The Open Division will take center stage next Friday but its ripple effect has already begun thanks to the eight teams that filled the void this week. In the 6A Conference, for example, the Toros of Mountain View Mesa would have seen their season end last week with a No. 19 ranking but the top four 6A teams advanced to the Open Division and the Toros were moved up to No. 15 in the 6A playoffs, barely breathing, but still alive.

The 70 or so young men on the Toro roster would have had an empty Friday night but they found themselves traveling to play at No. 2 Brophy Prep instead and the result was a stunning 35-19 upset. Cinderella.

In the 4A Conference, No. 14 Marcos de Niza would have missed the playoffs had there been no Open Division. Saguaro and Salpointe earned spots in the Open Division and that left openings for two teams and the Padres helped fill that void.

The result? The Padres upset No. 3 Canyon del Oro 13-7 to advance to the 4A quarterfinal round next Friday.

(Kevin Daniels/Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

Marcos de Niza would have missed the 4A playoffs because, even though the team would have been ranked No. 16, Glendale would have taken the last seed because the Cardinals won the 4A Black Canyon Region and region champions earn an automatic berth in the 4A Conference, even with a No. 21 ranking.

The Cardinals feature Kevin Daniels and he did not disappoint in a 46-25 loss at No. 1 Sahuaro Friday night. He scored two touchdowns in the loss, giving the Sr. athlete 112 in his career. His career total puts him one ahead of Salpointe senior Bijan Robinson.

The Cardinals are also fueled by QB Rocco Bruney and the Jr. ended the night with 43 yards passing and 173 yards rushing but the combined effort of Daniels and Bruney couldn’t match the offensive display put forward by the Cougars.

Sr. RB Izaiah Davis rushed for 189 yards and a TD, Jr. Jamir Gasaway rushed for 187 yards and three TDs and Jr. Trevion Watkins added 145 yards rushing and three more TDs. That means the Cougars came dangerously close to have three RB reach the 1,000-yard mark in the same year.

Davis has already passed that mark but Gasaway needs about 50 more yards and Watkins needs a bit over 200. As the top seed in the 4A Conference, the Cougars will host No. 9 Gila Ridge next Friday in the quarterfinal round and, if the seed holds, there could be a semifinal game added to the mix.

“We worked really hard because we are like family,” Davis said. “We feel it’s us against the world so we stick together as a team. Coach gave us a speech at halftime and he has a way of making us really want it.”

Rob York took the Cardinal program over in 2016 and he took a school with nine straight losing seasons into a playoff contender. Daniels will be a big loss for sure, be York feels he can keep the program together.

“We still had a respectable season,” York told his players after the game. “Don’t hang your heads too much, just remember this feeling.”

On the other side, Scott McKee is on the verge of leading the Cougars to back-to-back 10-wins seasons. One of his wins from last year included a 49-48 win at Glendale in the first round. Trayvion Austin-White gained 150 yards and a TD in that game and Cameron Williams gained 140 with five TDs. McKee completely retooled his team this year and he’s winning again.

Daniels finished with 202 yards and six TDs in that loss.