Prescott Badgers at Deer Valley Skyhawks

By Jim Grieshaber

This week 2 matchup between two teams with potentially explosive offenses and much-improved defenses, as the Badgers come down the hill to face the Skyhawks for the first of two consecutive games in the sweltering Valley of the Sun.

Deer Valley returns 14 starters- seven on each side of the ball for 2^nd Year Head Coach and Glendale Community College Legend Joe Kersting- while Prescott has just 7 returning from a year ago for new Head Coach Steve Moran, who came out of retirement to take over the program in July after Bob Young, who was brought in to replace longtime Coach Lou Vinitone, went back to Mingus after just a month on the job.

Leading the way for their teams tonight will be two very good running backs, Deer Valley’s Trae Armstrong and Prescott’s Dakoda Peterson. Armstrong, Arizona’s premiere 110 and 200 meter sprinter for the Skyhawks’ track team, is the fastest RB in the state but was held to just 56 yards and one touchdown by Willow Canyon last week and is looking for a big game tonight. Peterson ran for a hard-fought 100 yards and a score against Bradshaw Mountain.

Deer Valley’s passing game can be just as lethal, with QB Austin Hillmon and Flanker Jacque Bruce having hooked up for over 180 yards and 3 TD’s last week. The Badgers will depend heavily on all-purpose star Brady Mengarelli, who can score running and receiving as well as in the return game and also anchors their secondary.

Deer Valley’s defense, much faster than last year, is led by LB John Reed and CB Kenny Bowden. Prescott’s D is anchored by run-stuffing tackles Mike Garcia and Clayton Lackey.

Dan Manucci and me at 8pm for the “live” webcast right here on aia365.com.