SPOTLIGHT GAMES
Here is a look at intriguing Arizona high school football games in Week 3.
5 stars
Gilbert Higley (2-0) at Scottsdale Saguaro (1-2), Friday, 7 p.m. How much ground has Higley gained on Saguaro in 4A? Saguaro should find out much more about itself facing its biggest in-state test against the No. 3-ranked Knights, who have handed the keys to the offense to QB Spencer Brasch, sporting a 151.4 passer rating. RB Draycen Hall has 141 rushing yards and four TDs, in addition to three catches for 103 yards after two games. Saguaro will try to end a two-game skid after winning 26 in a row. Phoenix Mountain Pointe (1-1) at Chandler (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m. This is a 6A game to see which team can better overcome injuries. Chandler is without QB Jacob Conover (shoulder), WR Gunner Romney (knee) and inside linebackers Zach Bowers and Mathew Koziol because of injuries. Mountain Pointe lost nose tackle Matthew Pola-Mao to a season-ending injury before the season began. Safety/receiver Kenny Churchwell played only a few plays in last week's loss to Chaminade in Mission Viejo, Calif. And RB Gary Bragg didn't play in the second half. He is likely limited for Chandler. This 6A final rematch is a chance for a new wave of stars to emerge.
4 stars
Peoria Liberty (2-0) at Peoria Sunrise Mountain (2-0), Friday, 7 p.m. This rivalry ramped up big time last year when Sunrise Mountain beat Liberty for the first time. Liberty, which played in a conference higher at 5A, is looking for revenge, behind a revamped offense, led by quarterback-turned-receiver-turned quarterback Ryan Bendle, who is off to a blazing start with 368 yards and six TDs passing. Peoria (2-0) at Tempe Marcos de Niza (1-1), Friday, 7 p.m. If Marcos de Niza isn't fired up just by its coach'sPaul Moro, presence,the winningestthen somethinghigh schoolis wrong. coach in Arizona history, returns to the sidelines, despite the grim diagnosis of advanced lung cancer. He says he isn't going to turn away from his players as he battles for his life. It's time for his players to step up for their coach.
3 stars
Scottsdale Chaparral (1-1) at Valencia, Calif. (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. This is the highly anticipated Chaparral debut for sophomore quarterback Jack Miller, a nationally top ranked QB in the 2020 class, who won his appeal with the Arizona Interscholastic Association last week. He tore it up as a freshman last year in 2A for Scottsdale Christian. Can he do the same on a much bigger stage? Mesa Desert Ridge (2-0) at Chandler Hamilton (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m. Will the real Hamilton Huskies please step forward? They made major improvement in a week, going from a 41-28 loss to 5A Queen Creek to a 52-14 rout against 6A Mesa Red Mountain. RB Jawhar Jordan and QB Tyler Shough are on a mission to make Hamilton a major challenger in 6A. Desert Ridge broke through last year beating the Huskies' varsity team for the first time, behind a 300-yard game by RB Tyrese Allen, who is a senior this season. Gilbert Williams Field (3-0) at Buckeye Verrado (2-1), Friday, 7 p.m. Verrado was feeling good about itself until it got a gut-check from 6A Goodyear Millennium, falling 27-20. Williams Field, ranked No. 2 in 5A, finally gave up some points last week in a 42-6 win over Glendale Ironwood. This is a great matchup of electric athletes: Williams Field junior Noa Pola-Gates and Verrado RB Ja'tai Jenkins (467 yards, nine TDs rushing).