Matt Gracey got the latest hands-on-start of any of the new coaches to the East Valley this spring and summer.

He arrived for good ifrom his former position in California in June,  just in time for the official start of summer. Getting acquainted with kids, coaches, parents had to be done in a hasty manner. That's trying in itself.

But the real challenge for Gracey was on paper with the Wildcats' schedule, which ifigured to be as tough as any team's in Division I and perhaps the state. It had that look when it came out officially, and unfortunately for Mesquite, has not disappointed.

If the playoffs started today, seven of Mesquite's 10 opponents would be playing in November. That's more than any D-I team by two to this point.

The Wildcats have lost to top contenders Hamilton, Chandler and Desert Ridge. They just played Chaparral, the top team in the D-II power-rankings (a 52-27 loss), last week. They close the season with Deer Valley, an unbeaten in D-II who knocked off previously undefeated Centennial last week.

Mesquite is 3-4 and 17th in the lastest D-I power-point rankings. It must win out to have a shot at qualifying. That means beating Desert Vista on Friday, Corona del Sol and Deer Valley. That's three of the seven teams that would be in the playoffs if they began today. The loss hobbling the Wildcats is a 21-14 defeat to Gilbert, which despite having the same record as Mesquite, is a spot behind Mesquite in the power rankings.

Then there's Mountain Pointe, which opended the season with Hamilton and sprinkled in Desert Vista, Chandler and Brophy for four of its first six games. The Pride lost all four of those -- teams they'll have to contend with if they slip into the playoff field with a late surge

A surge and 6-4 finish is plausible for Mountain Pointe with Kofa, Mesa Mtn. View and Westwood left to play the final three games. This is the first time in coach Norris Vaughan's three seasons with the Pride they'll  go down to the wire to see if  postseason awaits.