The CoachesAid.com Game Tracker is a weekly preview of intriguing matchups throughout Arizona.
FOOTBALL
Friday, Nov. 20
Mesa Mountain View at Chandler: These two teams can’t duplicate the first meeting can they? Let’s hope so in this Class 5A Division I quarterfinal game. No. 4 Chandler beat No. 5 Mesa Mountain View, 45-42, a month ago. Both teams started slow, Chandler was drilled by Peoria Centennial and the Toros were hammered by Chaparral, but the coaches have each team playing their best football now and that is all that matters. Our pick: Chandler
Phoenix Mountain Pointe running back De'Andre Currie stiff arms a defensive player from Phoenix Desert Vista. (Photo by Russell Gates, Special to CoachesAid.com)
Chandler Basha at Phoenix Mountain Pointe: No. 7 Basha came the closest to beating Mountain Pointe, leading 10-0 in the fourth quarter when No. 2 Mountain Pointe scored three times in the final 9 minutes for a 21-10 lead. It was the first indication that the Pride might be in line for a special season and that should continue in the 5A-I quarterfinals. Our pick: Mountain Pointe
Tucson Sunnyside at Tempe Marcos de Niza: No. 5 Sunnyside made the semifinals in 2007; Marcos was there last year. Both have the talent and the expectations to make it again in the 2009 5A-II postseason. The No. 4 Aztecs have been waiting for this group of seniors for three years and they are playing better than any of coach Roy Lopez’s previous teams. Our pick: Marcos
Tucson Sabino at Cave Creek Cactus Shadows: No. 7 Sabino has been on the Tucson’s most consistent teams, averaging 9.5 wins since the start of 2004, and one of the state’s best running games – 288.8 yards a game – required to slow down No. 2 Cactus Shadows’ offense led by quarterback Dillon Classen in this 4A-I quarterfinal. Cactus Shadows coach Chad DeGrenier just might get a shot the program’s second state title in four seasons. Our pick: Cactus Shadows.
Tucson Amphitheater at Tucson Santa Rita: We picked No. 13 Amphi’s upset win over Gilbert Williams Field last week in the 4A-II opening round, but we are not going to be as bold this time. No. 5 Santa Rita was a state finalist last season and have the talent to have a repeat performance. Santa Rita coach Jeff Scurran has talked of moving on to a school more dedicated to football, but he doesn’t have that problem with his players. Our pick: Santa Rita.
Peoria Liberty at Tucson Palo Verde: When the brackets first came out we had No. 6 Liberty making the semifinals. Now we are not so sure. No. 3 Palo Verde has looked great the last two weeks, beating Santa Rita for the regional title and talking care of Phoenix Greenway pretty easily , 38-15, in the 4A-II opening week. Liberty is undefeated and playing with a confidence of a team that doesn’t care it is its first time in the postseason. We are going to stick with our original instinct but won’t be surprised if Palo Verde is the one moving on. Our pick: Liberty
Saturday, Nov. 21
Chandler Valley Christian quarterback Jordan Morgan takes a rep in practice. (Photo by Russell Gates, Special to CoachesAid.com)
Show Low vs. Fountain Hills at Phoenix Paradise Valley: No. 1 Fountain Hills is riding a 10-game winning streak and took advantage of a little luck when Snowflake coach Adam Larsen pulled a Belichick before Belichick did it. Instead of punting in its own territory in the final minutes, Snowflake went for it and came up short and Fountain Hills kicked a field goal for the Class 3A game-winner as time expired. No. 12 Show Low better play two clean halves – unlike its win in the quarterfinals – because Fountain Hills won’t let up. It’s not often the 12th seed is the favorite against a No. 1 but this one has that feel. Our pick: Show Low
Chandler Valley Christian vs. St. Johns at Phoenix North Canyon: It must be weird scheming to stop your nephew and capitalize on any weakness you catch on tape, but that is what is on tap this week for No. 2 St. Johns coach Mike Morgan as he prepares his 2A two-time defending champions to take the No. 7 Trojans, who are coached by his brother Bill and quarterbacked by his nephew Jordan. It’s the third straight season they’ve met in the postseason and it is probably the true state title game. Our pick: St. Johns
CROSS COUNTRY
Saturday, Nov. 21
Nike Cross National Southwest Region meet: This is the team qualifying and event at Tempe’s Kiwanis Park for the Dec. 5 Nike Cross National meet in Portland, Oregon. It’s a great event, but the timing is difficult because the championship meet falls on the same day as the Foot Locker West Region meet. Good luck making that decision for someone like Xavier’s Jessica Tonn who is the lead member of one of the nation’s best teams but also has had her focus on being a four-time Foot Locker qualifier.
WRESTLING
Tuesday, Nov. 24
Tempe Corona del Sol at Phoenix Brophy: A great way to start the season as two of last season’s top five teams, and they should do the same this year, get together on the second day of the season. It will be Corona’s new head coach James Martinez’s debut. It should be a beauty. Our pick: Corona
BASKETBALL
Monday, Nov. 23
BOYS
Phoenix Greenway at Phoenix Arcadia: The first day of the season starts with Greenway’s defense of last year’s 4A-II state title by traveling to Arcadia, which lost in the state quarterfinals. Our pick: Greenway
Tuesday, Nov. 24
GIRLS
Kayenta Monument Valley at Hopi: Monument Valley went on a terrific postseason run, winning the 3A title as a sixth seed. The Mustangs will be contenders as always and it starts against Hopi as REZ ball gets started early. Our pick: Monument Valley
SOCCER
Monday, Nov. 23
It’s the official start of the season, but there are only a handful of games until after Thanksgiving.
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