Spotlight game
Quarterback Billy Bolger and running back Drake Anderson came into their own, leading top-ranked Chandler to a 35-28 overtime victory over host Phoenix Pinnacle. On the second play of overtime, Bolger found Anderson for a 9-yard scoring pass and the pair's fourth connection of the game. Then, on Pinnacle's first play of OT, QB Spencer Rattler found WR Hayden Hatten open for what appeared to be the tying score. But as Hatten was being tackled, he stretched his arm out to try to reach the ball across the goal line, only to have it knocked loose and recovered by sophomore LB Bryant Jackson for Chandler in the end zone to end the game. Bolger, filling in for injured Jacob Conover (shoulder), threw five TD passes and Anderson ran for 117 yards. Bolger lost his top target, senior WR Gunner Romney, with about 10 minutes left in the third quarter to a leg injury. Pinnacle showed that it belongs on the big stage with the state's heavyweight, rallying from a 28-14 deficit with scoring runs of 42 and 32 yards by junior Amelec Juntunen. These teams could meet again in the 6A playoffs.
What we learned
Elite Arizona big-school programs are realizing they've still got ground to gain on the national level. After Scottsdale Saguaro fell to Salt Lake City East 35-14, Valley big-school teams are 0-4 against top out-of-state teams. Phoenix Mountain Pointe lost in southern California on Thursday to West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade, 35-22. It was the second week in a row that Saguaro lost to an out-of-state team. It lost last week at Henderson (Nev.) Liberty 51-20. Liberty is considered the secondbest team in Nevada, and East, which had a 24-game win streak end in an opening loss to South Jordan Bingham, is considered the second-best team in Utah. Saguaro graduated a boatload of college football players, so this is no indictment on coach Jason Mohns' team. Remember, it was two years ago that Saguaro started the season 1-2 and ended up winning the 4A state championship. Saguaro, at 1-2 now, will see how good it is in Arizona with a huge 4A showdown Friday at home against No. 3 Gilbert Higley.
On the rise
Phoenix South Mountain's 19-13 victory over Phoenix North is considered the first signature win in Mark Carter's second season leading the program. It also gave the Jaguars their best start (3-0) since the 1994 season. Senior receiver Gavin Hak had the game-deciding touchdown on a 15-yard hitch-and-go. Marlon Noralez, who had nearly 300 rushing yards after two games, had a 40-yard scoring run for South Mountain. Kyler Traini intercepted a pass on a fake punt for a key South Mountain stop. Defense has keyed this fast start. Last year, in Carter's first year, South Mountain went 1-10, starting a nine-game losing streak with a 31-18 loss to North.
Making a move
In a rematch of last year's 1A, 8-man title game, No. 1 Bagdad trailed No. 2 Williams all game before Israel Loveall threw a deep pass as time expired that Scott Finnerty, with three defenders nearby, caught for a 57-yard touchdown and a 28-24 victory. Bagdad stopped a fake punt with seven seconds left to set up the heroics. » Terrell Hayward, a junior WR/DB, had a 66-yard scoring catch, an 88-yard interception return for a score and a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown in Vail Cienega's 51-6 win over Surprise Shadow Ridge. » Yuma Catholic kicker Fabian Ramirez for the second week in a row booted a game-winning field goal, splitting the uprights from 28 yards out with two seconds left to beat Imperial, Calif., on the road 37-34. Last week, in a 27-24 win over Phoenix St. Mary's, Ramirez kicked the game-winner from about the same distance with four seconds left. "We trust him," coach Aaron Cheatwood said. "Their crowd was getting wild. He said, 'Let them scream, I'm going to make it.' He did a great job." » 5A Gilbert Campo Verde relied on a strong run game, led by Matt Leazier's 210 yards and three TDs on 37 carries, for a 30-26 win over 6A Gilbert, which relied on the arm of Purduecommit Jack Plummer (20 of 28, 252 yards, two TDs). » Chandler Hamilton bounced back from a loss to 5A Queen Creek with a resounding 52-14 rout of Mesa Red Mountain, as Tyler Shough was 15 of 20 for 318 yards and three TDs. Jawhar Jordan ran for 127 yards and three scores, sending Red Mountain to an 0-2 start. Lance Lawson, Red Mountain's best player, missed the second half after injuring his ankle. Red Mountain, a 6A semifinalist last year, has been outscored by Chandler and Hamilton 94-28. » Mesa senior RB Kris Jackson had another monster game in a 60-19 6A rout of Glendale Copper Canyon. He ran for 273 yards and three TDs, including an 85-yarder, on 23 carries. He also caught a 30-yard touchdown. Nick Hanna had six TD passes for the Jackrabbits. » Gilbert Highland (3-0) has matched its win total from last season under new coach Brock Chavez. Highland's defense came through with a sack to end the game. Jacob Wood scored the winning TD on a 9-yard run. It's way too early to say Highland has arrived, but the Hawks will take wins any way they can. Highland's next games come against Brophy Prep, Westview, Perry, Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista. "We are fortunate to be 3-0 right now," Farrel said. "Our defense is playing well. Because our defense has been so good, we're able to hang into the games just long enough to win." » Phoenix Brophy Prep quarterback Noah Gonzales completed his last 12 passes in a 28-27 6A win over Avondale Westview. He executed a two-point conversion with 25 seconds left, capping a comeback from a 27-13 fourth-quarter deficit. » Safford missed a 27-yard field goal as time expired, and rival and defending 2A champion Thatcher held on for a 42-41 victory in a game between neighboring communities in eastern Arizona. Manuel Aparcio ran for three TDs and passed for two scores for Safford. Thatcher trailed by two TDs in the final quarter and converted a two-point conversion to win. Quinten Turley ran for 204 yards and three TDs, while Riley Morris added 175 yards and two TDs to lead Thatcher. » Chino Valley's Matt Rios, a soccer player in his first year giving football a try, hit a 42yard field goal with a minute to play for a 28-27 win over Sedona Red Rock. Chino Valley moved to 2-0. » Tucson Catalina Foothills gave coach Jeff Scurran his 298th career victory with a 56-25 4A win over improved Tucson Cholla. The Falcons, state runner-up last season, lost nearly every starter from last year. But Scurran has a way of quickly rebuilding. Firstyear starting QB Chris Kowalcek accounted for seven TDs passing and running, offsetting a great effort by Cholla QB Jordan Porter, who had 300 passing yards and 100 rushing. » Top-ranked (3A) Queen Creek Casteel, with no senior class, has outscored its first three opponents 196-0. But the challenges should start coming in the next three weeks with games against Spring Valley (Calif.) Monte Vista, Show Low and Yuma Catholic.