The rankings no longer mean anything. The seeds are just a guideline as evident by double digits squads still left. The playoffs are an emotional open wound that can sting even more or heal on a single play.
Only a few more weeks left so soak it up because there isn’t anything like it.
Here is a quick look at what is left after the first full week of playoff action:
Class 5A Division I
The surprise team: No. 11 Mesa. It really wasn’t a stretch that the Jackrabbits beat Mesa Red Mountain, the No. 6 seed, but they were the only lower seed to win. That win avenged a regular season loss and Mesa will get that shot against this week with No. 3 Phoenix Brophy.
The stud: Phoenix Mountain Pointe running back Davon Jones has come on late in the season to overtake the team’s rushing lead – not east considering his counterpart De’Andre Currie has more than 1,300 yards – and looks like a man among boys at times, cranking out 199 yards against Mesa Westwood.
The favorite: No. 1 Chandler Hamilton. Nothing changed here after the first-round of action. If anything, the Huskies solidified their hold with a career day by quarterback Travis Dean.
The contender: No. 2 Mountain Pointe. The Pride might not be getting enough credit for what they are doing week in and week out. The one time it struggled came against Chandler Basha, but won’t with a fourth-quarter scoring binge. Basha is back for more as the seventh seed this week.
Best game: No. 5 Mesa Mountain View at No. 4 Chandler. It’s going to be hard to live up to the first encounter when Chandler came out on top 45-42, but we can sure hope so.
Class 5A Division II
Tempe Marcos de Niza quarterback Zach Schira settles in the pocket against Phoenix Mountain Pointe. (Photo by Jason P. Skoda, CoachesAid.com)
The surprise team: All the high seeds won in the first round, but we will throw Scottsdale Desert Mountain out there. After beating Scottsdale Chaparral to end the regular season, Desert Mountain made sure its first playoff appearance since 1997 lasted another week with a 14-10 win over Tucson Ironwood Ridge.
The stud: Chaparral running back Dwayne Garrett gets overlooked when the state’s best backs are mentioned, but has piled up 3,300 yards and 52 touchdowns over the last two years.
The favorite: No. 1 Peoria Centennial. Three-time defending champions. Nationally ranked. A winning streak that has reached 38 straight games.
The contender: No. 2 Scottsdale Chaparral. You can just sense the momentum building back up for the Firebirds.
Best game: No. 5 Tucson Sunnyside at No. 4 Marcos de Niza. It’s seems like the second round is too early for this one. Sunnyside is 10-1 and the best Tucson has to offer this year. Marcos is tired of postseason failures and has a mental toughness that the Padres lacked in previous years.
Class 4A Division I
The surprise team: No. 12 Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain. This team was 1-3. After getting to 4-3 with a win streak The Bears lost two in a row, including a 35-22 loss to Peoria. Bradshaw Mountain turned that around in the first round with a 31-28 win over Peoria.
The stud: Cave Creek Cactus Shadows quarterback Dillon Classen threw for six touchdowns in the 66-13 win over Tucson Sahuaro to give him 33 on the season.
The favorite: No. 1 Tucson Canyon del Oro. The Dorados lowest win margin of the season is 14 points. With a super talent like running back Ka’Deem Carey you’d think it would be because of the offense, but the defense is as limiting as court-ordered ankle bracelets.
The contender: Cactus Shadows. The Falcons has some kind of magic going on if the game is close at the end of the game you are in trouble as it has won five games by seven points or less many of which swung in the final seconds.
Best game: No. 7 Tucson Sabino at No. 2 Cactus Shadows. The Sabercats (9-2) only defeats came against Tucson powers (CDO and Santa Rita) and can score with anyone at 41.5 points a game. Cactus Shadows has been just as good offensively and has showed it has the resolution to make plays to win games late.
Class 4A Division II
The surprise team: No. 10 Douglas. The Bulldogs upset one of the division’s hottest teams in No. 7 Phoenix Arcadia as first-year coach Dick Keith has changed the atmosphere in a program that won only two games last season. With eight wins this year, it is just one off the program’s total over the last three years.
The stud: Peoria Liberty running back Dan Mihelich. The senior entered the postseason with 1,804 yards and 26 touchdowns and is the driving force behind an offense that pushes opposing defenses to the limit.
The favorite: No. 2 Glendale Cactus. Running back Allen Woods hasn’t been stopped yet, 2,100 yards in the regular season - and if he isn’t Cactus will be hoisting a championship trophy.
The contender: No. 1 Cottonwood Mingus. Undefeated and coached by one the state’s best in Bob Young. Mingus plays with a toughness that can be hard to match.
Best game: No. 6 Liberty at No. 3 Tucson Palo Verde. Palo Verde is riding the momentum of knocking off region rival Tucson Santa Rita, the state runner-up last season, in the regular season finale. Liberty hasn’t lost yet and has a senior class determined to set the standard at the school at the ultimate level.
Class 3A
The surprise team: Florence. The 14th seed, lost four games in the regular season, but that matters little now. The Gophers knocked No. 3 Wickenburg and No. 6 Tucson Empire to make the state semifinals, avenging a loss three weeks earlier.
The stud: Blue Ridge senior Keevan Schimmel has two blocked punts, three interceptions, six passes defense and a sack in addition to being the leading rusher and second leading receiver for the state’s best team.
The favorite: No. 2 Blue Ridge. The Yellow Jackets has outscored its opponents 92-0 in the postseason so far they look to be on their way to a 13th state title.
The contender: Show Low. The offense can be difficult to contain as quarterback Rathen Ricedorff has more weapons than a ninja master and he does a great job finding everyone that is open – including himself as he caught his own deflected pass for a score this past week.
Best game: No. 1 Fountain Hills vs. No. 12 Show Low. The Falcons got a bit of gift when Snowflake went for a fourth down late in the game in its own territory to set up a short field for the game winning field goal. Fountain Hills took advantage of it and extended its winning streak to 10 games. Show Low is a product of the 3A East as it has overwhelmed two higher seeds in getting to the semifinals.
Class 2A
The surprise team: Willcox. The ninth seed knocked off No. 1 Phoenix Northwest Christian 31-20 as Rudy Verdugo ran for three touchdowns and a ton of yards.
The stud: Chandler Valley Christian’s quarterback Jordan Morgan is close to becoming a 1,000-yard passer and rusher in the same season. The junior has accounted for 35 total touchdowns.
The favorite: No. 2 St. Johns. The two-time defending state champions Redskins are the team to beat until someone takes them out.
The contender: Valley Christian. Bracketing is the only thing keeping the Trojans from making the state finals.
Best game: No. 7 Valley Christian at No. 2 St. Johns. It’s the two best teams remaining, with brothers coaching against each other and it would be one of the state’s best rivalries if they weren’t separated by a gazillion miles.
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