via @Gregg Rosenberg

Fill in your ballot in the replies, you are not required to submit a ballot for every division. Submit your ballot by 10/20 at 6pm to be included in this week's rankings.

6A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

5A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

4A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

3A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

2A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

Q&A: Building a Program: Basha's Mike Grothaus

via @Gregg Rosenberg

Friday Film Session: 10/16/20

Today @codytcameron takes a look at some of the Chaparral athletes whose season has been delayed by Covid-19.

The County Line Column and Podcast: Week 1

via @aluberda


Login to view embedded media

What type of offense would you run? For me I would be very traditional and pro style. Of course it would vary from year to year depending on the types of athletes that you in your program. Watching football at all levels has brought us very different styles from the run and shoot to wishbone to winged T. I never fully got into that. Just give me a QB who is comfortable in the pocket, a bruising fullback for short yardage, and I would make great use of the TE.

Fill in your ballot in the replies, you are not required to submit a ballot for every division. Submit your ballot by 10/13 at 6pm to be included in this week's rankings.

6A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

5A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

4A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

3A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

2A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

Predict the 8 teams you believe will make the Open Division Playoff. I'll post the submissions in article form at 6pm on 10/13.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Where's everyone headed this week?

I'll be at the Battle of Brown Road in Mesa for Red Mountain and Mountain View. Can RM bounce back after last week's 30-0 loss to Liberty. Is MVT for real or are they 2-0 by beating inferior teams. More importantly, IF the Toros win this.....they could run the table (Mountain View finishes against Corona del Sol).

Any suggestions where to shoot this week.

Desert Ridge @ Higley ?

ALA- Queen Creek @ Mesquite?

Q&A: Building a Program: Catalina Foothills's Doug D'Amore

via @Gregg Rosenberg

What are your thoughts on the current cluster of cases at San Tan Foothills? Gilbert Christian pulled out of a game. Also should parents not report positive results so there son's HS teams can play? Just curious on opinions on whether you may or may not avoid certain schools if you're hearing there may be positive tests and information may or may not be accurate.

I'd be disappointed if someone new of a positive case but didn't report it. That's just my thought and opinion.

This is a big one!! It's the rematch of last year's 6A title game where the #7 Liberty Lions upset #1 Red Mountain 34-28 in OT. Both teams return star players, especially in the secondary but BOTH schools graduated a ton of starters. Here's five matchups to watch out for in tonight's game!

1. Liberty Senior QB Brock Mast vs RM Senior QB Evan Svoboda - Neither QB was the starter last Fall and both had under 50 pass attempts for the total year last season. Mast completed 12 of his 21 pass attempts for 126 yards and a TD in Liberty's loss to Chandler last week. Svoboda went 9-11 for 140 and a TD in RM's win over Westwood last Friday. Mast faces a much less experienced defense this week in Red Mountain and Svoboda faces a much MORE experienced defense in Liberty. I think it's a great test for both QBs, especially for Svoboda. All signs point to him getting the full game as QB1 tonight for the RM offense. Excited to see both in action tonight.

2. Liberty Soph. RB Zaccheus Cooper vs RM Junior Parker McClure - Don't look into Cooper's stats too much from last week, that Chandler D-Line might be an all-time great. I think Cooper is a FOR SURE Division talent at RB. Great combination of speed and power. Parker McClure is one of the top run stoppers in the 2022 class. He had an awesome Sophomore campaign last year. He'll square off against many great Res this year and Cooper is one of them. Excited to see who wins this battle!!

3. Red Mountain DB George Ramirez vs The World - There's not much Red Mountain Senior George Ramirez can't do. He's one of the best tacklers in the state, he can cover, he's a playmaker on offense, and he blocked a million punts last year. Liberty NEEDS to make sure they know where Ramirez is on the field at all times during this game.

4. Liberty DBs Jax Stam + Shane Pitts vs RM WRs = Stam and Pitts are very very good. The duo combined for 25 total tackles last week against Chandler. Both are returners and both bring the lumber when they come up to hit. They move around a ton in the secondary, disguising and radiating their looks on almost every single snap. If they can contain the RM WR's from getting explosive plays AND if they can create turnovers (possibly with an ESPN Top 10 Hit dislodging the football from the ball carrier) Liberty will win this game.

5. RM OLB/DE Skylar Edmonds vs Liberty's Offensive Tackles = Edmonds had a fantastic game last week against Westwood, finishing with 9 total tackles 3 TFLs 2 sacks and an interception. If Edmonds can make that type of impact in this contest, Red Mountain will be in a great position to win this football game. Let me know you're thoughts!

Predict the 8 teams you believe will make the Open Division Playoff. I'll post the submissions in article form at noon on 10/6.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Where's everyone going this week?

As for me, I'm heading down to Ahwatukee to see which team gets up off the canvas between Centennial and Mountain Pointe. The Coyotes can't really be as bad as they were against Hamilton, can they?

Fill in your ballot in the replies, you are not required to submit a ballot for every division. Submit your ballot by 10/6 at 12pm to be included in this week's preseason rankings.

6A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

5A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

4A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

3A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

2A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

My pick: Corona del Sol

Aztecs were impressive in their win over Desert Vista. They have the veteran leadership they lacked last season with Quade Swearingen at quarterback. Most importantly, Corona has a favorable schedule. Aztecs could end up 7-1 or 8-0.

Does anyone have a nominee for surprise teams or dark horses you like this year?

I have put it on record that I think Cibola is a potential playoff team even after ending last year ranked #22. Six game regular season as of current schedule, two each against other area teams that they handled pretty well in 2019. Could easily be 6-0.

5 Matchups to Watch

5. Casteel SS Connor Clinton vs Boulder Creek TE John Ferlmann
Clinton had a great Sophomore campaign last Fall and he's packed on 15-20 pounds this off-season. He'll play in the box and force on run plays, but he'll also line-up against Ferlmann in coverage. Ferlmann's family moved here from CA this off-season. He's committed to ASU for long-snapping but he's also a pretty good receiving TE. 6'4 225 and can move!!

4. Casteel OLB Kyle Pointer vs Boulder Creek RB Jacob Cisneros
Pointer had awesome Junior film. Sets the edge really well, great form tackler. Cisneros was our Breakout player of the year last year in 6A. Over 2500 all-purpose yards against solid competition. He's the real deal.

3. Casteel OG Brock Dieu vs Boulder Creek OL/DL Jacob Moore
Dieu has been one of the best OL in the entire state over the last couple seasons. Jacob Moore was the 2019 Heavy weight champion wrestler for large schools this past Winter and he's a helluva football player. Both are pancaking machines on offense.

2. Casteel WR Isaiah Newcombe vs Boulder Creek's secondary
Newcombe committed to UCLA this past off-season. True gas burner, takes the top off of secondaries. He's Dane's #1 guy in the passing offense and Boulder Creek NEEDS to contain him to have a chance to win this football game. Boulder Creek's Safety Dominic Wright is a 3-year starter. His job tonight: Stay back and keep everything in front of you

1. Casteel Class of 2021 QB Dane Christiensen vs Boulder Creek's Class of 2021 QB and University of New Mexico commit Bear Milacek
Christensen absolutely lit up 5A competition, throwing for over 3100 yards and 30 TDs. His counterpart, Bear Milacek, I believe is a Top 4-5 QB in this state. I am stoked to watch these two go head-to-head, both are incredible talents. Let the Big Plays begin!!

Fill in your ballot in the replies, you are not required to submit a ballot for every division. Submit your ballot by 10/1 at 12pm to be included in this week's preseason rankings.

6A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

5A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

4A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

3A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

2A

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)

Might be a bit early for this, but I'm too excited for the season to begin. Ton of great match-ups Week 1, where will you better headed on Oct. 2nd??

Link: https://arizonavarsity.rivals.com/news/a-new-era-for-arizonavarsity-com-

It's a good day, friends!

Podcast:

Login to view embedded media

Predict the 8 teams you believe will make the Open Division Playoff. I'll post the submissions in article form at noon on 10/1.

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)