What we learned in Week 9 of Arizona HS football: Statements, showdowns, record

Even with so many teams off this week, there were statements made, a clearer picture of the Open, and another state record turned in.

Let's rewind Week 9 of the Arizona high school football season:

What we learned

The showdown between two of the top 4A teams was great. But don't call Friday night's game between Oro Valley Canyon del Oro and Tucson Mica Mountain the "Open Bowl." Yeah, they were both on the cusp this week of the Arizona Interscholastic Association's eight-team Open Division rankings, which will place the top eight teams among the three big-school conferences into the ultimate state bracket. But they're not Open teams. Canyon del Oro won the matchup 17-15 to get to 7-0. But if the Dorados, who more than likely won't lose any of their final three regular-season games (Pueblo, Sahuaro, Walden Grove), get into the Open, then the AIA computer that ranks teams is broken. And there needs to be a human element for the Open to select and rank the eight teams.

Coach Dusty Peace, who beat his mentor (Mica Mountain's Pat Nugent) in the battle of unbeatens, realizes the huge disparity between 6A and 4A. Imagine CdO getting in and having to start the playoffs against Peoria Liberty. It would be another running clock for the Lions in a mercy crushing. Mica Mountain was rated ninth, a spot ahead of 6A Chandler Hamilton, and CdO was 10th just behind Hamilton in this week's AIA Open rankings. Nobody knows why 4A teams are ranked on the edge of the Open, given that the AIA will not disclose what goes into the computer rankings.

CdO and Mica Mountain should both be in the 4A bracket and battle it out for a title with Yuma Catholic, Northwest Christian and Snowflake.

"It is one of those situation where you have no control and are not given all the details to fully understand," Peace said. "With that said, you can waste a lot of energy questioning things. How can the second-ranked 4A team get in the Open? It doesn’t sound right. Nor does the fact that we have not played a 6A team in many years. Again, giving this energy, is pointless but we should know more how this develops over the next few weeks."

Oh, yeah, another thing, Yuma Catholic was ranked No. 1 in the AIA's 4A rankings over No. 2 Mica Mountain and No. 3 Canyon del Oro, but it can't qualify for the Open, because it states, "3A schools are not eligible for the Open."

Biggest takeaway

Gilbert Highland's defense is easily Open-ready. And it might need its greatest effort next week to stop American Leadership Queen Creek's amazing momentum to win and get back into the Open conversation. Even a win next week wouldn't guarantee anything, given the Open history of leaving a deserving Highland team out of the Open the last two years, when the Hawks won titles at 6A both years. Highland (5-2) came into Friday's 43-21 win at Gilbert Williams Field ranked ninth in 6A and 14th in the Open. ALA Queen Creek (6-1), which had a bye this week, is ranked fifth in the Open.

To find out how accurate the computer rankings are, we'll have to wait until the end to see who gets in. Imagine Hamilton (ranked 10th in the Open this week) not getting in based on losses to Liberty, Basha and and possible loss on Nov. 3 to Chandler. That would be crazy. So let's see if the computer comes out right in the end.

Best message

The Arizona Republic's top-ranked team, Peoria Liberty (6-1), doesn't need quarterback Navi Bruzon to be perfect to completely dominate teams. Friday's 49-0 rout of previously unbeaten Tucson Salpointe Catholic was an example of that. Despite Bruzon throwing three first-half interceptions (all to Nate Spivey), Liberty led 35-0 at the half. It might have been 60-0 at the break if not for a rare trio of Bruzon miscues. Bruzon bounces back as fast as any player in the state. He also threw four TD passes in the half, and the Lions again sent an unbeaten team that was feeling good about themselves home with a strong dose of perspective. Salpointe's 6-0 record looked great on paper. But the Lancers filled that win column against teams with a combined 8-35 record.

Best record addition

A week after breaking two all-time state receiving records, American Leadership Gilbert North senior wide receiver Brandon Phelps, who only started taking football seriously his freshman year, added the trifecta to the AIA record book with most all-time receptions. He had eight catches for seven catches for 138 yards and two TDs in a 49-21 5A win over Cave Creek Cactus Shadows. Phelps, who has committed to Arizona, hold these all-time state records: 4,136 receiving yards, 55 TD catches, 242 catches.

Biggest offensive surge

Defending 5A champion Gilbert Higley figures to make a run at another title, behind the midseason eligibility of junior quarterback Luke Haugo. He had a career night with six TD passes in the Knights' 60-42 win at Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep. Dax Hall ran for 239 yards and three TDs in the game. Higley was explosive before the former Phoenix North QB became eligible last week. Now, the Knights are scary good on offense. Jaden Taylor, Kaden Millner and J.D. DeCausemaker each had two TD catches Friday. In his first two games this season, Haugo has thrown TD passes to six different receivers.

"All of our players have done a good job of buying into our culture team first," coach Eddy Zubey said. "We talked about being selfless and being a part of something bigger than yourselves. What they are seeing is that might not get all the touches they want in this game, but the next game might be their night."

Best growth rate

Thatcher is back to playing Thatcher football, which was just a matter of getting a bunch of guys with little experience to grow together from August until now. It's showing up down the stretch. The Eagles (5-3) started the season 2-3. But coach Daniel Jones kept working them, knowing by the season's end, it would be a much stronger, smarter, better football team, given his gauntlet 3A schedule. Thatcher beat Show Low 41-0, preseason No.1 Tucson Sabino 27-20 and Safford 35-14 in the last three weeks.

"We finally got on the same page," said Jones, whose 2022 team lost its only game to Eastmark in the 3A final. "Inexperienced kids grew up. ... Going to be tough to stop down the stretch. Classic Thatcher football. Run over you. Pass enough to keep you honest and play pretty solid defense. Our bigs are finally starting to pave the way."

Around the state

• In a 42-21 bounce-back win over American Leadership West Foothills, Sabino receiver Shamar Berrhill had 93 yards and his 12th TD catch of the season, and added 11 tackles on defense.
• Snowflake won its fifth straight game after starting the season 0-2 with a 49-21 rout of Tempe Marcos de Niza. Kanton Turley ran for 151 yards and two TDs on 11 carries.
• Dalton Crockett passed for 215 yards and four TDs on 15 of 23 passing in 56-6 rout of Tucson Catalina.
• Top-ranked (2A) Pima scored 42 points in the first half in its 56-0 win over Whiteriver Alchesay, as Hayden Blair ran two times for 99 yards and two TDs. Four other players ran for TDs.
• Sells Baboquivari, which began the season 1-3, made the 1A, 8-man playoffs for the first time in 22 years, after beating San Manuel 38-22 for its fourth straight win. The reservation school will open as the No. 10 seed at No. 7 Mohave Accelerated on Friday night.

Game of the Week

Chandler (6-1) at Basha (6-1), Friday, 7 p.m.

This is a rematch of last year's Open semifinal that Basha won 13-0. It was the first time Basha beat Chandler twice in the same season.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert