This week brings the quarterfinals, which includes the start of the Open Division. I haven't seen the defending state champs yet, so I'll be out at Basha to see the Bears against ALA-Queen Creek.
There is a different feel about ALAQC (8-2) than the past two years since the Patriots played a 6A schedule this year. That slate included Saguaro, O'Connor, Pinnacle, and Highland. I caught them in September against O'Connor and it was a first-quarter flurry (17 points) that enabled the Patriots to play with the lead and eventually win 24-10. The ALAQC defensive line played hard despite being undersized (none above 215 pounds).
Basha comes in at 9-1 with the lone setback coming by 1 point against Highland way back in Week 2. The Bears posted at least 30 points in each of the next 8 games in their current win streak. Demond Williams Jr. is a Player of the Year candidate in his fourth year as the starter. He has 2,614 passing yards with 28 TD passes and just 2 interceptions. A dual-threat, he leads the Bears in rushing with 900 yards and 17 touchdowns.
ALA-Queen Creek is in this round for the 3rd straight year. Can the Patriots break through and get to the semifinals? Basha is down a couple of coaches and a couple of players (barring a late appeal) due to some ejections in the season finale against Perry. Will the Bears be able to overcome those after a week off to prepare for them? I'm making the trip out to the Southeast Valley to find out.
There is a different feel about ALAQC (8-2) than the past two years since the Patriots played a 6A schedule this year. That slate included Saguaro, O'Connor, Pinnacle, and Highland. I caught them in September against O'Connor and it was a first-quarter flurry (17 points) that enabled the Patriots to play with the lead and eventually win 24-10. The ALAQC defensive line played hard despite being undersized (none above 215 pounds).
Basha comes in at 9-1 with the lone setback coming by 1 point against Highland way back in Week 2. The Bears posted at least 30 points in each of the next 8 games in their current win streak. Demond Williams Jr. is a Player of the Year candidate in his fourth year as the starter. He has 2,614 passing yards with 28 TD passes and just 2 interceptions. A dual-threat, he leads the Bears in rushing with 900 yards and 17 touchdowns.
ALA-Queen Creek is in this round for the 3rd straight year. Can the Patriots break through and get to the semifinals? Basha is down a couple of coaches and a couple of players (barring a late appeal) due to some ejections in the season finale against Perry. Will the Bears be able to overcome those after a week off to prepare for them? I'm making the trip out to the Southeast Valley to find out.
