguaro.

Saguaro, the 5A power, climbed to No. 4 in the Open this week. Horizon plays in 5A, ALA QC in 4A.

When ALA QC lost only by a score of 20-14 to Saguaro early in the season, it felt like a moral victory for the Patriots. But that close loss also may be why they’re headed to the Open, along with 4A Glendale Cactus, which is ranked fifth.

Horizon

Oct. 22.

The AIA puts a 14-point lid to determine rankings. That means if a team wins a game by more than 14 points, that kind of point spread is not put into the computer equation for rankings.

This is a way for the AIA to try to keep teams from running it, letting schools know nothing is gained by lopsided victories.

Because the Patriots lost by fewer than 14 that might be what gets them into the Open, whether they like it or not. ALA QC finishes against Benjamin Franklin, which will get into the 4A playoffs. Horizon finished the regular season against Scottsdale Notre Dame, which lost last week to Saguaro.

Will Horizon having played Notre Dame give it enough points to jump ALA QC?

Stay tuned Saturday, when the AIA releases the playoff brackets. lost to Saguaro 48-23 on