Desert Ridge football coach Jeremy Hathcock has to like his options. Injured quarterback Parker Rasmussen was making a visit to the doctor Tuesday that likely will end with him being cleared to return to action for the Dec. 3 semifinal clash with Desert Vista. That could mean cranking up the passing game a little bit more, adding fill-in quarterback Jordan Becerra as a threat as a receiver and runner to go with Joey Counts, Paris Clark and Sam Papa.

Or Hathcock could stick with Becerra behind center and see if Desert Vista has an answer to stop the Becerra-Counts grind-and-gouge show. Or Hathcock could mix and match quarterbacks, sets and emphasis. It's a coach's delight for Hathcock. A nightmare, perhaps, for Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds and his staff to have to try and defend all of that or at  least the possibliities.

Having two weeks to prepare for an opponent couldn't come at a better time for Desert Vista, which certainly welcomes the challenge as its tries to reach the 5A-I title game for the second time in four years.