Prep football Week 7 eight-game snapshot

October 9, 2014 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Four of the No. 1 teams in their respective division power rankings are among the eight games selected for perusal here in Week 7. Those front runners would be Westwood (D-II), Saguaro (D-III), Seton (D-IV) and Yuma Catholic (D-V). Hamilton is No. 1 in D-I and seeks to rebound on the road against Basha while D-VI kingpin Bagdad visitis Salome.

There are multiple unbeaten teams in every division in the state to date: D-I (Skyline and Boulder Creek); D-II (Westwood, Sahuaro, Sunnyslope); D-III (Saguaro, Verrado, Tempe High, Flowing Wells, Peoria, Alhambra); D-IV (Seton, Coolidge, Sahuarita); D-V (Yuma Catholic, Round Valley, Bourgade) and D-VI (Bagdad and Mogollon). Here are this week's offerings

THURSDAY OCT. 9

Williams Field (2-0) at Saguaro (6-0): Last year's meeting -- Saguaro 40, Williams Field 31 -- One of perhaps two games Saguaro has remaining in which it might stumble (Marcos de Niza in the season finale is the other). The Sabercats have handled even tough foes with ease -- D-II Chaparral and D-III Queen Creek. Christian Kirk flexed his muscles again last week for Saguaro, which now owns the longest winning streak in the state at 20 games. Kirk rushed for 211 yardson 30 carries and scored three TDs. He's arguably the state's top rushing/receiving threat. Braden Bushman has rushed for just over 1,300 yards to lead Williams Field's attack.

FRIDAY OCT. 10

Westwood (6-0) at Campo Verde (3-4): Last year's meeting -- Campo Verde 28, Westwood 14 -- One way to measure Westwood's progess from last year is that it lost to Mesquite in 2013 (49-0) and prevailed over Mesquite (33-0) last week to improve to 6-0. The last time Westwood won its first six games was in 2005. Westwood's schedule has been one of the easiest to date with only three teams in the top 16 of the current power rankings with worse strength of schedule ratings. Westwood features a workhorse back in Ethan Johnson, who has rushed for 1,160 yards and 17 TDs. Quarterback Kane Tieman has targeted three receivers primarily -- Willie Brown, Donovan Trotter and Maxwell Wright. Campo Verde has been streaky this year winning its first three games and losing its last four to Salpointe, Gilbert, Highland and Marcos de Niza.

Desert Ridge (5-1) at Skyline (6-0): Last year's meeting -- Desert Ridge 42, Skyline 19 -- Skyline's 6-0 start is its best in school history. The next step is to take home a section title which means the Coyotes must beat the likes of Desert Ridge and Red Mountain. Knocking off Desert Ridge is the key since the Jaguars appear to be the section's most formidable foe with Mesa, Red Mountain and Desert Mountain struggling and on the outside looking in at playoff berths.

Marcos de Niza (4-2) at Poston Butte (5-1): Last year's meeting -- Marcos de Niza 41, Poston Butte 38 -- Poston Butte brings a five-game winning streak to the contest. The Broncos are likely to have their hands full with Marcos de Niza's speed, which may be better overall than Queen Creek;s. Queen Creek slammed Poston Butte in the season opener. Poston Butte has been much steadier on defense since its opener, allowing just 12 points a game in its five wins. That included giving up 22 points to Marana Mountain View (a 25-22 Poston Butte victory), the team that handed defending D-II champ Salpointe its first loss in 19 games last week.

Mountain Pointe (6-1) at Brophy (4-3): Last year's meeting -- Mountain Pointe 31, Brophy 0 -- This is a check-up game for Arizona's entries in this year's Sollenberger Classic in Las Vegas the third week of August and Zero Week as its known in the state. Brophy is playing better with four wins in its last six games and three in a row since losing in Vegas. Mountain Pointe is concluding the meaty part of its schedule with its prior three games against Chandler, Hamilton and Ahwatukee-rival Desert Vista. Brophy's marquee victory came two weeks ago vs. Desert Ridge. That was enough for Mountain Pointe to take note and not think it can waltz to victory after watching Brophy get pounded by Bishop Gorman (still unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the nation).   

Seton (6-0) at Coolidge (6-0): Last year's meeting -- Seton 43, Coolidge 28 -- This game decided the section champ last year and likely will do the same this year. Seton overcame a 14-0 deficit after the opening quarter last year by scoring 30 unanswered points in the second period on the way to victory. Seton was more versatile in its attack and still is led by senior running back Antonio Campanella. Campanella accounted for nearly 200 yards rushing and receiving in last year's game. Campanella is 63 yards shy of 1,000 yards rushing for the season. Playing in a backup role for Seton at QB last year was Zach Wade. He completed 3-of-6 passes for 54 yards and a TD. Wade is the starter this year and has thrown for 1,223 yards, 17 TDs and one pick. Coolidge has most of is offensive backfield back, led by running back Charles McCarty and quarterback Dominick Ellis. McCarty scored five TDs last week -- three on kickoff or punt returns. Ellis tossed a pair of TD passes in the romp over Coronado.

Verrado (6-0) at Desert Edge (5-1): Last year's meeting -- Desert Edge 40, Verrado 25 -- Verrado is one of six teams in D-III unbeaten to this point. The Vipers already have more wins this year than in any of its previous six campaigns and are guaranteed a winning record this season. They've never made the playoffs, but beating Desert Edge would be a huge step in attaining that goal. Verrado is 0-5 vs. Desert Edge since they first played in 2009. Verrado is paced by running back Ross Dietz, who leads the team in rushing 383 yards and receiving 14 catches for 315 yards. Dietz has 15 TDs (9 rushing, 6 receiving). Desert Edge, which suffered its only loss in August to Liberty, pounds away with its running game that has produced more than 2,000 yards thus far. Tehran Thomas, Roshaun Johnson and Alex Madrano have combined for 1,500 of those yards and 23 TDs. 

Arizona Lutheran (5-1) at Yuma Catholic (6-0): Last year's meeting -- Yuma Catholic 52, Arizona Lutheran 38 -- Yuma Catholic scored one of its biggest wins of its D-V state championship season last year with the victory on ALA's field. Yuma Catholic trailed 21-0 in the first quarter before gradually coming back to win going away. It's a tough order for ALA to return the favor  coming off its first loss of the season last week in a great game with Northwest Christian. Still, ALA has the firepower to pull off a win in Yuma if the Shamrocks are complacent. Yuma Catholic rolled to a 46-6 win over Tonopah Valley last week. The Shamrocks got 346 all-purpose yards and five TDs frorm running back/receiver Carter Rodgriguez, 320 yards passing from quarterback Jagan Cleary and two TD receptions from tight end Matt Pistone.