WEEK 2 FOOTBALL WALK THROUGH

6A

Sandra Day O'Connor (1-0) at Basha (1-0), Skyline (1-0) at Boulder Creek (0-0), Shadow Ridge (1-0) at Brophy Prep (0-1), Desert Vista (1-0) at Carlsbad, CA (1-0, Red Mountain (1-0) at Cesar Chavez (1-0), Queen Creek (1-0) at Chandler (0-1), Desert Mountain (0-1) at Chaparral (1-0), Mountain Ridge (0-1) at Corona del Sol (0-1), Salpointe (0-0) at Dobson (0-1), Hamilton (0-1) at Highland (1-0), Alhambra (0-1) at Mesa (0-1), Mountain View (1-0) at Perry (0-1), Pinnacle (1-0) at Mountain Pointe (0-0), Desert Ridge (0-1) at Westview (0-0), Valley Vista (0-0) at Westwood (0-1).

The most impressive wins in the conference last week went to Pinnacle with its 59-33 win over Perry and Chaparral's come-from-behind overtime win over Hamilton. That's two Premier Region schools going down and two others experienced defeat with defending champ Chandler bowing to Centennial (Corona, Ca) and Brophy blanked in the rarity of low-scoring games, 7-0, to Liberty. Teams prevailing in a big way last week were Queen Creek, Skyline, Desert Vista, Red Mountain, Highland and Mountain View. All were at least three scores beter than their opponents. Most of them, however. are likely going to endure tougher tests this week -- Queen Creek, which moved up from 5A and beat a couple of 6A teams last year including Hamilton, steps into a possible hornet's nest at Chandler. Bulldogs QB Devin Larsen was nearly flawless throwing for 325 yards and 6 TDs. He completed 22 of 25 passes. Won't be that easy this week. Chandler QB Jacob Conover is eager to put up numbers he's used to as the Wolves try to break into the win column. Conover was limited to 133 yards passing in defeat. Highland will have its hands full with Hamilton on the rebound and Perry wants to please the home folks against Mountain View. Skyline bids for a second consecutive road win in helping Boulder Creek play its opener in Anthem. Desert Vista plays a second straight out-of-state opponent, this one on the road at Carlsbad, CA. Pinnacle helps Mountain Pointe usher in its season. The Pride is usually one of the better defensive teams and debuts coach Rich Wellbrock. Pinnacle QB Spencer Rattler rang up 415 yards passing and four TDs on 33 attempts in his 2018 debut.

5A

Casteel (0-1) at Apollo (1-0), Mesquite (0-1) at Campo Verde (1-0), Paradise Valley (0-0) at Central (0-1), Cactus Shadows (1-0) at Gilbert (1-0), Marcos de Niza (0-0) at McClintock (0-1), Maricopa (1-0) at Millennium (0-0), South Mountain (0-1) at North Canyon (0-1), Sunnyslope (0-0) at Notre Dame Prep (1-0), Sunrise Mountain (1-0) at Williams Field (0-1), Horizon (0-1) vs. Higley (1-0) at NAU (Aug. 25).

A few top-10 preseason ranked teams in 5A were stung with losses much like those in 6A. Williams Field played Norco, CA even at 21 before running out of gas in a 49-21 loss. Casteel was schooled in its 5A debut by defending champ Centennial and takes to the road to face Apollo, which hung a mild upset on Desert Mountain. Higley managed to perform a high-wire act and scored twice in the final minutes to edge its out-of-state opponent in a scorefest. Remains to be seen if Williams Field rebounds with high-powered Sunrise Mountain, a 4A power of late up to 5A venturing to the East Valley. Desert Mountain plays sister school Chaparral as quarterbacks Kedon Slovis and Jack Miller, respectively, prepare to air it out. Slovis threw for 401 yards and three TDs on 54 attempts vs. Apollo. Miller a few yards more on a few less attempts (454 yards 3 TDs and 47 throws). And try not to be confused by this. Gilbert, a 6A school last year and 5A now, topped Mesquite, a 5A school last year, but now competing in 4A. The Tigers host unbeaten Cactus Shadows this week, a 4A school last year and in 5A this year. Gilbert junior quarterback Will Plummer's first start resulted in 304 total yards (245 passing-3 TDs, 59 rushing). Maricopa's first game under Brandon Harris was paced by running back Tylen Coleman and quarterback Jordan Huddleston. Both rushed for better than 100 yards -- Coleman 145 and Huddleston 106 in topping McClintock.

 

4A

Tempe (0-0) at Apache Junction (1-0), Poston Butte (0-1) at Combs (0-1), Arcadia 1-0) at Deer Valley (0-0), Liberty (Nev.) (0-0) at Saguaro (1-0), St. Mary's (0-0) at Seton Catholic (0-0).

3A

Page (1-0) vs. Florence (0-0) at NAU, Thatcher (1-0) at American Leadership QC (1-0), American Leadership Ironwood (0-1) at American Leadership Gilbert (0-0), Coolidge (1-0) at Arizona College Prep (0-1), Fountain HIlls (0-1) at Odyssey Institute (1-0), Gilbert Christian (0-1) at Paradise Honors (0-0), Coronado (0-1) at Payson (0-1), San Tan Foothills (0-1) at Santa Cruz Valley (0-1), Benjamin Franklin (1-0) at Snowflake (1-0), Valley Christian (0-0) vs. Chino Valley (0-0) at NAU (Aug. 25).

2A

Glendale Prep (0-1) at Chandler Prep (1-0), Miami (0-) at Scottsdale Christian (1-0), Camp Verde (0-0) at Scottsdale Prep (0-0), Valley Lutheran (0-0) at Tempe Prep (0-1).