This week brings a chance to look at how far Pinnacle has come in the past 2 years. The Pioneers (4-1) play at Chaparral (3-3) on Friday in Scottsdale. In 2020, I was at the season finale of the COVID-shortened season (also at Chap). Pinnacle lost on that night, 52-10 to finish at 3-4 and miss the 6A playoffs (only 8 teams went that year). Chaparral was 3-2 and made the playoffs. The Firebirds went on to win the '20 title (6A) and return to the championship the next year.
A total of 6 Pinnacle players, who were sophomores, suited up for that game and made the box score (not sure how many O-Linemen there were, but Elijah Paige was probably one of them). One of the sophomores was Devon Dampier, who is of course, now at Saguaro. The others?
Running back Jacobie Rucker and receivers Duce Robinson & Myles Libman. Rucker has 4 rushing TDs this year while Robinson (511 yards, 8 TDs) and Libman (366 yards, 4 TDs) are probably the best WR tandem in the state. On defense, Jadeim Birthwright and Coleson Arends (who is now mostly used as a TE) were on that Pioneer team.
Pinnacle is ranked No. 5 in the first Open ratings, which came as a surprise to many. The Pioneers have beaten El Camino (who is 5-2), Queen Creek (by 26), Horizon (by 35), and Valley Vista (by 48). The lone loss is to #1 Liberty. After this one, PHS still has Brophy before finishing with Highland, Saguaro, and Centennial. Can the Pioneers make the Open at 8-2?
Chaparral has had closer games with 4 of its 6 being decided by 4 or fewer points. The wins came against Salpointe & Queen Creek while the losses were to Desert Mountain & Mountain View. The Firebirds have an impressive win over Mountain Pointe (31-13), but a loss to Williams Field when Dylan Lee ran for 518 yards. CHS is ranked #8 in the first 6A rankings, so should remain in a good position to make another playoff run.
In addition to the 2020 loss to Chaparral, Pinnacle saw its season end in '21 in the quarterfinals against the Firebirds (41-36), so there is a revenge factor at play.
A total of 6 Pinnacle players, who were sophomores, suited up for that game and made the box score (not sure how many O-Linemen there were, but Elijah Paige was probably one of them). One of the sophomores was Devon Dampier, who is of course, now at Saguaro. The others?
Running back Jacobie Rucker and receivers Duce Robinson & Myles Libman. Rucker has 4 rushing TDs this year while Robinson (511 yards, 8 TDs) and Libman (366 yards, 4 TDs) are probably the best WR tandem in the state. On defense, Jadeim Birthwright and Coleson Arends (who is now mostly used as a TE) were on that Pioneer team.
Pinnacle is ranked No. 5 in the first Open ratings, which came as a surprise to many. The Pioneers have beaten El Camino (who is 5-2), Queen Creek (by 26), Horizon (by 35), and Valley Vista (by 48). The lone loss is to #1 Liberty. After this one, PHS still has Brophy before finishing with Highland, Saguaro, and Centennial. Can the Pioneers make the Open at 8-2?
Chaparral has had closer games with 4 of its 6 being decided by 4 or fewer points. The wins came against Salpointe & Queen Creek while the losses were to Desert Mountain & Mountain View. The Firebirds have an impressive win over Mountain Pointe (31-13), but a loss to Williams Field when Dylan Lee ran for 518 yards. CHS is ranked #8 in the first 6A rankings, so should remain in a good position to make another playoff run.
In addition to the 2020 loss to Chaparral, Pinnacle saw its season end in '21 in the quarterfinals against the Firebirds (41-36), so there is a revenge factor at play.
