Presenting your team with a measuring stick is a good idea, especially if you have an up-and-coming football program like Steve Campbell and Williams Field. The Black Hawks measuring stick last year and Friday night is Notre Dame, a fledgling program itself not too long ago that has two state titles to its credit in less than a decade.

It is not easy for athletes to follow in the footsteps of a successful sibling. For Cory Breinholt, he has experienced a double helping of that pie. Breinholt, a senior completing his fourth varsity season running cross country at Highland High, watched brothers Craig and Derek achieve at a high level in the sport. Craig, who ran from 2002-2004, was the individual state champ in 5A his senior year (2004). Derek peaked at No. 3 in the state his senior season (2007) and collected three top-10 finishes overall at state.

Battles between 5A-I unbeatens Hamilton and Salpointe, 4A-II unbeatens Williams Field and Notre Dame and 3A South contenders Coolidge and Empire highlight the matchups this week in the east valley and southern Arizona.

Xavier, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Sunnyslope, Deer Valley, Desert Vista, Mountain Ridge and Centennial headline the field.

The signature moment for D.J. Geroux in his prep football career had to be his unique touchdown reception for Mesa Mountain View against Highland High last season. It was a play that received quite a bit of attention, even nationally on You Tube for its creativity and spot on execution. You would certainly not be alone if you thought that. However, it is not the case.

A 10-match week came to a halt for Hamilton and Deer Valley Saturday afternoon in the finals of the Lady Hawk Volleyball Classic. The edge rested for Hamilton with its 15-player roster. Hamilton completed its week at 9-1 by winning easier than expected in the title match with Deer Valley by scores of 25-14, 25-17, at Highland High.

Using two quarterbacks and switching between them is something Mesquite football coach Mike Reardon is used to. He seems to like it. Gives him something to toy with over the weekend after a game. Reardon pulled a switcheroo two weeks ago with his current QBs -- junior Steven Bevan and senior Tommy Trammell. Trammell played well the first three games and then ran into the buzzsaw known as Chaparral. Bevan took over halfway through that game. It was the Wildcats only loss. Reardon liked what he saw of Bevan in that one and the last two weeks Bevan has been the starter. Barring injury, Bevan will be the Wildcats\\\\\\\' guy the rest of the way.

Tucson football might rests with three schools this season -- again. Three 4A-I squads - defending state champ Canyon del Oro, Sabino and Cienega.

Twelve teams entered in Lady Hawk Invite Friday and Saturday at Highland HS

Tanner Lopez has just about run the gamut of positions in his third year in the Chandler High football program. As position switches have mounted and spots played have become less and less glamorous, his niche has finally surfaced this year.

Eduardo Roa of McClintock and Lauren Cooper of Ironwood Ridge were the individual winners at the Ojo Rojo Invitational at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. Mesa Mountain View won the boys and girls team competition.

You play on a team that heads to halftime trailing, 13-0. Not a huge deficit. Maybe not all that much to get shook up about. But your team only runs 12 plays in the first half. Your team picks up zero first downs. The opposition piles up 261 yards to 22 for your team. What does your team expect from the coaching staff at halftime? Exactly. \\\"We just threw a little fit,\\\" Basha coach Bernie Busken said.

Chandler High and Brophy Prep accomplished some things Thursday night. Both got to see things they needed for later in the season. But only one couid come away with the victory at Austin Field and the W went to the host Wolves. Chandler fought off a third-quarter surge by Brophy with a similar fourth quarter that turned the tables and produced a 43-29 victory in a 5A Fiesta Region clash.

Macey Gardner returned Tuesday night in a limited, but effective role for the Gilbert High and it\'s girls volleyball team.

Defending 5A-I cross country champs were in late season form Saturday at Sanctuary Golf Course in Scottsdale.

Steph Vermillion of Millennium and Sunnyslope doubles team of Jasmine Fuller and Alisa Turkina lead winners at Bobbi Forner Badminton Invitational

Florence made a statement Friday night it almost made in a tough loss to Round Valley the week before. And it felt good for senior standout Kyle Washington as well as his teammates.