Top 10 high school football storylines
It's getting to the stage in the Arizona high school football season when overreaction is in full beast mode with the AIA rankings out. This also lets everybody know that the playoffs are not that far away with scenarios starting to come into focus. Most big-school teams have four games left. Most small schools are down to their last three. Each team gets a bye, so some have played one more game than others.
With rivalries revving up and some epic matchups, here are The Arizona Republic's Top 10 storylines for Week 8:
1. Open vibes
Chander, ranked No. 2 in The Republic's Super 10, and Centennial, ranked No. 3, meet on Friday night in Chandler in what is the most anticipated game of the week. This has an Open state semifinal feel to it. The atmosphere will be electric. And it could be low-scoring with two of the state's best defenses going at it. Chandler has been able to pivot from losing one of its biggest offensive threats, tight end Kaden Anderson, for the season from the Orange Lutheran game. Let's see how the Wolves will do against the dynamic duo of Kenny Worthy III and Noah Carter, two of the state's best two-way game-changers.
2. Hamilton hammering away
Chandler Hamilton (5-1) had that one bad game last year at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, but regrouped and gave Basha a tough game, before losing last year. Can Hamilton, which opened with a 5620 loss at Liberty, take Basha to the end again? We'll find out. But pick your poison on trying to contain QB Demond Williams Jr. Take away the pass, he'll run circles around you. Take away the run, he'll hit receivers for big plays.
3. Liberty needs to go the distance
If nothing else, the loss in California two weeks ago against Centennial showed Liberty (4-1) what it needs to do to put a team away. It blew a two-touchdown lead in the final quarter in the 4235 loss to Centennial. It has had two weeks to get ready for a talented Pinnacle team (5-1) that is much improved on defense and will try not to get boatraced like it did last year at Liberty by QB Navi Bruzon.
4. ALA Queen Creek faces toughest foe yet
American Leadership Queen Creek has made some noise in its first year in 6A, but the Patriots (6-1) keep finding the competition tougher. Two weeks after pulling out a miraculous 29-28 win over Pinnacle, they now get a Mesa Red Mountain team on Thursday night. Last week, Red Mountain had Highland beat 15-10, before Highland ended up winning 25-15. If ALA QC, led by QB Enoch Watson, can crack through a tenacious linebacking corps, led by Champ Gennicks (66 tackles), they've got a chance to get to 6-1.
5. Mesa attempts breakthrough win
Mountain View owns a 31-5-1 all-time record against Mesa, but it's still one of the state's biggest rivalries, even though it's been a couple of decades since the Jackrabbits won. They're both 4-2. And it's been billed as "free football." All fans for this Thursday night get in free. It could be entertaining with Mountain View QB Jack Germaine airing it out and Mesa's bullish ground game, behind Junior St. Cyr.
6. Records about to fall
In a battle of defending conference champions, 4-1 American Leadership Gilbert North (the 4A champ last year) travels Friday to take on 4-1 Gilbert Higley (the 5A champ a year ago). ALA GN is now in 5A, making the transition look easy. It's easy when you return Arizonabound wide receiver Brandon Phelps, who is on the cusp of setting three state records. He is 82 yards, two TD catches and 14 receptions away from three alltime state records. AL GN's offense will need to be at its best, because now Higley is ready to unleash QB Luke Haugo and three top receivers, who are now eligible after sitting out the first half of the
season due to the AIA transfer rule.
7. Notre Dame, Horizon jockeying for 5A playoff position
There really isn't any chance for these solid 5A teams to get to the Open. But this could be a 5A semifinal preview, if not final. It depends on whether Desert Mountain and Desert Edge get into the Open out of 5A. If they do, they'll be battling for a 5A championship, along with Higley, and maybe ALA Gilbert North.
8. Scottsdale rivalry teams unraveling
Rivals Saguaro and Chaparral face each other Friday in a game that is more about survival. Two weeks ago, starting QB Marcel Jones left Chaparral (2-4) and transferred to Saguaro, where he won't be eligible for the rest of this season. Last week, Saguaro was without starting QB Mason Bray, who could be out another three weeks with an injury. A freshman started and got injured and Saguaro was reeling in a 31-17 loss to Centennial that has the Sabercats (3-3) on the brink of not making it to the Open for the first time. Chaparral is coming off its worst loss (47-6) in the Pinnacle rivalry.
9. Scottsdale Christian's 3-headed monster
Who knows where Scottsdale Christian would be right now without QB Jack Atkinson, RB Jacob Trapp and WR Andrew Trapp? Certainly not ranked No. 2 in 2A by The Republic. But the Eagles (4-2) get their first challenge since the Sept. 15 37-28 loss to top-10 3A Valley Christian on Friday when they play Scottsdale Prep (5-2), its biggest 2A rival.
10. Quietly making a statement
If you haven't noticed, Phoenix Cortez, who until last year's opener had a 50-game losing streak, is 5-1 and has a chance to make its biggest 2A statement Friday at Camp Verde (5-2), which is No. 7 in the AIA 2A rankings. Cortez is No. 13, so a win could more than likely stamp its ticket to the playoffs.