When Gilbert High dropped its fourth game in five tries to finish September, there was little sense in thinking there was life left in the 2010 Tigers. Except, however, if you are a diehard. Count Gilbert coach Dan Dunn a diehard.

Jim Ewan retires from Chandler High after 40-year coaching career; Tom Joseph deserved better at Mountain View.

Kids from feeder schools will participate in clinics along with packaging meals for \"Stop Hunger Now\'\' group.

Mesa Mountain View decided Monday to take its football program in a new direction, removing Tom Joseph as its coach after nine successful seasons that included a state title, three title-game appearances and six region titles.

Casey Jahn rushes for 163 of his 203 yards and scores three TDs after intermission as top seed in 2A advances.

High school in Laveen carries on legacy of late administrator and coach.

The 5A-II state football playoffs are similar to 5A-I in that there is a prohibitive favorite in defending champion and top-seed Chaparral. Beyond that the 5A-II opening-round games do not look anything like their 5A-I counterparts. The matchups ffigure to run like clockwork according to the seeds with perhaps the usual exceptions in a 9-8 or 10-7 matchup. And rather than one rematch of a regular-season meeting, there are four of eight in the initial battles for 2010 5A-II supremacy.

The 5A-I state football playoffs offers some suspense in the early going. Perhaps more so than in recent years so fans should rejoice in that aspect. Hamilton (5A-I) is the prohibitive favorite to be sure with an unbeaten record and defending state-champion status. And it is a bit of an odd year when Mesa Mountain View and Brophy are double-digit rather than single-digit seeds and qualify with .500 records.

Both teams feature a strong running game. Saguaro, Peoria looming in the background.

Liberty, Notre Dame, Mingus are capable of advancing as playoffs begin.

Top two seeds, Northwest Christian and Yuma Catholic, will be difficult to beat.