WHAT HAPPENED WEEK 1
6A notable: A Chandler and Hamilton - pretty much everyone's top two 6A teams and top contenders for Open Division - flexed their muscles in strong fashion with lopsided wins over Liberty and Centennial, respectively. Red Mountain and Pinnacle were impressive, knocking off sister-schools Westwood and Horizon. Williams Field, Higley and Casteel managed to prevail in 6A debuts. Casteel posted the rally of the week coming back from three-touchdown deficit in the final 1 1/2 quarters to edge Boulder Creek. Highland beating Desert Ridge was not an upset, but blanking the Jaguars was a surprise. Desert Ridge had to dig deep in QB depth with injuries, but a shutout is a shutout. Corona del Sol made a statement in its opener blanking Desert Vista. The Aztecs have a hungry look and seeking to turn the corner under coach Jon Becktold. One of the best games of the week was Queen Creek-Perry with the Pumas hanging with the highly-touted Bulldogs in a 7-point loss. Mountain View continued to dominate its rivarly with Mesa High, beating the Jackrabbits for the 23rd time in a row. Dobson rolled out a 28-8 win over North Canyon to start Bill Godsil's second year at the helm.The Mustangs face a huge task next with Mtn. View, which has won the last 23 meetings between the teams. Dobson's last win came in 1992 and has a total of three since they began playing in 1982,

5A notable: Notre Dame Prep kept up its regular-season dominance topping 6A Brophy Prep comfortably in the first Holy Bowl. Notre Dame Prep is 30-1 in regular-season games under fourth-year head coach George Prelock. Gilbert reversed its season-ending loss of 2019 by thumping Millennium, 24-7. Gilbert surrendered 38 points a game last year and expects an improved defense. McClintock sent its longest rival - 4A Tempe High - to a third straight loss in their matchups. Chargers' coach Corbin Smith has presided over all three wins. Desert Mountain took care of 4A Peoria in its opener.

4A notable: Mesquite toyed with outmanned Apache Junction with QB Ty Thompson in fine form. American Leadership Queen Creek made its 4A debut successful as did Benjamin Franklin. ALA Queen Creek took care of St. Mary's and Benjamin Franklin topped Seton Catholic. Poston Butte throttled Thunderbird, 62-13, having their way on the ground with 326 yards rushing. 35-point first quarter set the tone for the Broncos. 

3A notable: American Leadership Gilbert North bowed to Snowflake in a bone bruiser of top 3A schools. Valley Christian made the long trip to River Valley successful and solid debut for new head coach Jake Petersen. Gilbert Christian's 30-21 victory over Show Low marked a first meeting ever with a 3A East opponent. 

2A notable: San Tan Charter found its AIA and 2A debut unsatisfying with a thumping (61-0) at the hands of perennial contender Santa Cruz Valley. Chandler Prep won the debut of new head coach Tom Brittain, formerly mentor at Tempe Prep and St. Marys. The Titans trimmed Glendale Prep, 25-20. Scottsdale Prep and Scottsdale Christian also registered wins in their openers over Tombstone and Trivium Prep, respectively and decisively.

Clutch player of the week: Casteel's Dane Christensen passed for 323 yards (26 of 35, 4 TDs) in rallying the Colts past Boulder Creek.

STAT CHECK

Top rushers: Highland RB Max Davis, 170 yards, 1 TD); Mtn. Pointe QB Amire Boyd-Matthews, (164 yards, 1 TD); Gilbert RB Cooper Zellner (153 yards, 1 TD); Dobson QB Damyian Duarte (148 yards, 1 TD); Corona del Sol RB Anyale Velasquez (136 yards, 1 TD); Hamilton RB Noah Schmidt (135 yards, 2 TDs); Marcos de Niza RB Jayden Calderon, (133 yards, 1 TD); Scottsdale Prep RB Thomas Reinhardt (130 yards, 2 TDs); Poston Butte RB Zion Burns (122 yards, 2 TDs); Mountain View RB Reese Marziale (121 yards, 3 TDs); Campo Verde RB Caden Calloway (106 yards);  Mesquite RB Chase Salisbury (104 yards, 1 TD); Scottsdale Christian QB Ben Tobin (103 yards, 2 TDs).

Top passers: Mesquite QB Ty Thompson (368 yards, 5 TDs); Csteel QB Dane Christensen ( 323 yards, 4 TDs); Valley Christian QB Jadon Hanzal (264 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT); Mountain View QB Willy Roberts (223 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT); Chandler QB Mikey Keene (214 yards, 4 TDs); ALA-Gilbert North QB Jack Ricedorff (214 yards, 1 INT); Basha QB Demond Williams (213 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT); Perry QB Dane White (191 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT); Corona del Sol QB Quade Swearingen (171 yards, 3 TDs); Skyline QB Jack Nelson (156 yards, 1 INT); Mesa QB John Mendoza (152 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT); Scottsdale Prep QB Oscar Frias (141 yards, 2 TDs); Red Mountain QB Evan Svoboda (140 yards, 1 TD); Desert Mountain QB Aiden Cerullo (134 yards, 1 TD); HIghland QB Gage Dayley (129 yards, 1 TD); Notre Dame Prep QB Tyler Schweigert (126 yards, 3 TDs). 

Top receivers: Chandler WR Kyion Grayes (5 catches for 138 yards, 4 TDs); Basha RB Andrell Barney (134 yards, 1 TD); Casteel WR Dominic Dijian (9 catches for 130 yards, 2 TDs); Casteel WR Isaiah Newcombe (10 catches for 127 yards, 2 TDs); Mesa WR Kvon Sutton (114 yards, 1 TD); Perry WR Hunter Morales (6 catches, 103 yards);  Mesquite WR Lavontae Trotter (103 yards, 1 TD).

WEEK 2 SCHEDULE

All games Friday Oct. 9

6A

Corona del Sol (1-0) at Basha (0-1)

Skyline (0-1) at Boulder Creek (0-1)

Saguaro (0-0) at Brophy Prep (0-1)  - First meeting ever.

Higley (1-0) at Casteel (1-0) - Region rivals last two years in 5A. Higley has won 2 of 3 meetings.

Pinnacle (1-0) at Chandler (1-0) - Chandler has won all four meetings since 2015.

Mountain View (1-0) at Dobson (1-0)

Perry (0-1) at Hamilton (1-0)

Desert Vista (0-1) at Highland (1-0)

Gilbert (1-0) at Mesa (0-1)

Centennial (0-1) at Mountain Pointe (0-1)

Williams Field (1-0) at Queen Creek (1-0) - First meeting as 6A foes. WF has won last five times they've played.

Liberty (0-1) at Red Mountain (1-0) - 6A title-game rematch from last year.

Westwood (0-1) at Shadow Ridge (1-0)

5A

Valley Vista (1-0) at Notre Dame Prep (1-0)

Raymond Kellis (0-1) at Campo Verde (1-0)

McClintock (1-0) at Desert Mountain (1-0)

Canyon View (0-1) at Maricopa (1-0)

Horizon (0-1) at Millennium (0-1)

Mesquite (1-0) at Sunrise Mountain (1-0) - Expect boatload of points.

4A

Ironwood (0-0) at Seton Catholic (0-1)

American Leadership QC (1-0) at Buckeye (1-0)

Tempe (0-1) at Combs (0-1)

Benjamin Franklin (1-0) at Marcos de Niza (0-1)

Arcadia (0-1) at Poston Butte (1-0)

Apache Junction (0-1) at Prescott (0-1)

3A

San Tan Foothills (0-1) at American Leadership Gilbert North (0-1)

Cortez (0-1) at American Leadership Ironwood (0-1)

Gilbert Christian (1-0) at Arizona College Prep (1-0)

Coronado (0-1) at Blue Ridge (0-1)

Bourgade Catholic (1-0) at Eastmark (0-1)

Fountain Hills (1-0) at Florence (0-1)

Phoenix Christian (0-1) at Valley Christian (1-0) - Last meeting between the schools was 2015. Phoenix Christian's 3A debut last week a loss to Yuma Catholic.

2A

Coolidge (1-0) at Santa Cruz Valley (1-0)

Glendale Prep (0-1) at Arete Prep (0-0)

Morenci (1-0) at San Tan Charter (0-1)

Heritage Academy Laveen (0-1) at Scottsdale Christian (1-0)

Scottsdale Prep (1-0) at Trivium Prep (0-1)