WHAT HAPPENED LOCALLY WEEK 3
6A: Mountain View delivered in its toughest game thus far beating Brown-Road rival Red Mountain with a fourth-quarter field goal, 16-13. The Toros have struggled with Red Mountain the past three years getting routed each time. They are 3-0 for the first time since 2017. If they take care of business week to week they appear to be the favorite to win the Central Region. Mountain View's next three games are against Desert Vista, Westwood and Mountain Pointe. All three have yet to win a game this season. Corona del Sol rolled to a 3-0 mark blanking Skyline. The last time the Aztecs won their first three games was in 2015 - the last time they posted a winning record.  All told after three weeks there are six unbeaten teams in the East Valley in 6A - Chandler, Hamilton, Highland, Mountain View, Corona del Sol and Casteel. Casteel relied on defense in its latest narrow victory getting a clutch INT from Jeremiah Newcombe to stymie Queen Creek, 12-7. Highland advanced to 3-0 routing Sandra Day O'Connor, 47-13, behind a 327-yard, 5 TD rushing game from running back Max Davis. Highland has some tough games coming when the calendar flips to November with the Hamilton-Chandler gauntlet to open that month. Chandler moved to 3-0 and dropped Perry to 0-3 with a 55-0 win over the Pumas. Perry's other losses are to Queen Creek and Hamilton. 

5A: Saguaro and Desert Mountain are the lone local unbeatens in 5A thus far. Saguaro mauled Maricopa, 70-14 and is 2-0 heading into a much-anticipated clash with 2-0 Hamilton this week. Desert Mountain is 3-0 after handling Goldwater. The Wolves match up with Casa Grande this week. Desert Mountain's last 3-0 start or better was in 2012 when current Washington Football Team QB Kyle Allen and Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews were lighting up the scoreboard. Cactus Shadows was able to finally begin its season last week after a two-week COVID shutdown and posted a 37-0 win over McClintock. The Falcons had to scramble to find an opponent for this week with Sunnyslope announcing a COVID-19 case. Cactus Shadows instead will play Arcadia.

4A: Poston Butte is the lone local 4A team unscathed at 3-0 through three weeks. The Broncos continue to take no prisoners with a 46-15 romp over 4A newcomer Benjamin Franklin. It was more production from running back Zion Burns, who turned in his third straight 100-yard-plus rushing effort. Mesquite won the battle of last year's 3A-4A state champions by outscoring American Leadership Queen Creek, 60-42. Ty Thompson's most prolific game of the season was on display - 465 yards passing, 5 TDs. Thompson has thrown for 1,180 yards, 13 TDs and no interceptions thus far.

3A: Valley Christian and Arizona College Prep kept their perfect records intact (3-0) in different fashion. ACP edged Payson, 19-14, while Valley Christian buried Winslow, 61-7. VC QB Jadon Hanzal was on fire connecting on 11 of 13 passes for 313 yards and seven TDs against the Bulldogs. Jadon Hanzal teamed up snother Hanzal, Andrew, for four of those TDS and 174 yards. Another big night for a wide out belonged to VC's Austyn Gerard - five catches for 100 yards and three TDs.

2A: Sequoia Pathway, Scottsdale Christian and Scottsdale Prep continued their winning ways. All are 3-0. Sequoia Pathway received its toughest test last week, slipping past previously unbeaten Chandler Prep, 24-22. Sequoia Pathway scored the game-winning TD with three minutes left in seesaw battle. Sequoia Pathway has more tough games ahead facing unbeaten Arizona Lutheran Oct. 23 and top-ranked Santa Cruz Valley on Oct. 30. This is Sequoia Pathway's first season competing in the AIA and 2A conference. Scottsdale Christian easily moved to 3-0 routing North Pointe Prep. Scottsdale Prep survived a close call with Veritas Prep, hanging on for a 21-14 victory.

1A: Tempe Prep continued to like its niche in the 1A conference reeling off its third straight victory, this one over Lincoln Prep. The challenge facing Tempe Prep this week is enormous. One of the top programs in 1A, Superior, is the Knights' foe.  

STAT CHECK

(Stats are from games of Oct. 15-16-17 from schools who have posted. Updated through deadline of Monday Oct. 19.

Top rushers (100 yards or more): Highland RB Max Davis, 327 yards, 5 TDs; Arizona College Prep RB Richard Williams, 173 yards, 3 TDs; Poston Butte RB Zion Burns, 169 yards, 3 TDs; Coolidge RB Greg Rodriguez, 151 yards, 5 TDs; AJ QB Gavin Limongello, 143 yards, 2 TDs; Sequoia Pathway RB Izaiah Stewart, 138 yards, 1 TD; Desert Ridge RB Avantae Barrett, 131 yards, 2 TDs; Campo Verde RB Caden Calloway, 129 yards; Desert Mountain RB Jonah Berman, 128 yards; Corona del Sol RB Anyale Velazquez, 124 yards, 3 TDs; Chandler RB Eli Sanders, 115 yards, 3 TDs; AJ RB Isaiah Savoie, 113 yards, 3 TDs; Mesa RB Craig Montgomery, 110 yards, 2 TDs; ALA Queen Creek RB Trae Moshier, 107 yards, 3 TDs; Marcos de Niza RB Tracy Williams, 107 yards, 1 TD; Basha RB Caleb Jones, 106 yards, 3 TDs; Valley Christian RB Kaden Majercak, 102 yards, 1 TD; Chandler RB Jeremiah Moore, 101 yards; Arete Prep QB Matthew McClelland, 101 yards, 1 TD.

Top passers: (150 yards or more): Higley QB Kai Millner, 471 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT: Mesquite QB Ty Thompson, 465 yards, 5 TDs; Tempe Prep QB Diego Foster, 437 yards, 6 TDs, 2 INT; Valley Christian QB Jadon Hanzal, 313 yards, 7 TDs; Marcos de Niza QB Antonio Hernandez, 262 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT; Mountain View QB Will Roberts, 257 yards; Apache Junction QB Gavin Limongello, 255 yards, 3 TDs;  ALA Gilbert North QB Jack Ricedorff, 251 yards, 5 TDs; Casteel QB Dane Christensen, 242 yards, 2 TDs; Desert Mountain QB Aiden Cerullo, 237 yards, 4 TDs; Mesa QB Gabby Mendoza, 232 yards, 2 TDs; Sant Tan Charter QB Zayden Neill, 227 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT: Arete Prep QB Matthew McClelland, 223 yards, 1 INT; Coolidge QB Jacob Gunter, 205 yards, 1 TD; Chandler QB MIkey Keene, 202 yards, 2 TDs; Saguaro QB Ridge Docekal 200 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; ALA Queen Creek QB Logan Hubler, 192 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT; Brophy QB Taj Hughles, 192 yards, 2 TDs; Campo Verde QB Reilly Garcia, 176 yards, 1 TD; Notre Dame Prep QB Tyler Schweigert, 171 yards, 1 TD, 5 INT; Corona del Sol QB Quade Swearingen, 169 yards, 1 INT; Desert Ridge QB Austin Kolb, 159 yards, 

Top receivers: (100 yards or more): Tempe Prep WR Louis Ternyik, 244 yards, 3 TDs; Apache Junction WR Carlos Garcia, 221 yards, 3 TDs; Mesquite WR Eric Lira, 217 yards, 4 TDs; Higley WR Branson Heywood, 195 yards, 2 TDs; Saguaro WR Mason Davies, 178 yards, 2 TDs; Valley Christian WR Andrew Hanzal, 174 yards, 4 TDs; ALA Gilbert North WR Johnny Bellino, 138 yards, 3 TDs; Mountain View WR Tanner Johnson, 130 yards, Coolidge WR Connor Ferguson, 128 yards, 1 TD; Higley WR Truitt Robinson, 119 yards, 2 TDs; Mesquite WR Andrew Morris, 119 yards, 1 TD; Higley WR Carter Hancock, 114 yards, 2 TDs; Marcos de Niza WR  Nico Updyke, 107 yards, 3 TDs; Mesquite WR Riales Hopper, 104 yards; Casteel WR Isaiah Newcombe, 101 yards; Valley Christian WR Austyn Gerard, 100 yards, 3 TDs; Desert Mountain WR Rogan Freeburg, 100 yards, 2 TDs; Arete Prep WR Owen Kremer, 100 yards.

WEEK 4 SCHEDULE - ALL GAMES FRIDAY OCT. 23 UNLESS NOTED

6A

Pinnacle (1-1) at Centennial (2-1)

Brophy (0-3) at Chaparral (0-0) - Brophy's first 3 opponents collectively are 6-2

Mountain View (3-0) at Desert Vista (0-3)

Chandler (3-0) at Higley (2-1) - Chandler averaging 53 points a game

Corona del Sol (3-0) at Mesa (2-1)

Basha (1-2) at Mountain Pointe (0-3)

Highland (3-0) at Perry (0-3) - Perry 1st 3 opponents 7-1, Highland 2-7

Liberty (1-2) at Queen Creek (2-1)

Desert Ridge (1-2) at Red Mountain (1-2) - Cancelled due to COVID-19

McClintock (1-2) at Skyline (0-3)

Dobson (1-2) at Westwood (0-3)

Casteel (3-0) at Williams Field (1-2)

5A

Hamilton (2-0) at Saguaro (2-0) - Hamilton seeking to avenge las year's Open Division semifinal loss

Maricopa (1-2) at Apollo (0-3)

Paradise Valley (0-2) at Goldwater (1-2)

Arcadia (0-3) at Cactus Shadows (1-0)

Notre Dame Prep (2-1) at Campo Verde (2-1) - Rematch of 2019 5A semi won by CV (20-17)

Casa Grande (2-1) at Desert Mountain (3-0)

Gilbert (1-2) at Horizon (2-1)

Tempe (0-3) at Canyon View (1-2) - Oct. 24

4A

Marcos de Niza (2-1) at ALA-Queen Creek (2-1) - Top tier teams in Desert Sky Region

Benjamin Franklin (1-2) at Peoria (1-2)

Mesquite (2-1) at Seton Catholic (0-3)

Apache Junction (2-1) at Poston Butte (3-0) - Oct. 22

3A

Blue Ridge (1-1) at AZ College Prep (3-0) - Stern test for ACP

Eastmark (0-3) at Coolidge (2-1)

Valley Christian (3-0) at Florence (1-2)

Payson (0-3) at Fountain HIlls (2-1)

ALA Ironwood (0-3) at Gilbert Christian (1-1)

ALA Gilbert North (2-1) at Thatcher (1-2)

2A

Globe (1-1) at Arete Prep (0-2)

Sequoia Pathway (3-0) at Veritas Prep (1-2)

Heritage Academy Laveen (0-3) at Chandler Prep (2-1)

San Tan Charter (1-2) at Holbrook (0-2)

Scottsdale Prep (3-0) at North Pointe Prep (0-3)

Camp Verde (1-1) at Scottsdale Christian (3-0)

1A

Lincoln Prep (0-3) at Salome (3-0)

Tempe Prep (3-0) at Superior (3-0)