Breaking down the high school football semifinals

Taking a closer look at and predicting the final scores for the six semifinal playoff games on Friday and the four games on Saturday. big brother Ty, one of the nation’s top defensive lineman recruits. But coach Eddy Zubey brought Truitt up from junior varsity for his playoff moment. Brasch (3,381 yards, 44 TDs passing) and senior receiver Coleman Owen (88 catches, 1,372 yards, 21 TDs) have had remarkable seasons. Centennial, led by safety Jaylin Young, has only allowed 65 points. The Coyotes have had 58 sacks, 17 by Connor Knudsen and 10 by Leandre Harris.

Centennial 48, Higley 7 Sahuaro was good but not quite playoff good in its years in 5A.

Now in 4A, the Cougars have won their first two playoffs games for the first time since 1999.

But Salpointe junior Bijan Robinson has 4,485 career rushing yards 67 TDs this season.

Salpointe 49, Sahuaro 27 Phoenix Christian coach Brian Cole has already anointed Thatcher the 3A champs. Not 2A, 3A. He feels that team is so good it would win it all at a conference bigger.

Thatcher is deeper and better now than it was the past two seasons when it won state championships. It seems to have an endless supply of backs, but the key is the quarterback.

Senior Jack Kortsen, 6-3, 190, is a throwback, running option, He has not thrown passes in double digits in a single game. Phoenix Christian coach Brian Cole knows he’ll need to change it up and not just give the ball to Malik Taylor (2,186 yards, 33 TDs rushing) every play.

Thatcher 42, Phoenix Christian 21

This is the first state semifinal appearance for Highland since 2004. For Chandler, it has won three of the past four state championships.But Highland can’t be in awe of what the Wolves have accomplished. Second-year Highland coach Brock Farrel was around Chandler, just before its rise of titles began, as an assistant. He knows why Chandler succeeds. It starts with head coach Shaun Aguano.“I think Shaun Aguano could probably run for mayor of Chandler,” Farrel said. It’s up to Highland to show that it might be the most physical football team in the state. It has been punishing teams lately and Chandler will get the Hawks’ best effort. If nothing else, the Wolves will know they were in a tough game. Prediction: Chandler 33, Highland 21No. 6 Gilbert Perry (10-2) vs. No. 2 Phoenix Pinnacle (11-1)Friday, 7 p.m, at Phoenix North Canyon High SchoolThis should be a shootout, even more so than the first time they met in mid-August, when Pinnacle won 59-33. Since then, Pinnacle lost senior QB Spencer Rattler (for a school district violation) while Perry has seen growth from junior QB Chubba Purdy, who has 3,069 yards passing and 949 yards rushing. Pinnacle junior QB J.D. Johnson is as good a backup quarterback you will find in the nation, especially from what he showed in last week’s 41-20 win over a tough Mesa Red Mountain secondary, passing for 354 yards and two TDs. Prediction: Perry 63, Pinnacle 60 Pinnacle players walk on the field after their 41-20 win against Red Mountain Mountain last Firday. Saturday, 6 p.m, at Phoenix North Canyon High SchoolThese teams met Sept. 21, when Northwest Christian won 33-10. But a lot has changed. The Trojans have won seven in a row since then.It’s going to be a case of Valley Christian controlling the line, because that is the strength of a Crusaders team that chews up yards and the clock.Prediction: Northwest Christian 28, Valley Christian 25No. 6 Tucson Sabino (10-2) vs. No. 2 Yuma Catholic (10-2) Saturday, 6 p.m., at Phoenix Shadow MountainYuma Catholic is maybe the most explosive team in 3A. QB Gage Reese and WR J.R. Henderson have put up 3A record numbers. Reese has passed for 4,259 yards and 59 TDs with 14 interceptions. Henderson, a senior, has 77 catches for 1,941 yards and 26 TDs.Sabino will try to gain yards behind a big line.Prediction: Yuma Catholic 35, Sabino 21