The Open Division playoffs begin and I’ll be watching 2 teams that brought home trophies in 2023 as Liberty hosts Higley.
Higley (7-3) is making its first Open appearance. The Knights won the past two 5A titles. Gunner Fagrell (3,000 yards passing last year) is back at the controls and has receiver Jaden Taylor (53 catches, 842 yards, 13 TDs). On defense, HHS has 14 INTs with Ezy Brown having a pair of them. Among the wins for the Knights this year were Campo Verde, Desert Edge, and Desert Mountain.
Liberty (9-1) is making its 5th straight Open appearance. The Lions are the defending Open champs. Senior Hayden Fletcher has 2,500 pass yards along with 23 TDs. Braxton Huynh is having a breakout season in his sophomore year (52 catches, 851 yards, 9 TDs). LHS is riding a 6-game win streak and hasn’t lost a game to an Arizona team since the 2022 semifinals (Saguaro). Liberty has 48 sacks as a team with junior Hudson Dunn leading the way with 13.5 of them.
Will any of the 5A teams break through and move on to the semis? I’ll be on hand at Liberty to find out which team will play the Marana-Hamilton winner on Nov. 30 at Mountain Pointe HS.
Higley (7-3) is making its first Open appearance. The Knights won the past two 5A titles. Gunner Fagrell (3,000 yards passing last year) is back at the controls and has receiver Jaden Taylor (53 catches, 842 yards, 13 TDs). On defense, HHS has 14 INTs with Ezy Brown having a pair of them. Among the wins for the Knights this year were Campo Verde, Desert Edge, and Desert Mountain.
Liberty (9-1) is making its 5th straight Open appearance. The Lions are the defending Open champs. Senior Hayden Fletcher has 2,500 pass yards along with 23 TDs. Braxton Huynh is having a breakout season in his sophomore year (52 catches, 851 yards, 9 TDs). LHS is riding a 6-game win streak and hasn’t lost a game to an Arizona team since the 2022 semifinals (Saguaro). Liberty has 48 sacks as a team with junior Hudson Dunn leading the way with 13.5 of them.
Will any of the 5A teams break through and move on to the semis? I’ll be on hand at Liberty to find out which team will play the Marana-Hamilton winner on Nov. 30 at Mountain Pointe HS.
