10 questions entering quarterfinals
High school football practice on Thankskgiving Day is special for those still left in the state high school playoffs. We’re now down to the quarterfinals among the big schools in the Open, 6A, 5A and 4A. We are down to the championship games for 3A and 2A with a couple of grudge matches on Saturday.
These are 10 burning questions heading into this week’s playoff games:
1. Will Chandler have its
home-run hitter back?
The Wolves, who have played in the first three Open Division championship games, winning the first two, won’t be 100% against Peoria Centennial to start the state playoffs on Friday night at home. Junior running back Ca’lil Valentine still is about a week away with the ankle sprain that caused him to miss the 19-17 loss to Hamilton in the regularseason finale. If Chandler gets by Centennial, expect to see Valentine the following week. But sophomore Xavier Valdivia had more than 100 rushing yards against Hamilton. If he has a big game against Centennial, coach Rick Garretson will have two great running back option to go to with Valentine and Valdivia.
2. How will the bye week help the Open teams?
It could go one of two ways. Teams could either find rust build up or recharge the teams. Either way, it’s up to the coaches to get these guys ready, mentally and physically. Banged-up players who needed the extra week to heal could be the difference makers.
3. Which Open game is ripe for an upset?
Even though Sandra Day O’Connor coach Brian Cole is really good at making adjustments, he’s not a miracle worker. And he’ll need a miracle for his eight-seeded team to beat No. 1 Peoria Liberty. American Leadership Queen Creek is a great story, moving up to the Open last year as a 4A team and now as the only 5A team in the Open. But Chandler Basha has too much size, speed and talent as the No. 2 seed. Look at No. 6 Peoria Centennial having a shot at taking
down Chandler, which has been sluggish offensively against really good, athletic teams.
4. Can Mesa pull another rabbit out of the hat?
The No. 14-seeded Mesa Jackrabbits shocked everyone on Friday with a 24-21 win over No. 3-seed Corona del Sol in the first round of the 6A playoffs. They are trying to borrow from the 2009 script, in which they were a double-digt seed and managed to get to the state championship game. But Mesa Red Mountain, coming off a 45-38 win over Brophy Prep, shoudln’t experience an emotional hangover. Don’t expect backto-back shockers for the ‘Rabbits, even though QB Manny Pino is a gamer, along with receiver Tre Brown.
5. Can Yuma Catholic QB get to 13,000 passing yards?
It might be a stretch but he could play three more games and Yuma Catholic senior Richard Stallworth is up to 12,248 career passing yards after throwing for 518 yards in last week’s 56-42 firstround 4A win over Buckeye. But after breaking Spencer Rattler’s all-time state record, Stallworth is the first in Arizona to surpass 12,000 yards. That’s huge. All he needs is a few more 300yard-plus
games to get to 13,000.
6. How motivated is
Highland to make another 6A title run again after being snubbed from the Open?
The Arizona Interscholastic Association’s computer couldn’t find enough points for Highland to get into the Open, which would have made the state’s top playoff tournament that much more interesting. So the Hawks are determined to repeat as 6A champs. And that defense is playing off the rails. Scoring a season-high 57 points in a 35-point win over Perry, Highland had two pick-sixes, from Jace Nead and Gage Wilcock, and created five turnovers.
7. How can Thatcher beat Eastmark again?
Thatcher is looking for its first perfect season since 2018 when it went 14-0 to take the 2A title. Now in the 3A championship game for the first time under coach Daniel Jones, the Eagles have to go through Eastmark to win Saturday’s title game at Desert Vista High School. It won’t be easy. The Eagles could be without their top player, quarterback Brandon Nappier. Looking back, they needed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the August win to kick the game-winning field goal as time ran out. But that line is huge and good and if they can dominate the line of scrimmage, they’ll beat a dynamic Eastmark team led by quarterback Mack Molander and wide receiver Austin Johnston.
8. What is the best 6A quarterfinal?
No. 5 Queen Creek at No. 4 Phoenix Pinnacle. Queen Creek wants payback after losing to Pinnacle 39-13 a week after nearly pulling the upset of the season, losing to defending Open champion Saguaro 13-8. Sophomore Wyatt Horton riddled Queen Creek’s defense for 335 yards and five TDs for Pinnacle. Duce Robinson had five catches for 139 yards and three TDs. The Bulldogs are going to have to find an answer for the 6-foot-6 Robinson and put some pressure on the unflappable Horton.
9. Can Morenci get payback against Pima?
It’s possible if the Wildcats’ offense continues to play the way it did in the 71-43 semifinal win over Scottsdale Christian, racking up nearly 600 yards of offense with three players, led by junior Michael Casillas, rushing for more than 100 yards. But they’re going to have to be better defending the pass. SCA had nearly 500 passing yards. Pima QB Seth Russell had more than 200 yards passing against Morenci in the regular season, one of two games he surpassed 200 yards.
10. What is the team nobody is talking about in 5A that could surprise?
I’m seeing Glendale Cactus, even though it didn’t play well in a 21-14 win over No. 14 Surprise Willow Canyon in the first round. The Cobras were coming off a tough win over explosive Goodyear Desert Edge and were frustrated they had to find a third site just to play last Friday’s game due to a blown fuse at Cactus. This should be a more driven team going into Friday’s 5A quarterfinal at home against Phoenix Horizon. Just hope the lights work this time.