Week 3 football: Several unbeatens await reality check
September 8, 2011 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
Fourteen schools in Division I are unscathed thus far, but several will be put to the test for the first time this season on Friday night.
Teams that fit that description are Chandler, Brophy, Desert Vista and Skyline -- four of the aforementioned undefeated. None has been pushed much if at all in fashioning 2-0 records. Victories by each on Friday will take away any skepticism that exists.
Here's a brief look at a handful of games involving East Valley and southern Arizona squads for Week 3:
Mesquite (2-0) at Chandler (2-0): Both teams have been outstanding on defense. Chandler has racked up 117 points in two games and not allowed a point, but that's against Kofa and Maryvale who are a combined 0-5. The Wolves under first-year head coach Shaun Aguano still have weapons, particularly in the passing game with receivers Javon Williams and Lloyd Mills. Brett Hundley's successor -- Darrell Garretson -- is off to a fine start throwing for 275 yards and five touchdowns in modest attempts. Mesquite has allowed just 10 points in two games and forced six turnovers. Coach Matt Gracey's team has resumed last year's identity of great defense mixed with the running of Anthony Lopez, who has a pair of 100-yard rushing games.
Desert Vista (2-0) at Mountain Pointe (1-1): The battle of Ahwatukee is really on again with both schools playing at a high level as evidenced by semifinal appearances last year. Mountain Pointe's loss was to Hamilton in the opener, a very respectable 17-7 defeat.. Desert Vista, like Chandler, has had no trouble dispatching Maryvale and Mesa High. Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds and Co. are looking for their first win over Mountain Pointe in the Norris Vaughan era. This one has the imprint of a defensive struggle, but several players on both sides are capable of big offensive nights.
Brophy (2-0) at Red Mountain (1-1): Brophy quarterback Tyler Bruggman is back from injury and has passed for 500 yards and six TDs in his first two outings. Devon Allen and Fred Gammage are the recipients of most of Bruggman's throws and are thriving. The Bronocs wins over Mountain Ridge and Boulder Creek are better quality than say Chandler's to this point. Last week they had a couple TD-lead over Boulder Creek, but had difficulty puttting BC away. Beating Red Mountain will add credence to the Broncos start. Red Mountain has played the tougher slate to date with two hard-fought games against Westview and Mesquite on the road. Both were close so they've seen crunch time twice. Brophy beat Red Mountain last year 17-7 -- with Bruggman at the helm the week before his season-ending injury.
Mountain View (0-2) at Skyline (2-0): Mountain View is struggling. Skyline is thriving. Not usually the case with thes programs. Skyline has never beaten Mountain View and hasn't come close in six previous tries. The Coyotes have hammered Kingman and Carl Hayden, teams that are a combined 0-4. Beating Mountain View and winning four games in a row for the first time in school history would be a feather in the school's cap. Mountain View is trying to win its first game for Chad DeGrenier and avoid the first six-game losing streak in school history. Big game for both teams in attempting to avoid or produce first-time occurences. The teams haven't met since 2006.
Corona del Sol (1-1) at Dobson (2-0): They have a common opponent (Westwood) at this early stage and both prevailed handily. Dobson has unleashed running back T.J. Thomas to the tune 653 yards rushing in two games and the has to be foremost on the mind of Corona. A win by Corona gives it one more than all of last season. Dobson is intent on collecting wins in a very winnable early season schedule to build confidence if not credence. A very tough stretch looms for the Mustangs from late September through mid-October -- Mesquite, Chandler, Hamilton and Desert Vista in successive weeks.
Palo Verde (2-0) at Sabino (1-1): This is a Division III matchup of sectional foes. Palo Verde has notched wins over two D-III sectional opponents so far -- Amphi and Catalina. Sabino has fared very well despite just a 1-1 mark. They narrowly lost to Cienega and crushed Catalina Foothills, both D-II schools. Sabino may well be thought of as a D-III title contender after this one if not already in that mix.
Sunnyside (2-0) at Cienega (2-0): Despite some defections in the offseason, Sunnyside has breezed to a pair of victories for new coach Glen Posey. Both wins came against D-II schools Rincon and Desert View. The D-I Blue Devils go the D-II rout again with Cienega. Cienega has beaten one of the better squads in Tucson regardless of division in Sabino and hammered D-I Buena last week. This will be a more accurate assessment of how good Sunnyside is going forward in D-I.